The Fargo Force topped the Dubuque Fighting Saints in Game 4 on Saturday night to capture the franchise's second USHL Clark Cup Championship
The Fargo Force are on top of the USHL once again after capturing the franchise's second Clark Cup championship in Game 4 over the Dubuque Fighting Saints on Saturday night.
Despite falling behind 1-0 in the first period, Fargo scored two goals in the second half of the frame to take a one-goal lead into the first intermission and put the finishing touches via the empty-netter en route to a 3-1 final score.
The Force became the first team to win the Anderson Cup Trophy, given to the USHL's regular-season champion, and the Clark Cup championship in the same year since the Chicago Steel in the 2020-21 season.
"It was a really hard-fought series, and today was no different," said Fargo head coach Brett Skinner. "Dubuque had an unreal season. We knew they were an unreal team going into it, and the series played out that way for us."
Jake Sondreal opened the scoring for the Fighting Saints less than seven minutes into the first period. The Dubuque captain won a puck battle in the neutral zone before wristing a shot from the right-wing circle into the back of the Fargo net. The goal marked Sondreal's third of the postseason and second in as many games.
Just over four minutes later, Fargo's Brasen Boser knotted the game at 1-1 with his first postseason goal, with Zam Plante and Michael Quinn picking up assists on the play. Late in the first period, Jake Fisher scored on a backhander from the half-wall to give the Force a 2-1 lead they would never relinquish.
"You look at the series, we win the series 3-1, (it was) very tight," Skinner said of the first period. "We're down in that game, but I did like our start and give them credit for pulling ahead of us there. But it's a credit to our guys. I think all season, the consistency in their approach, to come back in that game. Then to get the lead, and, most importantly, be able to hold it."
Dubuque responded with a strong effort in the second period, outshooting the Force 11-5 in the frame. Fargo killed off 4-on-3 and 5-on-4 power-plays for the Saints in the period. Hampton Slukynsky, who was named USHL Goaltender of the Year for the 2023-24 season, came up with two timely stops on Dubuque's Andrew King near the mid-way point of the frame.
"They were throwing everything they had at us, and I thought we were a doing a good job defensively, kind of bend, but, we didn't break," Slukynsky said of Dubuque in the second period. "Going into the third with a lead, I think we were pretty confident with that, so it was good."
Slukynsky was tested early in the third period, stopping a series of shots on goal as Dubuque continued its push toward tying the game. The Fargo netminder stopped 22 of 23 shots on net overall in Game 4, including all 17 in the final 40 minutes of play.
Brandon Svoboda, who helped Youngstown win its first Clark Cup championship last season, fittingly provided the empty-net dagger with 1:36 left in regulation.
Mac Swanson collected the assist on the play, his 12th helper and 17th point of the postseason. The North Dakota commit was named the USHL Clark Cup Playoff Most Valuable Player for his efforts.