Youngstown, OH – The Fargo force were eliminated in Game 3 of the Clark Cup Final to the Youngstown Phantoms Friday night 1-0. Matej Marinov stopped 23 of 24 shots in the loss. Jacob Fowler pitched a 22 save shutout for the series win and received playoff MVP honors.
Matej Marinov stopped a crucial one-time shot by Youngstown's Kenta Isogai early in the first period. Fargo went to the penalty kill at 3:41, when Bret Link was called for high sticking. The Force limited the offense of the Phantoms with the extra man. As time expired, William Whitelaw whipped the puck on net that went into the glove of Marinov. Owen Mehlenbacher fired a sharp angle shot on Jacob Fowler that he paddled aside. Youngstown's Matthew Perkins had a fast break, and backhanded the puck on Marinov, where it was kicked away. Play got chippy fast, as three different players on each team received offsetting roughing penalties at 8:29. Youngstown established a cycle, and blasted a few chances from the point but couldn't break through Marinov. Cole Knuble had a golden opportunity in front of Fowler but it was blockered away. A delayed penalty situation ensued for Fargo after an interference call. After the touch up, another scrum ensued, where Knuble and Chase Pietila were called for 10 minute misconducts at 13:46. After the penalties were sorted out, the Force still had their power play. The Phantoms repelled the Force's cycle, and Youngstown went back to 5 on 5. Then right as the prior penalty expired, Girts Silkalns was whistled for high sticking at 15:58. Although the teams were reversed, the penalty killers did their jobs, eliminating any opportunities. After the slew of special teams play, Brandon Svoboda flew in off a defensive zone turnover by Fargo, but Marinov was there to turn the chance away. Harper Bentz nearly got the Force on the board with a one-time shot of his own, but Fowler stonewalled him. Youngstown brought some late pressure, and Fargo looked like they had a stretch pass opportunity, but Link couldn't field the puck as time expired in the first period.
The fireworks continued to start the second period, as Whitelaw drove hard to the net, and after a few pokes in front, Marinov covered. After the cover, a scrum between Whitelaw and JP Turner followed, where they both were issued minor penalties for roughing at 44 seconds. On the ensuing 4 on 4, Youngstown controlled the extra ice, including a near miss by Andrew Strathmann, firing it over the top corner. Andon Cerbone tried for the same spot but also missed high. Fargo got their offense rolling with a beautiful odd man rush, finished off by Bentz who couldn't beat Fowler. The zone entry allowed for some sustained pressure by the Force, before being cleared out by the Phantoms. Whitelaw couldn't corral the puck in the corner and more rough stuff followed a big hit. Brasen Boser received a roughing minor at 10:05, sending Fargo back to the penalty kill. Youngstown cycled well, but Marinov and the killers were up to the task, pushing away the power play but not without some drama. Strathmann hit the crossbar from the point, inches away from drawing first blood. Fargo had a solid cycle afterwards, but a miscue at the blue line allowed for a 2 on 1 that Marinov moved laterally to block. Leo Gruba had the best opportunity of the period on a one-time blast that sailed mere inches from Fowler.
A Fargo turnover allowed Cerbone to score just 24 seconds into the third period, giving Youngstown a 1-0 lead. The Phantoms continued to pound Marinov with pucks, including an Isogai drive that was snagged in midair. Fargo was able to enter the zone a few times, but their lanes were bottlenecked by the Youngstown defensemen. The Phantoms had a three on one, culminating on the stick of Tyler Catalano who whacked it wide. Another odd man rush for Youngstown came this time to Hunter Bischoff but he pumped it wide. Fargo got a bit of a cycle going, that ended up in the belly of Fowler, off the stick of Kevin Scott. After mainly neutral zone play following, Head Coach Nick Oliver pulled Marinov at 17:20 for the extra attacker. A loose puck in front of Marinov started a jousting match that was eventually covered by Fowler. The offense generated with extra attacker was unfortunately not enough as the Youngstown took the series and the Clark Cup.
The Fargo Force are grateful to all those who supported the team during this record setting Anderson Cup season and look forward to the 2023-24 United States Hockey League season.
