Force try to find next goalie of the year

May 14, 4:38 PMFargo Hockey ExaminerTimothy How

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The Fargo Force recently capped off a great expansion season in the United States Hockey League that found them just a couple wins shy of a Clark Cup. The focus has immediately shifted to next season. The Force should be returning several talented players, but there are still holes to be filled. The biggest hole to fill is the one between the pipes. Mike Lee will be gone to St. Cloud State after being named USHL goalie of the year in his only season in the league.

Fargo immediately filled that hole in the Entry Draft on Wednesday. With the 7th overall pick, Fargo selected another northern Minnesota goalie in Zane Gothberg. Gothberg helped lead the Thief River Falls Prowlers to the section 8A final in Minnesota where they lost to the eventual state runner up, Warroad, 3-2.

Being the first Minnesotan drafted in the USHL Entry Draft is always quite an accomplishment, and that is exactly what Gothberg was. Not only was he the first Minnesotan drafted, he was only the second goaltender chosen in the draft. Sioux City Musketeers selected Willie Yanakeff from the United States Developmental Team in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Gothberg had an outstanding junior season at Thief River Falls in 2008-2009. He posted a 20-5-2 record along with a miniscule 1.54 goals against average and a .930 save percentage. His save percentage was ranked second in the state of Minnesota. Andrew Ford of Eden Prairie (.940) was the only goalie with a higher save percentage; his Eagles won the AA State Championship.

One of the biggest decisions of Gothberg’s young life will now have to be made. Will he play his senior season with his hometown high school or will he attempt to speed up his development in the USHL? The decision may ultimately be made for him. Unlike when Lee decided to play for the Force instead of Roseau High School his senior year, Gothberg would not come in as the likely starter.

The Force has a steadily improving goaltender from Pikes Peak, Colorado by the name of Cody Campbell. In 17 regular season game, Campbell was 6-7 with a 2.99 goals against average and a .895 save %. He also appeared in one playoff game and stopped 18 of 21 shots in just over 55 minutes. Mankato, Minnesota native Tyler Bruggeman served as the third string goalie and played in one game this season, stopping 37 of 41 shots in a losing effort.

Fargo also has an option in nearby Alexandria, Minnesota in Matt Hemmingway. Hemmingway attending preseason camps with the Force, but ultimately decided to play out his senior season with Alexandria High School. That could be the most likely path for Gothberg to take this season. Hemmingway helped lead the Cardinals to a 22-5-1 record last season. They suffered a tough 3-2 defeat against Little Falls in the section 6A finals in Minnesota. Little Falls went on to take third in Class A State.

Lee certainly left big shoes to fill, but Fargo appears to have four legitimate options already for the 2009-2010 campaign.