Force earn sweep over Waterloo

The Fargo Force completed a two-game sweep of the Waterloo with a Blackhawks with a 6-3 win on Saturday night at the Urban Plains Center in Fargo. The Force now has back-to-back wins after losing five of their last six immediately following their climb to first place in the West Division. J.P. Burkemper scored his first with Fargo since coming over in a trade a month ago.

Joe Rehkamp got the scoring started for the home team with a goal 3:18 into the opening period. Corey Leivermann and Nate Condon picked up assists on the game’s opening goal. Waterloo dominated the back half of the first period to come back and take their first lead of the game. Jamie Hill and Patrick Divjak scored goals 8:03 apart to put the Blackhawks up 2-1 at the end of the first period.

In the second period, the Force took advantage of Blackhawk penalties to score two power play goals. Colten St. Clair netted the first power play goal of the period with assists going out to Garrett Allen and Matt Leitner. Less than two minutes later, J.P. Burkemper scored an even strength goal to put Fargo back in front, 3-2. Chase Grant and Alex Lippincott assisted on Burkemper’s first goal with the Force. Matt Leitner extended the Fargo lead to 4-2 with a power play goal late in the second. Nate Condon and Nick Oliver gathered in assists on the play.

J.T. Brown pulled the Blackhawks within a goal when he tallied at the 11:43 mark of the third period, but that was as close as Waterloo would get. Dayn Belfour was excellent in goal for the second straight night. Belfour made 28 stops to pick up his second straight win.

Late in the period, Fargo added two empty net goals to seal the victory. Leivermann scored with 12 seconds left in the game. Allen picked up the assist on the Leivermann tally. Lippincott set up Burkemper just before the buzzer sounded. Burkemper’s second goal of the night made the final score 6-3.

Fargo will cap off their three game weekend tomorrow in Sioux Falls. It is a chance to put even more distance between themselves and the third place Stampede. Fargo currently has a four point lead over the Stampede in the West Division.