Tag Archives: Dave Gust

Vitamins…

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Today is the first day college coaches are able to call players born in 1996 and to no surprise, Mason Morelli has received quite a bit of interest.

Fargo Force assistant and director of player personnel Jesse Davis said this afternoon numerous college coaches asked for Morelli’s phone number so they could gauge his interest.

“It’s all across the board,” Davis said about the geographic range of schools interested in Morelli. “We had a lot of schools at our camp and from all different areas and we also had close to 50 college coaches at our tryouts. There have been WCHA schools, guys from out East and everyone else trying to get a hand in there to see where he is leaning. Is he Ivy League? Will he come out east? Will he play in the Big Ten? That’s why today is big for the college level and now they’ve seen his talent level and they want to see if they can get him in school.”

Davis declined to name specific schools when he was asked if the University of North Dakota did enquirer about Morelli. He said “it wasn’t a hidden secret” there is interest in Morelli.

Morelli will feature in the team’s plans next year having made what was certainly one of the biggest jumps of any player prior to the USHL Futures Draft a few months ago.

The Minot, N.D. native was on the Force’s radar and the team appeared to be set to take him without what could have been much opposition. It is until Morelli messed up those plans by scoring a hat trick in the opening game at the futures combine.

It resulted in his stock increasing and on draft day, the Force traded up to No. 3 to get him.

At 16 years old, he played both high school and junior hockey last season further showing he could be able to handle the demands that come with junior hockey.

Morelli has previously said he would like to play at UND given his grandfather, Reg, scored the game-winning goal in the team’s 1959 title season over Michigan State in the national championship game. His father also played at UND.

Davis said Morelli is one of the many 1996-born Force players colleges have called about today.

One thing Davis has reminded his players is that for now, it is interest and there should be no rush to make a decision.

“We tell them it is not a sprint right now,” he said. “That it is more of a marathon and you have to finish high school and take your time with it.”

Davis cited current forward Dave Gust (Ohio State) as an example.

Gust exploded onto the scene last season following a mid-year call up and his 30-point season resulted in the Force having a No. 1 line which helped them reach the second round of the playoffs.

Gust was a commodity throughout the season but took his time and committed to Ohio State just a few weeks ago.

“We’ve told our kids to do their homework,” he said. “And if they could get some visits in, that’s even better. It is their choice, not anyone else’s.”

A.I.M. Fire…

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Force forward Pavel Zykov only had two points in 20 games this season but there’s a reason why the team’s coaching staff is so high on him.

As it would appear, so is Metallurg in the KHL. Zykov was drafted by Metallurg a few days ago in the KHL Amateur Draft. He was a second round selection by the program famous for producing Pittsburgh Penguins star Evgeni Malkin.

Though the 6-1, 175-pound Zykov is still listed as being part of the CSKA Moscow at the time he was drafted, it appears he was actually the highest and potentially only USHL-based player to be taken in the draft.

For those not familar with the KHL, it is the premier professional league in Russia. It is a league which has become a fertile and at times, challenging ground for NHL teams to take what is considered to be the top talent in the nation.

There are 26 teams spread across seven nations which compete in the league which has gone through quite a few transformations before making the KHL name and brand concrete back in 2008.

It isn’t a complete surprise for KHL teams to draft USHL-based players as Dubuque’s Zemgus Girgensons (Vermont) was drafted last season.

As for Zykov, getting drafted certainly adds to his profile of being what Force director of player personnel Jesse Davis called, “a high-end talent” when the team first acquired him. Davis watched Zykov at a showcase during the season and spoke with his adviser.

It led to both sides entering discussions and Zykov making his way to Fargo where he was the second Russian-born player on the team. Though Zykov’s grasp of English improved, he was typically one of the more quiet players yet well-received players on the team.

Zykov used most to the season to adjust to the league and living in the United States for the first time. He appeared to have a better understanding as he scored his only two points in the Force’s last three games in the regular season.

Davis said via text message the Force will work towards getting Zykov to return next season to team which could feature 15 incumbents and a legitimate shot to capture the Western Conference.

If Zykov does return to the team, it gives the Force another potential “high-end” player on a team which is expected to have quite a few in fellow returners Alex Iafallo (Minnesota-Duluth), Gabe Guertler (Minnesota) and Dave Gust (Ohio State).

Yet if Zkyov were to opt for the KHL, he’d be the second player to leave who was expected to return for next season. Forward Jonny Brodzinski’s status had been on the fence until it was determined he was going to be at St. Cloud State next season.

Furthermore, if Zykov were to play in the KHL it would mean he’d become a professional player forgoing his college eligiblity. Davis said when the team first acquired Zykov, that college was an option.

Down By The Ohio…

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Fargo Force director of player personnel Jesse Davis said today forward Dave Gust has committed to Ohio State.

Gust, 18, was a mid-season call up for the Force and turned out to be one of the reasons why they finished fourth in the Western Conference. Gust in 43 games, scored 30 points ranking fifth on the team in scoring.

He combined with forwards Gabe Guertler (Minnesota) and Alex Iafallo (Minnesota-Duluth) to become a potent line for the Force during the regular season combining for 20 percent or 90 of the team’s 455 points.

But it was in the playoffs where the group really made its mark accounting for 40 percent of the Force’s points.

The line, known as “The High School Musical”, led the Force in points during the entire postseason. They combined for 12 points with Gust getting three of them off two goals and an assist.

Gust had said during the team’s first-round playoff series he’d be committing to a school before the end of the summer. He apparently didn’t waste any time by choosing Ohio State.

Committing to Ohio State gives the school a class that has depth but has also enjoyed success in midget, prep and junior hockey. Ohio State now has 13 commits and seven, including Gust, are forwards, according to Chris Heisenberg.

Those forwards include Zach Stepan, who scored scored 65 points playing at Shattuck-St. Mary’s (MN-HS) among others. Stepan told NHL.com’s Mike Morreale on Wednesday he would play next season with the Waterloo Black Hawks. Stepan is the cousin of New York Rangers forward Derek Stepan.

Ohio State’s recruiting class also consists of Green Bay forwards Matthew Weis and Nick Schilkey plus NTDP goaltender Collin Olson. The Force said in a release, Gust would go to Ohio State in 2014.

What Ohio State will be getting in Gust is a 5-9, 170-pound forward who used a combination of speed, scoring and playmaking prowess to establish himself during a game.

It was those qualities which prompted the Force’s coaching staff to call up Gust on a permanent basis. Gust, who started the season on the team’s affiliates list, had been playing midget hockey back in his native Chicago.

Teaming up with Guertler and Iafallo gave the line more speed and three players who were able to work well with each other, on or away from the puck. Some of Gust’s performances drew comparison to Force forward Austin Farley (Minnesota-Duluth), who before a foot injury was on pace to shatter several franchise scoring records.

Having all three return for next season gives the Force, what will likely be the team’s No. 1 line. With all three having college commitments and a year of experience, there’s a strong possibility the line could buoy the Force which have up to 16 players returning for next season.

Of the 16 players returning, Gust becomes the fourth with a college commitment joining his linemates and defenseman Justin Wade (Notre Dame).

Look Up…

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Now that things (for now) have appeared to settled down it’s time to unveil the second annual Slightly Chilled awards.

Today’s awards will look at who was the Force’s best forward, best defenseman, best goaltender, most valuable player, rookie of the year, line of the year, most improved player and finally, the player to watch for next season.

Best Forward: Bryn Chyzyk (North Dakota): There was a point where Austin Farley (Minnesota-Duluth) was on pace to shatter every single franchise scoring record imaginable until he was injured. It took Farley time for him to get back to where was but while all this was going on, the Force were getting consistency from Chyzyk. Farley might have had 10 more points than Chyzyk, but Chyzyk provided an offensive punch as he was the team’s second-leading scorer and was one of the few players who could turn a penalty kill into a shorthanded goal in a matter of seconds. Chyzyk had offense, defense and was able to provide leadership on a young team. It’s fair to argue he was this team’s most complete forward throughout the regular season. He had moments this year which might not have as glamorous as Farley’s but they were important. There’s the moments where he pressured whoever at the puck at the point on a power play and pickpocketed them for a goal. Or there’s when Chyzyk, while on defense, dove and stuck his stick out to tip the puck out of bounds to kill a team’s momentum. All of those items helped Chyzyk have one of the more meteoric rises in franchise history going from an unknown in training camp to being a face of the franchise who has his bags packed to play at one of the nation’s college hockey powers.

Best Defenseman: Brian Cooper (Nebraska-Omaha): This year’s blueline had a number of players who could have won. Cooper gets the nod because there was progression in his game this year. He didn’t lead the rush like he has done in previous years. He didn’t gun for the big hit as he has done in previous years. But what he did do was become more of a committed defenseman. Cooper was deployed in a role that made him more accountable on both ends but especially the defensive end. The shift in focus is why the penalty kill was the best its ever been in franchise history. The Force were third this year having finished mid-level the last two years and fifth in its first season. Cooper might not have had the flashiest season in terms of his points, but he played a more accountable game.

Best Goaltender: Zane Gothberg (North Dakota): When you set seven or so franchise records – most wins in a season, most wins in a career, lowest goals against average in a season, lowest goals against average in a year, best save percentage in a season, most shutouts in a season and most shutouts in a career – you are probably going to be the clear favorite for goaltender of the year or even more.

Most Valuable Player: Zane Gothberg: There are the reason mentioned above which make the argument. There’s the fact he’s the only player on the Force’s roster you can say was the best at his position of anyone in the entire USHL. There’s the fact that he overcame a rocky first season, personal loss in the summer and yet still remained dedicated to getting better and winning games. Most of all, there’s this. Where would this team have been without him?

Rookie of the Year: Gabe Guertler (Minnesota): Rookie of the Year is never easy because there are no clear guidelines for what a “rookie” really is. Technically, Chyzyk and Taylor Richart, who both have junior hockey experience, are rookies in the USHL. Both were candidates for the award. As were High School Musical members Alex Iafallo (Minnesota-Duluth) and Dave Gust. Iafallo was the team’s fourth-leading scorer and Gust came into Fargo and added a much needed offensive jolt. But when you think about what or in this case, who, made that line go, it was Guertler. At 5-8, he believes he’s 6-2 because he’ll take a run at any player regardless of size or how long they’ve been in the league. He fights to win face-offs, he can play the pretty brand of hockey the Force have displayed but he can also play an ugly style of game if need be. Guertler went through growing pains yet managed to still contribute in a variety of ways. John Marks in just about every post-game presser we had referenced The Musical by saying, “The Guertler line played well.” Guertler put a stamp on that line in so many ways. And he’s one of the things this franchise has going for it heading into next season.

Line of the Year: The BBC Line of Farley (who has the nickname of Bug)-Chyzyk and Colton Hargrove (Western Michigan): There wasn’t a line who more or less dictated how the Force were going to perform more than this one. When this team struggled to open the season, most of this line struggled. When this team won nine games in a row, they were downright deadly with Farley scoring left and right, Chyzyk scoring and playing in a two-way role while Hargrove got goals and hammered opponents. At their peak, this line was one of the more unique in the league. There might not have been a line where you had finesse, nastiness and ability rolled into one. And as we saw in the playoffs, when this line was not scoring, it made it hard for the Force to win. That’s one of those reasons why there were expectations of this line. When they were on, they were lethal.

Most Improved Player of the Year: Willie Corrin (Minnesota-Duluth): Simply, the guy kicked ass in Fargo. He made the switch from a hybrid defenseman-forward to playing straight defense and doing well. Corrin was one of two players – Richart being the other – to play all 60 games this season. Offensively, he was a power play dynamo with 17 assists and he was either a first or second-pairing choice on the penalty kill to boot. There were players who certain made improvements in the off-season but Corrin showed it in so many ways throughout the season.

Player To Watch For Next Season: Nate Arentz. He’s only 17 as his birthday isn’t until late June so he’ll be 18 next season as a third-year player. Arentz came a hell of a long way from where he was as a first-year player looking to adapt to the USHL. He used his speed on several occasions creating breakaways and odd-man rushes to create scoring chances. Some he buried, some he didn’t. But his finishing did get better throughout the season and showed it by scoring a goal in the Force’s final playoff game against the Lincoln Stars. He’s 6-1 and 185 pounds and has made a tremendous change from looking like the typical first-year player he was when he arrived from Lakeville North (MN-HS). Arentz was also on the two-way line with Neal Goff and Jonny Brodzinski (St. Cloud State) which was the team’s second-best line in the postseason. With two years under his belt, an improved physique, speed, size and two-way ability, Arentz is primed to be next year’s breakout player.

So Appalled…

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We’re six days away from the USHL Entry Draft and we decided to take a look back at what happened with the Force last year.

The Entry Draft is a funny thing and the Force are proof. Some teams like Omaha used the Entry Draft to practically build this year’s team which finished second in the Western Conference during the regular season.

As for the Force, of the 15 players they drafted last year eight – or more than half – are no longer affiliated with the team. That means either their rights were traded or released by the Force.

Here’s a look at the familiar, not-so-familiar and now infamous names the Force selected last year.

-At No. 9 the Force take Jordan Nelson: Nelson came in with some hype given he was North Dakota’s Mr. Hockey as a senior while playing at Williston. He came to the Force from Alexandria (NAHL) this season and finished with 18 points in 53 games. Nelson really came into his own around the midway point of the season performing solidly in a third-and at times, fourth-line role. An injury about two-thirds into the season, hindered him for the rest of the campaign. It was a setback for Nelson, who will return to the team next season where he could be one of the team’s most relied upon players.

-At No. 24 the Force take Alex Iafallo (Minnesota-Duluth): It can be debated Iafallo might have been the best selection the Force made. Iafallo was a highly-coveted player the Force snapped up early in the second round. It turned out to be a move which paid off as he teamed up with Gabe Guertler (Minnesota) and Dave Gust, another Entry Draft pick, to become what was this team’s best line during the postseason. Iafallo had 32 points making him the Force’s fourth-leading scorer in the regular season. The trio – known as The High School Musical – will all return next season as it looks to be not only the Force’s primary line but possibly, one of the most formidable in the entire USHL.

-At No. 35 the Force take Zach Urban: Urban was a defenseman former Force coach Jason Herter was really high on. So was Penticton (BCHL) and that’s where Urban ended up. He was part of the Penticton team which has destroyed virtually every Canadian Tier I record and his rights are no longer owned by the Force.

-At No. 53 the Force take Max McHugh: He was with the Force for about five minutes during camp and it didn’t pan out for either side.

-At No. 65 the Force take Brady Riesgraf (Bemidji State): Another defenseman with a lot of promise given his highlight reel moves from his time at Holy Family. He played three games with the Force and became the odd man out on the defense. Riesgraf was traded to the NAHL and his rights are no longer owned by the Force.

-At No. 80 the Force take Brendan Harms (Bemidji State): Harms came to prominence in the MJHL and continued to do so this year with the Portage Terriers. He overcame a shoulder injury to score 57 points in 42 games and then lit up opponents in the playoffs by scoring 20 points in 15 games. Harms will play in Fargo next season before going to college.

-At No. 84 the Force take Zach Pochiro: Pochiro was at camp but his time with the Force didn’t last long. In fact, his most notable contribution to the team came when he was a punching bag for Brian Cooper during pre-season camp. He, like quite a few others on this post, are no longer on affiliated with the Force.

-At No. 99 the Force take Dave Gust: Gust was the mid-season call up who really changed things for the Force. He was paired up with Iafallo and Guertler to become a line which gave glimpses of what next season could bring for the Force. Gust, who played in just 43 games, scored 30 points making him the team’s fifth-leading scorer. His play has resulted in him being on the radar of a few colleges. Gust said during the playoffs he hopes to have a college chosen by the end of the summer.

-At No. 189 the Force take Blake Clarke: Clarke was 15 at the time and choosing him raised a lot of eyebrows given THIS year’s Futures Draft would have been the time to take him. Clarke made the team out of camp playing in 13 games only scoring one goal and later went back to his native St. Louis. He was later given his release by the Force. Clarke said he learned a lot during his time in Fargo and it showed as he represented Team USA at the World Youth Olympic Games and a few weeks ago was a first-round selection in the OHL Priority Draft by the Brampton Battalion at 15th overall. He was the highest chosen American in the draft and by all accounts, could very well be a first-or-second round pick in his draft eligible year.

-At No. 204 the Force take Dominic Toninato (Minnesota-Duluth): Toninato played this season at Duluth East where he helped them become Minnesota high school hockey’s dominant power in the regular season. Toninato and Duluth East had their title dreams dashed with a first-round loss. He later came to the Force playing in four games and in the process, impressing Force coach John Marks. Toninato will be with the team next season.

-At No. 211 the Force take Anders Franke: Franke came into last off-season as one of the possibilities to back up Zane Gothberg (North Dakota/Boston). Gothberg’s back up was ultimately Reed Peters. Franke played this high school season at Elk River (MN-HS) and his rights are no longer owned by the Force.

-At No. 234 the Force take Trevor Hamilton (Miami (Ohio)): Hamilton was drafted as one of the players who is in the NTDP but because of where he is in school, will have one more year before going off to college. The Force took him and are now a season away from having him on the roster.

-At No. 264 the Force take James McNulty (Army): He was with the Force in camp, long enough to commit to Army but later went back to the SJHL where he played the season before. The last we heard, he and Major Rawls were still going back and forth about him being on the boat in Season 2.

-At No. 279 the Force take Zach Doerring: Doerring spent this season at Blake (MN-HS) where he ranked as one of the state’s best passers finishing in the Top 10 in assists among both classes. At 6-3, 195 pounds, his size also has made him an intriguing prospect as he’s received offers from a few schools in Hockey East where his brother, Blake, plays for Vermont. He will be with the Force next season.

TRADES:

-Don’t forget the trades that happened either and some of them had a big impact on the Force. The Force traded defenseman Brandon Carlson to Lincoln. Carlson helped the Stars reach the playoffs where they advanced to the Western Conference finals. They beat the Force en route to meeting Waterloo.

-The Force also traded forward Joe Rehkamp, who went from being at Waterloo to being at St. Cloud State in one season. Force assistant Byron Pool said earlier in the season, Rehkamp wanted top-line minutes and there was no guarantee he’d get it thus the trade.

-Finally, there’s the much-discussed trade where the Force received the rights of A.J. Reid (Army) from Omaha in a trade for Jimmy Murray (St. Cloud State). Reid, though a popular player with coaches and teammates, never panned out for the Force and went to the NAHL. As for Murray, every time played the Force, he put on a show single-handedly winning two games by himself. He also finished in the Top 3 in assists throughout the entire USHL.

 

C’Mon, C’Mon…

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Certainly one of the stories of the Force’s USHL Playoff run as been that of forward Dave Gust.

Gust, a first-year forward, scored two goals in the team’s first-round series clinching win over Sioux City. He also picked up an assist in the Force’s 2-1 overtime victory over the Lincoln Stars. The Stars tied the series at 1 with a 3-2 victory over the Force on Saturday.

It was also the first time in seven playoff games the Stars beat the Force.

His performances have led some to ask where Gust will be going to college. He came to the Force around December from the Chicago Fury where he had scored 19 points (11 goals, 8 assists) in 16 games. He came to the Force and made the adjustment with ease finishing the regular season with 30 points (14 goals, 16 assists) in 43 games.

Gust will return to Fargo next season and when he returns, it could be official as to where he will play in college. He has an idea of what schools he’s considering but he’s not telling.

At least not yet.

“I’ll make a decision probably by the end of the summer,” Gust said late last week. “There are a few schools I am considering but no one school stands out.”

Gust, who is from Orland Park, Ill., didn’t grow up with a “hometown” college team so any school is a possibility.

When asked if he would join linemate Alex Iafallo at Minnesota-Duluth, Gust cracked a smile and said it was possible.

Or what about joining your other linemate, Gabe Guertler, at Minnesota?

He cracked a smile – again – saying that could also be an option.

Whether it be Minnesota or Minnesota-Duluth, it wouldn’t be a surprise if either school tried going after Gust given his connection with Guertler and Iafallo. The trio has teamed up to be the Force’s most potent and arguably, productive line, combining for 11 points – the most of any line on the team.

All three will get a few days off to rest after the Force played six games – two regular season and four playoff – in nine days.

The series resumes Wednesday here in Fargo at 7:05 p.m. and Game 4 will be Friday at Scheels Arena at 7:35 p.m. Should the Force win both games, the team would advance to the Western Conference finals for the third time in four seasons.

Birthmark…

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Here’s something to think about for all you Force fans before your team looks to win Game 2 against Lincoln tonight.

Your most productive line these playoffs weren’t even on the team last year.

Wild, isn’t it? But that’s the way junior hockey works. Kids can be with a team one year and gone the next. A changing landscape is why the USHL Entry and Futures Drafts are so important.

The Force have seen that so far in these playoffs. Alex Iafallo’s (Minnesota-Duluth) game-winning goal in overtime last night gave the Force a 2-1 win over the Stars and a 1-0 series advantage. It also gave the Force their sixth straight postseason win over the Stars.

But also served as reminder of what Iafallo’s line has managed to accomplish this postseason. Iafallo, Gabe Guertler (Minnesota) and Dave Gust – also known as “The High School Musical” – have combined for eight points, the most of any line the Force has in the playoffs.

When the Force were drafting last year they probably didn’t see these three combining – at least this early – to become a potent line.

And that’s the beauty of the drafts. More often than not, it comes down to chances and circumstances.

Let’s go back to last year’s postseason. The Force were doing their best to reach a third straight Clark Cup Final. While all that was going on the team was taking part in the USHL Futures Draft.

The Force were fortunate to get two first-round picks in the USHL Futures Draft and almost unheard of situation. They took Guertler with the No. 2 overall pick.

Weeks later came the Entry Draft where Iafallo was taken in the second round. Then-Force coach Jason Herter said at the time he and Force chief scout Jesse Davis got phone calls and texts from other coaches letting them know they drafted a really good player.

Rounds later is when the team took Gust.

Who knew at the time those three moves would helped the Force reach a position where they are two wins away from a third Western Conference final in four years?

Even if the Force were to lose tonight, it would still put them in a position to potentially close out the series at Scheels Arena. Even if the Force lose the series and get knocked out, there would be some things to build from.

Such as what Guertler, Iafallo and Gust have done. Once the three were put on the same line, they’ve given Force coach John Marks continual reasons to keep playing them. They also have set the bar for next season showing they could anchor the entire forward core.

That alone should have Force fans excited for next year to know they could have a line back together. And not just a line, but a line which could be one of the most formidable in the league.

It all comes back to chance and circumstance.

Drafting these three players have given the Force a chance at making a deep run in the playoffs.

But what they have done, however, appears to be anything but circumstantial.

Someone Like You…

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Maybe Gabe Guertler (Minnesota) might be onto something after all.

The Force first-year forward proclaimed before the USHL Playoffs began his line might be the best in the league. Linemate Alex Iafallo (Minnesota-Duluth) just keeps proving there could be a hint of truth in ti.

Iafallo scored the game-winning goal in overtime in the Force’s 2-1 win over the Lincoln Stars on Friday at the Lincoln Ice Box in the Western Conference semi-final round. The Force now take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series.

Game 2 is tomorrow at 7:05 p.m.

Iafallo’s goal broke a 1-1 tie which hadn’t seen a goal since the first period. Lincoln’s Jared Hanson scored the opening salvo 53 seconds into the game before Force captain Brian Cooper (Nebraska-Omaha) tied the game at 1 later in the period.

The tie created a battle in net eventually won by Zane Gothberg (North Dakota), who made 25 saves to get his third straight victory in these playoffs. Gothberg has now allowed only three goals in as many games this postseason.

Iafallo’s goal came 5:27 into overtime as he was set up by Guertler.

The connection is another example of how the line known as “The High School Musical” has come of age in this postseason. Guertler scored in Game 1 in the Force’s first-round series against the Sioux City Musketeers. He then followed it up with a two-assist effort in the Force’s 5-1 win in Game 2, which was later changed to one assist according to league records. His lone assist created a goal for linemate Dave Gust, who scored two goals in the game,

It now means Guertler (3 points), Iafallo (3 points) and Gust (2 points) have scored eight points making them the Force’s most productive line in the playoffs.

Their production also added to another statistic with the Force now improving to 6-0 all-time against Lincoln in the playoffs.

Hands On The Wheel…

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Quite a few things can be taken away from the Force’s first-round sweep over the Sioux City Musketeers.

There’s no denying that if the Force can continue what they did in the third period of Game 2, this could be a team that could challenge for the Western Conference title.

But before we look ahead, let’s look back. As in, let’s look back at the three Force players who made a big difference in the first-round sweep and what they could do later down the road.

3. Neal Goff, defenseman/forward: As its been written about quite a bit on this blog, there was mystery into who would play alongside Nate Arentz and Jonny Brodzinski (St. Cloud State) on the third line. Goff won the role and certainly sparkled. He used Game 1 to get comfortable in the role giving the Force a defensive-minded, shutdown line which certainly did its job in a 2-1 overtime victory. Goff stepped it up on offense in Game 2 adding a few more shots including one move where he worked his way around the defense to get a shot on net. As the Force started flexing its muscle, he played a little bit more at defense showing his versatility. Force coach John Marks said last night he liked what he’s seen from Goff in this series and that he should be a vital piece to next season’s team.

2. Zane Gothberg, goaltender (North Dakota): Before this goes any further, we’d like to announce the following: Zane Gothberg really is the best goaltender in the USHL and he showed it in this series. Gothberg went 2-0 with a 0.98 goals against average and a .964 save percentage. There just never seemed to be a moment where Gothberg appeared be rattled and/or taxed for that matter. We’ve gone into great detail about his regular season but let’s re-hash it again. He went 26-16-7 with a 2.22 GAA, a .921 save percentage and seven shutouts. All he did was set the franchise records for: Most wins in a career; Most wins in a season; Lowest GAA in a season (a record he held from last year); Lowest GAA in a career; Highest save percentage in a season; Most shutouts in a season and finally, yes, finally Most shutouts in a year. Marks has told us repeatedly the Boston Bruins, which drafted Gothberg, are extremely high on him. Let’s go ahead and open this debate because we really want to see the opinion here. But is it fair to ask: Is Zane Gothberg the best player in franchise history? It looks like he could be.

1. Gabe Guertler, forward (Minnesota): Guertler might have not only been the team’s most consistent forward but he might have been the team’s most consistent player. Guertler had the kind of series where it felt like he tried to generate something every time he was on the ice. His first shift opened with him scoring a goal less than a minute into the game for a 1-0 lead. Guertler and the rest of The Musical went on to generate decent scoring chances that just got stopped by Sioux City’s Matt Skoff (Penn State), a goalie who has won at least 20 games a year over the last three seasons. Guertler didn’t look different in Game 2 creating chances but also getting physical when he needed to picking up four penalty minutes. Like Marks pointed out in a story we did on The Musical in Monday’s Forum, Guertler believes he’s 6-2 but he’s really 5-9. His strongest period of the series came in the third when he set up Dave Gust for two goals. Guertler’s finest feed came when he flew down the right wing, slowed the pace, was left by himself on the wing and then found a trailing Gust for a goal and what was a 5-1 lead. Marks labeled Guertler as one of the best competitors in the league and he’s still only 16 years old. Remember. It was this time about a year ago when the Force drafted Guertler second overall in the USHL Futures Draft. At the time, someone asked us on Twitter if we’d have a Taylor (Cammarata) vs. Gabe scenario at some point in the season. Cammarata (Minnesota) certainly won the regular season battle scoring 69 points in 60 games for the Waterloo Black Hawks, which is unheard of for a 16-year-old. Guertler scored 28 points in 57 games, which isn’t bad either. But with both players having three points and leading their respective teams in the playoffs, it seems like the Taylor vs. Gabe debate could be an interesting post-season topic.

Right Back At You…

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So last night’s Force-Musketeers game wasn’t exactly the most exciting game in the world.

Force defenseman Willie Corrin (Minnesota-Duluth) scored the game-winning goal in overtime giving Black and Blue a 1-0 series lead in a best-of-three campaign. With a win tonight, the Force could close out the series and get a few days rest before heading south to Lincoln for a best of five.

Or it is extremely possibly Sioux City could tie the series at 1, forcing a Game 3 on Wednesday.

Either scenario is possible so let’s take a look at what to watch for in Game 2:

FORCE:

On offense: The High School Musical Line – Gabe Guertler (Minnesota)-Alex Iafallo (Minnesota-Duluth)-Dave Gust – was about the sharpest line for either team in Monday’s game. All three were constantly attacking the net looking for a goal. Guertler got one in the first 20 seconds of the game. Look for them to continue that pace but also look for them to get some help too namely in the form of the FCC Line. Austin Farley (Minnesota-Duluth), Bryn Chyzyk (North Dakota) and Colton Hargrove (Western Michigan) had spurts last night where they looked good and at times, didn’t look so hot. Don’t be surprised if those three take a more aggressive approach.

On defense: A one-goal game could very well be in the cards. If so, then its up to the Force’s defense to make sure it keeps the net clear in front of Zane Gothberg (North Dakota). If you’re looking for a player to keep tabs on, look for Brian Cooper (Nebraska-Omaha), who is easily capable of destroying an opponent’s flow and creating an odd-man rush all in the same series.

On goaltending: Gothberg said after last night’s game he expects for there to be close games where offense is at a premium. Fair enough. Gothberg had moments where he didn’t face too much action but when he did, he was ready for it. His lone blemish was a rebound leading to a game-tying goal. Look for him to be more aware on second or even third-chance opportunities.

 

MUSKETEERS:

On offense: Offense hasn’t been kind to the Musketeers this season. They’re actually one of the teams who gave up more goals (189) in the regular season than they scored (181) already putting them in a hole. Facing Gothberg and a defense that ranks in the Top 3 in the league doesn’t help. Finding someone to replace David Goodwin (Penn State), who is out with an injury is key. Kyle Criscuolo (Harvard) has been a pest for the Force to deal with at times and he could be the guy to jumpstart an offense in severe need of goals.

On defense: Other than stopping The Musical, there really isn’t much else this defense could have done last night. Considering the Force will be in attack mode to close out the series, looking for Geoff Ferguson (Dartmouth). Ferguson is one of the better shutdown defensemen in this league and he could be one of the big reasons between a Force win or a Musketeers win.

On goaltending: Skoff was pretty upset with himself following the game last night. His main point was that he should have stopped Corrin’s game winner. But there were positives. He did say his defense did a really good job getting in front of net to block shots with their bodies. Another positive is knowing they can go a while with the Force. If Skoff can do what he did last night, he gives his team a fighting chance. But if he even gives up two goals, then it might be fair to say the Force advance.

 

PREDICTION:

Defense will be a priority but don’t be too shocked if both teams try to ramp it up a notch. After all, the Force are trying to close out a series while the Musketeers are looking to force a Game 3. When at their peak, these are both solid teams but in this case we’ll say Force win 3-1 with an empty-netter.