After four seasons, two Anderson Cup Tophies, and one Clark Cup championship, Fargo Force assistant coach Carter Krier is advancing to Ohio State. Jimmy Spratt has been hired as his replacement.
Sometimes, I have to remind myself that the USHL is not only a developmental league for the players but also for the coaches. Whether it be their first stop or fifth stop in their respective careers, the USHL has long been an avenue to provide coaches with the tools to advance to the next level.
We've already seen the cycle this offseason among several teams in the league, both incoming and outgoing. Fargo's Carter Krier is the latest to ascend in the coaching ranks after accepting an assistant coaching role with Ohio State. The 24-year-old spent the last four seasons in Fargo as an assistant coach/goaltending coach and had a big hand in helping the team reach new heights.
Individually, Krier helped to develop Matej Marinov, Anton Castro, and Hampton Slukynsky into premier USHL goaltenders. In 2022-23, Marinov finished with the second-best goals-against average (2.36) and save percentage (0.917).
Most recently, Slukynsky led all USHL goaltenders in wins (28), goals-against average (1.86), save percentage (0.923), and shutouts (5) during the 2023-24 season. Added, Slukynsky became the third player in Fargo Force franchise history to be named USHL Goaltender of the Year.
From a team perspective, the Fargo Force earned three Western Conference titles, two Anderson Cup trophies, and one Clark Cup championship during Krier's tenure.
"My time with the Fargo Force has been nothing short of outstanding," said Krier in a statement. "I'm very appreciative of Cary Eades, Jon Kram, Matt Cullen and the rest of the ownership group for giving me the opportunity to work and learn in such a first-class organization for the last four years. I'm also so thankful for each head coach I've had that has helped prepare me for the next challenge ahead."
In a corresponding move, the Fargo Force have hired Jimmy Spratt as the team's new assistant/goaltending coach. The 38-year-old most recently spent the 2023-24 season at Northern Michigan University as an assistant coach.
Spratt returns to the USHL after spending one season (2022-23) with the Green Bay Gamblers as an assistant coach. Prior to that, he spent eight seasons between Bowling Green and Miami University (Ohio), five at Bowling Green and three at Miami, as Director of Hockey Operations for both programs.
"I'm extremely excited to continue my coaching development with the Fargo Force," said Spratt in a statement. "They have proven for years that they are the standard in the USHL. With the winning tradition, culture, fans, facilities, and most importantly people, I am humbled to be a part of it all."
Prior to his coaching career, Spratt played for the Sioux City Musketeers for part of three seasons and posted sub-3.00 goals-against averages in both 2003-04 and 2004-05. The Chesterfield, Michigan, native played collegiate hockey at Bowling Green and professionally in the ECHL, CHL, AHL, IHL, SPHL.
Spratt was drafted in the seventh round, 213th overall, in the 2004 by the Calgary Flames but never logged a game in the National Hockey League.