Luke McNamara sits down to discuss his first season in Fargo, his previous junior hockey experience in the OHL and his upcoming commitment to Western Michigan University
The Fargo Force are looking to hunt down their third Clark Cup in franchise history as the United States Hockey League’s playoffs loom just around the corner.
As the Force chase down another league title, Force forward Luke McNamara is excelling during his first campaign at the USHL level. Through 52 games, McNamara has recorded 18 goals and 25 assists, good for second in both assists and points among all Force skaters. The success that has been shown right away has been fueled by the situation setup in Fargo for the 21-year-old.
“I think the opportunity that was presented to me by head coach Brett Skinner, just really taking a chance on me coming to the USHL has been exactly what I needed,” McNamara said on Tuesday during an interview. “I felt like my career needed a little change of scenery and tune-up. I had a really good summer and have just tried to run with the opportunity. My production level has taken a massive increase, and they’ve made it really easy for me to excel in Fargo.”
As for why Fargo and the USHL was right for Fargo, McNamara touched on how simple of a decision it really was.
“Fargo is one of the better spots to play in the USHL and the opportunity to get looked at by colleges, really opened my eyes for what this league is all about,” McNamara said.
McNamara spent the previous five seasons in the Ontario Hockey League, spending time with the Saginaw Spirit, the Kingston Frontenacs and the Windsor Spitfires. Across 253 career OHL games, McNamara recorded 37 goals and 74 assists. McNamara touched on how the OHL prepared him for the move to Fargo.
“The OHL really helped me grow as a hockey player. I feel like as I got older and played in different situations, it taught me a lot about me as a player,” McNamara said. “It helped me and my confidence level, allowing me to take that next step here in Fargo.”
McNamara has also tried to continue to grow off the ice, trying to become more of a leader for younger players to lean on, as someone with a multitude of experience playing at the junior level.
“Being a bigger voice in the locker room is something that I’ve been trying to focus on. We have a great group with tons of leaders, but I feel like I’ve taken a big step with my confidence in speaking in front of the group and trying to be more of a voice for everybody,” McNamara said. “I’ve tried to bring as much leadership to the room as I could, and I feel I’ve done a good job at that.”
The Force find themselves in second place in the Western Conference through 52 games, after posting a record of 32-15-3-2, good for 69 points, trailing only the Sioux Falls Stampede who currently have 74. With 10 games to go, McNamara has his sights set on finishing strong to ensure the Force are ready for postseason hockey.
“I think we put ourselves in a really good spot, moving into second place in the Conference. I feel like we’re going to continue to take steps in the right direction over these final 10 games, leading us into the playoffs,” McNamara said. “I’m really looking forward to seeing what we can do in the playoffs because I think we’re going to do a lot of damage.”
The goal is the Clark Cup, and McNamara touched on what it would mean to be a champion in what is his final season of hockey at the junior level.
“Winning a Clark Cup would sum up my whole junior hockey career. Last year in the OHL, I made it to the second round, but that’s about it,” McNamara said. “It would be a cool opportunity to go all the way and win with this amazing group that I’m super grateful and fortunate to be a part of.”
Upon completion of the season, McNamara will be preparing to play for the Western Michigan Broncos, as the forward is committed there for the 2026-27 season. McNamara detailed what went into his decision-making process of becoming a Bronco.
“Talking to Western Michigan last year really caught my attention, especially with them winning the National Championship. The coaching staff they have there with Pat Ferschweiler and Jason Herter really excites me for the great careers they’ve had and what they’ve been able to do pushing guys towards the NHL,” McNamara said. “I’m from Mississauga, Ontario, so the proximity of Michigan helped play a role in me choosing there. I think they really believe in me as a player, so hopefully I’m only going to continue to develop and get better.”
McNamara remains focused on this year, while continuing to have that burning passion to keep growing as a hockey player to reach the highest levels he can in his hockey career.
“I want to make sure I’m putting my best foot forward every night, so I can help this group win a Clark Cup,” McNamara said. “I’m going to have a productive summer to set me up for a few good years at Western Michigan. I want to be ready to take that next step and play professional hockey, I want to play in the NHL.”
The Force return to action Friday night when they travel to Plymouth to take on the USA Hockey NTDP. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. EST.