Nashville, TN – The 2023 NHL Draft wrapped up today where 224 players were picked by the 32 NHL teams. 26 out of the 224 players chosen came from the United States Hockey League, with three players selected affiliated with the Fargo Force.
The first player with Fargo ties to be taken was center Cole Knuble. Knuble was drafted in Round 4, 103rd overall by the Philadelphia Flyers. Before Knuble joins the Flyers organization, he is headed to the University of Notre Dame. One of the three alternate captains for the Force this past season, Knuble put up 66 points (30 goals, 36 assists) in 57 2022-23 regular season games. Knuble continued his excellent performance in the Clark Cup Playoffs notching 9 points (6 goals, 3 assists) in 9 postseason contests. Cole's father Mike Knuble played 1,068 games in the NHL between 1996 and 2013, 338 of them with the Flyers.
Just 15 picks later, at Round 4 188th overall, the Los Angeles Kings selected incoming Fargo goalie Hampton Slukynsky. Slukynsky comes to the Force from Warroad High School in Minnesota where through 30 games, he recorded a 1.47 goals allowed average and .941 save percentage. During his stints for the United States National Team Development Program, Slukynsky earned a U18 World Junior Championship gold medal. Slukynsky is committed to play NCAA hockey at Northern Michigan University alongside his older brother Grant, a Force alum who is suiting up for the Wildcats this fall.
Finally, the New York Rangers chose former Fargo Force left wing Ty Henricks in Round 6, 183rd overall. Henricks skated in 28 games for the Force during the 2022-23 regular season, tallying 9 points (6 goals, 3 assists) before being traded to the Muskegon Lumberjacks on January 31st, 2023 for Owen Mehlenbacher and future considerations. Henricks is committed to play NCAA hockey for Western Michigan University.
Fargo Force President Jon Kram was pleased with the results of the 2023 NHL draft. "We are extremely proud of the Force players and all USHL affiliated players who were selected in the 2023 NHL Draft," said Kram. "The USHL continues to be the premier league in player development and we're excited to continue that success."
