Game played on 11/15/2024.
General Game Notes: The Fargo Force edged the Green Bay Gamblers 3-2 in a thrilling game close game. The Force took an early lead with sharp offensive play, but the Gamblers battled back to keep the score close, pulling within one midway through the second period. Green Bay regained the lead late in the second and held strong under pressure in the final from strong goaltenders and defensive play.
Alan Lendak (G, L, 6’1″, 177, Fargo Force, 07/24/2006)
Grade: B+
Comments: Lendak had a strong third period tonight shutting out the Gamblers while being up by one goal going into the period. He was able to show tonight that his lateral push was something in his game that saved a couple goals. He did a good job at recognizing the lane that opened up and opponents looking to attack it. This recognition allowed him to slide in time to find the puck square and make a tough save. At times, he sags back into his net, allowing shooters to open up their blades and pick spots easier. He can challenge and drift back into his crease for odd man chances and rushes against. An impressive overall performance in the third being up a goal and stopping and tying chances the Gamblers thought they had.
Luke Schelter (LW, R, 6’2″, 196, Fargo Force, 04/06/2004)
Grade: B-
Comments: Schelter is a presence on the ice, mostly in the offensive zone. When he is at his best tonight, he was using his feet to create pace through all three zones. There is not a lot of time when Schelter is standing still, most the time a good thing, but his constant movement did cause him to go out of position a couple times. Stopping at the net and in his own zone will help him be labeled at more of a two way forward. For now, offensive zone with time and space and the power play is where he is lethal. Sometimes pucks just do not go in and that was the case tonight for Schelter, you could tell the skill is there and the plays were made but obviously the capitalization was not. He was able to create scoring chances and rebounds that just did not find the back of the net.
Finn McLaughlin (D, L, 6’1″, 185, Fargo Force, 02/28/2006, Denver)
Grade: B
Comments: McLaughlin plays a smart and steady game, nothing too flashy but makes hard crisp passes up the ice that beat multiple players at a time. As one of the bigger defenseman on the back end, McLaughlin plays hard and will let you know if he is on the ice. He actually has great footwork given his size and can skate the puck up the ice, usually to dump it in, but gets it out of his own zone effectively. Multiple times he would attack his space and forecheckers had no chance stripping it from him before the red, he shields himself and the puck well in order to make a play. He uses this same type of force in his own zone when he needs to strip a loose pucks. His body is first and uses his stick second, usually to push the puck carrier off balance then to attack with his stick.
Peter Cisar (LW, L, 6’0″, 183, Fargo Force, 03/30/2005, Maine)
Grade: B+
Comments: Cisar opened the scoring tonight under two minutes into the game with a great rush and finish tight into the goalie. Cisar first broke the puck out, then on the rush cut to the middle forcing two defenseman with him, where he dropped it to a slashing teammate. His teammate then found him at the slot all alone where Cisar buried one lower glove. The best part of this play was his recognition the draw multiple defenders to him to open the ice for his teammate. Even if you only watched a couple of Cisars shifts tonight, theres a good chance you witnessed his shot. His wrist shot has a good release, is accurate, but most notably, has a lot of power behind it. If the pass is behind him, he can corral the puck and throw it on the net before the opposing goaltender is able to react.
Sam Laurila (D, L, 6’1″, 188, Fargo Force, 09/02/2006, North Dakota)
Grade: B+
Comments: Laurila can control a game with his size and skating combination. He was able to show tonight that he can wheel the net well and looks to attack north right away. He did a good job tonight using the net as a barrier, cutting it tight, giving himself more of the middle of the ice to work with. On break outs, he was able to show off a little stutter step under pressure, forcing the fore checker one way and himself, with the puck, the other. He was able to read options and not take first play handed to him, some players would have forced the pass to the far side, instead Laurila got his feet moving to attack open ice. He runs the blue line effectively, he will shoot the puck but also fake it showing his confidence at the line.
Brady Arneson (LW, L, 5’11”, 176, Fargo Force, 02/11/2005, Maine)
Grade: B+
Comments: Arneson scored a nice lone goal tonight getting a puck off a turnover at the wall and just firing something on net. Clearly a shot that took the goalie off guard but the puck was placed over his shoulder that even if he was prepared, there is a chance it still would have went in. Offensively you could see his skill with the way he skates but his defense needs to be mentioned as well. Arneson is very effective at killing penalties, as he can read the play well, and keep an active stick in passing lanes. He also isn’t afraid to attack the puck carrier and either knock his opponent off the puck or put him in a position to make a pressured pass. He doesn’t shy away from blocking shots from the point either. Has quick feet to keep himself in position.
Pavel Prusek (D, L, 5’10”, 172, Fargo Force, 02/06/2006)
Grade: B
Comments: Prusek can get in behind the play without you knowing about it. He is good at getting lost and popping out at the side of the net ready for a quick play at the net. Scored an absolute rip on the power play from the flanker position. Simple one timer play that the goalie had no chance due to the pure force behind the puck. Before seeing the goal and watching him wind up, I thought he was out of position in that spot. With a shot like that, he is was perfectly placed in the line up. He is smaller so low puck battles can be tough for him but he has a motor that does not stop and helps him stay in the fight and get out of pins. A part of his game that he recognizes is that he threatens teams with his heavy shot that other players are forced to respect, leaving him the opportunity to fake a shot and dish the puck to an open teammate when the opportunity arises.
Lukas Peterson (D, R, 5’9″, 167, Green Bay Gamblers, 02/15/2006, Maine)
Grade: B
Comments: Peterson is a smaller but no doubt a mobile defenseman whose feet can get him into both offensive scoring chances but trouble as well. Too many times tonight he looked to leave his zone with Force players standing behind him, one turover and there were mini breakaways to be had. Offensively, he moves the puck well, head up and not always passing to first option. He has that type of deception that can catch players puck staring off guard. One simple yet effective plays he made, where he reads the play well, keeping the puck in the zone along the sideboards, and using his body to shield the puck from the oncoming defender. He then slides a soft, but accurate, no look backhand pass to his wide open teammate, who has the time and space to wrist one home from the high slot.
Will Zellers (LW, L, 5’11”, 170, Green Bay Gamblers, 04/04/2006, North Dakota)
Grade: B+
Comments: Scored a wild goal off the back side of the goalie but having the awareness to see that everyone was out of position, including the goalie and the creativity to come up with something like that made it one of the more impressive goals of the night. Zellers did not dazzle with slick dekes as often as you would hope, given he has very good hands. Maybe it was one of those nights. He opts to protect the puck with his body instead of taking the defender head on and trying to go through him. He has the moves to fake out the goaltender consistently in one on one situations and can make split decisions on defenders to maneuver around them. When trying to deke through players, he is at his best when taking them wide challenging their feet.
Vasili Zelenov (LW, L, 6’0″, 180, Green Bay Gamblers, 02/02/2006)
Grade: B
Comments: Zelenov has the size to protect and strip the puck making him hard to play against. When trying to go through players, he often does not have the separation speed or agility to effectively get past the defender clean but can use his quick release to take a sneaky, hard wrist shot through the deke. While under pressure, Zelenov can control the puck well with his stick, as well as execute quick and accurate passes. He is a very hard player to steal the puck from, mainly due to his hip movement and size how he can get around a puck and protect it. His first three step acceleration is the biggest area of concern when looking at his skating. He also lacks the agility to make the most of his good stick handling. There are also times in which Zelenov stops moving his feet, preventing him from being in the opportune position in the offensive zone.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images