Strauss Mann (#31) is the starting goalie and captain at the University of Michigan. Mann was named the Big 10 Goalie of the year last season, and he’s had a solid start to his junior year with the Wolverines, earning Big 10 first star of the week honors earlier this season after an 8-1 win over Arizona State and his 7th career shutout the following day. On December 2nd, Mann posted his season high of 38 saves in a 3-1 victory vs. Penn State. So far this season he has a .929 save %, 1.94 GAA, and 4 shutouts. He was recently named to the Richter Award Watch List, a top honor for goalies in college hockey. Mann was a key member of the 2017-18 Fargo Force Clark Cup championship team, posting a 1.86 GAA and .932 save % in 34 games during the regular season and a 2.09 GAA and .932 save % during 14 playoff games. These numbers helped earn Mann USHL Third All-Star Team honors.
For more on Mann and University of Michigan Hockey click here!
Spencer Meier (#9) is a junior at St. Cloud State University. He was voted team captain for the 2020-21 season and has been given the nick name “Hometown Hero”, a title he wears with pride, as he hales from nearby Sartell, MN.
Meier has two goals and five assists on the season contributing to the 4th ranked Huskies 12-7 record. Spencer was a key member of the Fargo Force Championship team, posting six goals and 28 assists for the Force in the regular season as well as another goal and five more assists during the 2017-18 Clark Cup run. His powerplay goal in overtime against Waterloo in the Western Conference Finals evened the series at 1 game apiece and switched momentum as the Force went on to win it 3 games to 1.
For more on Meier and the SCSU Huskies click here!
Matt Murray (#31) is currently in his senior year at the University of Massachusetts. He has nine wins, three shutouts and a .913 save percentage so far this season. On January 6, 2021 Murray reached his 51st win with UMASS breaking the record for most career victories by a goaltender in program history.
Murray, a native of St. Albert, Alberta, played in 52 regular season games for the Force in 2016-17. He posted a .910 save percentage and 2.36 GAA and holds the Fargo Force record for most goalie wins in a single season with 30, five of which were shutouts. He also ranks in the top five in Fargo Force career goalie wins, career best GAA, and single season shoutouts.
For more on Matt Murray and UMASS Hockey click here!
Mark Senden (#19) is currently in his junior year at the University of North Dakota and serving as one of the team's assistant captains. Senden has put up one goal and eight assists in 16 games so far this season. Four of his eight assists came in last week's 5-1 win over Denver University marking a career high, tying the NCHC record for most assists in a conference game and helping earn him NCHC Co-Forward of the Week. In that same game he played a big role in helping the UND penalty kill go 7-7, his speed and knowledge of the game have helped him become one of the best penalty killers in college hockey. Senden spent a year and a half with the Force, serving as captain during the Clark Cup Championship (2017-18) season. In that same year he put up 15 goals and 9 assists in the regular season as well as three goals and four points in the playoffs.
For more on Mark Senden and UND Hockey click here!
Josh Nodler (#20) a junior forward at Michigan State University, has been a key player for the Spartans so far this season. He's currently the team leader in assists (7) and overall points (9). His 9th point came off a game winning goal scored with under a minute remaining in the third to take a 3-2 lead vs. the University of Michigan. It also marked his career high points-scored-in-a-season in the NCAA, beating his previous record of eight in just 13 games. The Calgary Flames 2019 5th round draft pick was a force to be reckoned with while in Fargo. He posted 17 goals and 25 assists during his 2018-19 season earning himself the Force Rookie of the Year title and 2018-19 USHL All-Rookie second team. Nodler was Fargo’s 1st pick- 11th overall - in the 2017 Phase 1 Futures draft & during his 1 year with the Force, he represented the USA in helping them win the gold medal in the World Junior A Challenge tournament.
For more on Nodler and Michigan State University click here!
Defenseman Evan Bell (#7) is currently in his senior year with Penn State. He has one goal and three assists so far on the season. Bell is currently the leading scorer amongst the defenseman at Penn State and has played a big role on the defensive side posting 11 blocked shots so far this year. He played an instrumental role in the Force’s Clark Cup Championship team earning the primary assist on the game winning goal against Youngstown. During the 2017-18 regular season he had 8 goals and 15 assists in 35 games played, and tacked on another 3 goals and 8 assists during Fargo's Championship run that same season.
For more on Evan Bell and Penn State Hockey click here!
Ben Meyers (#39) is a sophomore forward at the University of Minnesota. The Gophers are currently ranked #1 in the NCAA and are undefeated so far this season. Ben was recently named the Big 10’s third star of the week and is representing his team as an alternate captain. He has already put up some impressive numbers for his team including four goals and a team leading five assists for a total of nine points. Myers has contributed points in 7/8 games played so far this season. Ben played 2 full seasons in Fargo 2017-18 & 2018-19. The former Force forward was a huge asset to the organization. In the 2018-19 season he served as an alternate captain helping to lead the Force to their first ever USHL Clark Cup. He racked up 65 points and 33 goals in that same season earning himself All-USHL Second Team Honors.
For more on Ben and the Minnesota Gophers click here!
