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West Fargo harbors D-I hockey talent in growing pool of North Dakota prospects

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West Fargo harbors D-I hockey talent in growing pool of North Dakota prospects


WEST FARGO — The city of West Fargo has become a somewhat unlikely hot bed for some of North Dakota’s top hockey prospects.

Five former West Fargo players, including one women’s prospect, have all committed to NCAA Division I programs since June. The city has also yielded several junior hockey and Division III women’s players.

“It’s great for our community,” said West Fargo Hockey Association hockey director Mike Parnell. “We have quite a few players that are accomplishing a lot, and it’s really rewarding to watch them get to live their dream.”

Among the D-I group, U.S. National U18 defenseman Lincoln Kuehne and Shattuck-St. Mary’s U16 forward TJ Hale both committed to Colorado College of the NCHC.

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Kuehne notched two goals and eight assists for the U.S. in 21 games this season. Hale has six goals and seven assists in 14 games for the Sabres.

Forward Bryce Mattern

committed to NCHC newcomer Arizona State

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in October. Mattern led Team North Dakota of the Upper Midwest High School Elite League with seven goals and eight assists, and tallied a league-high 2.5 points-per-game average.

Mattern led West Fargo High as a sophomore last season with 50 points. He is currently rostered on the Watertown (S.D.) Shamrocks of the NAHL.

Hunter Rudolph carries the puck in a game for the Northstar Christian Academy 16-and-under AAA team.

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Northstar Christian Academy forward Hunter Rudolph announced his decision to join St. Cloud State on Nov. 6. Rudolph leads the Knights 16U team at 42 points with 21 goals.

Avery Hovland, a forward for the North American Hockey Academy in Boston, committed to the University of Minnesota women’s program in June. The forward has six points with two goals through 15 games for the Hawks.

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“It’s nice to see the success out of all the communities in North Dakota,” said North Dakota Amateur Hockey Association president Matt Stockert. “You’re literally looking at a bunch of kids who just made a commitment to the game of hockey itself and want to put in the time and do the extra work it takes to hone their craft.”

Among the group, only one player was a member of a North Dakota-based team last season.

Various players across the state have opted to join Tier 1 teams across the Upper Midwest and beyond in search of being exposed to higher-level scouts. Those around the state say it’s a product of the player-focused youth programs.

“Regardless of where that player moves on to, that initial exposure comes from the structure that’s within the state,” Parnell said.

The NDAHA has created its own Tier 1 team with Team North Dakota that is made up of the top talent from around the state. There are 13 Team North Dakota teams, extending from 13U boys to 19U girls, that play from August to late October and restart in the spring.

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West Fargo’s Bryce Mattern skates for Team North Dakota.

Photo by Kayla Coleman

Both North Dakota and Minnesota run community-based youth hockey programs during the winter months, whereas other states across the country have Tier 1 teams that play a typical hockey schedule.

Stockert said Team North Dakota along with Minnesota Tier 1 teams play the pre-and-post season Tier 1 schedule to coincide with youth and high school hockey. He noted the team offers players a unique opportunity to play against some of the top-talent around the country.

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North Dakota has six other players who have committed to Division I programs, all of which have played on Team North Dakota.

Grand Forks’ Bauer Berry committed to St. Thomas and Michael Coleman will join the University of Massachusetts. Bismarck’s Maxon Vig announced his commitment to Bemidji State.

Fargo North-South defenseman Kenleigh Fischer, who was selected to the U.S. Under-18 Women’s National Team, committed to St. Thomas in September. Bismarck Century forward Avery Matt will join the Holy Cross women’s team.

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Fargo North-South’s Kenleigh Fischer shoots the puck against Mandan during the North Dakota state girls high school hockey tournament semifinals at Scheels Arena on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024.

David Samson/The Forum

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In addition to the college-level talent, there are over 30 players from North Dakota in three U.S.-based junior hockey leagues, and more within the various Canadian leagues.

A key factor in North Dakota’s ability to generate talent is how many resources are available across the state.

“Kids have a lot more opportunities to work on their skills,” said NDAHA player development director Grant Paranica. “We’re finding that more kids are participating in our programs and player development programs.”

Parnell said at Veteran’s Memorial Arena there’s a shooting room with synthetic ice for players to utilize before and after practices. The room also includes an area that has artificial turf. He noted that a multi-purpose room inside the arena is being renovated as a weight room.

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The WFHA is partnered with private hockey development facility Hoist Hockey and private sport-focused training gym Athletic Republic. Many players around the Fargo-Moorhead area also make use of the Cullen Force Academy in the Scheels Arena.

With more and more players across the state lacing up their skates, North Dakota hockey will continue grow and harbor more talented players.

“North Dakota hockey is heading in the right direction,” Paranica said.

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Bismarck Century’s Avery Matt beats Fargo North/South goalie Alyssa Jacobsen on a breakaway in the second period of the state championship Saturday at Scheels Arena.

Eric Hylden/Grand Forks Herald

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Andrew Haugland

After graduating from North Dakota State University, Haugland joined the Forum in January of 2023. Readers can reach him at 701-241-5508 or by emailing ahaugland@forumcomm.com





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North Dakota

Recap: Penn State wrestling sets NCAA history with 77th consecutive dual meet win

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Recap: Penn State wrestling sets NCAA history with 77th consecutive dual meet win


Penn State goes two for two and sets a new NCAA record

12/20/2025 07:26:07 PM

Penn State won two matches at the Collegiate Wrestling Duals and has set a new NCAA Division I record with 77 consecutive dual meet victories. The Lions pass Oklahoma State’s previous mark of 76 by beating Stanford 42-0. Earlier in the day, Penn State shut out North Dakota State.

Here are the full results from both matches:

PSU vs. NDSU

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125 pounds: No. 2 Luke Lilledahl, Penn State d. No. 31 Ezekiel Witt, NDSU, 6-5 (PSU 3-0)
133 pounds: No. 10 Marcus Blaze, PSU md. No. 29 Tristan Daugherty, NDSU, 11-3 (PSU 7-0)
141 pounds: Nate Desmond, Penn State d.  Michael Olson, NDSU, 4-1 (PSU 10-0)
149 pounds: No. 1 Shayne Van Ness, PSU TF No. 24 Max Petersen, NDSU, 19-2 (5:16) (PSU 15-0)
157 pounds: No. 8 PJ Duke, Penn State md. No. 21 Gavin Drexler, NDSU, 16-5 (PSU 19-0)
165 pounds: No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink, PSU TF Boeden Greenley, NDSU 18-1 (3:45) (PSU 24-0)
174 pounds: No. 1 Levi Haines, Penn State F. Max Magayna, NDSU (1:38) (PSU 30-0)
184 pounds: No. 4 Rocco Welsh, PSU TF Andrew McMcgonagle, NDSU, 19-4 (6:17) (PSU 35-0)
197 pounds: Josh Barr, Penn State TF Devin Wasley, NDSU, 19-3 (3:20) (PSU 40-0)
285 pounds: No. 13 Cole Mirasola, PSU F Drew Blackburn, NDSU (:33) (PSU 46-0)

PSU vs. Stanford
125 pounds: No. 2 Luke Lilledahl, Penn State d. No. 12 Nicco Provo, Stanford, 4-2 (PSU 3-0)
133 pounds: No. 10 Marcus Blaze, PSU F No. 6 Tyler Knox, Stanford (6:44) (PSU 9-0)
141 pounds: #Nate Desmond Penn State md. Lain Yapoujian, Stanford, 9-0 (PSU 13-0)
149 pounds: No. 1 Shayne Van Ness, PSU d. 14 Aden Valencia, Stanford, 10- 4 (PSU 16-0) 
157 pounds: No. 8 PJ Duke, Penn State d.  No. 5 Daniel Cardenas, Stanford, 5-2 (PSU 19-0)
165 pounds: No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink, PSU F.  EJ Parco, Stanford (4:23) (PSU 25-0)
174 pounds: No. 1 Levi Haines, PSU md. Lorenzo Norman, Stanford, 14-4 (PSU 29-0)
184 pounds: No. 4 Rocco Welsh, PSU d. Abraham Wojcikiewicz, Stanford, 5-1 (PSU 32-0)
197 pounds: Josh Barr, PSU TF No. 19 Angelo Posada, Stanford, 19-3 (PSU 37-0)
285 pounds: No. 13 Cole Mirasola PSU TF Luke Duthie, Stanford, 21-6 (2:59) (PSU 42-0)



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Suffolk prosecutors intercept, return scammed cash to North Dakota grandmother

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Suffolk prosecutors intercept, return scammed cash to North Dakota grandmother


An 80-year-old North Dakota grandmother scammed out of $8,500 has her money back after Suffolk County prosecutors and postal inspectors traced the package of cash, which was mailed to a Shirley address, and returned it earlier this week, district attorney’s officials said.

Officials said the woman received a call Dec. 12 from someone pretending to be her granddaughter, saying she had been in a traffic accident in Suffolk County and needed bail money.

The caller said she was charged with three crimes and then handed the phone to a man posing as her lawyer, who gave the grandmother instructions on how to send cash through the mail, district attorney’s officials said.

The grandmother mailed the cash, but the man kept calling, pestering her for more money, prosecutors said. The woman, who eventually realized she had been scammed, called police in Devils Lake, North Dakota, and reported the con.

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Detectives, who made no arrests, tracked the package to Shirley. The Suffolk County Financial Crimes Bureau then worked with inspectors from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service to intercept the package two hours after it arrived on Wednesday and returned the money to the North Dakota woman.

“Our office is dedicated to combating scammers who prey on the senior citizen community, who criminals believe to be easy prey,” Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney said in a statement. “Bad actors should know that Suffolk County will not be a haven for mailing scams, and that we will do everything within our power to prevent citizens from being swindled by predatory scammers.”



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Bill to improve rural veteran health care sees support from North Dakota providers

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Bill to improve rural veteran health care sees support from North Dakota providers


WASHINGTON, D.C. — North Dakota organizations have submitted letters of support for a federal bill that would improve veterans’ access to local health care options, which has been examined by the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee.

The bill – the Critical Access for Veterans Care Act – from Sen. Kevin Cramer and Sen. Tim Sheehy would allow veterans living in the rural United States to seek health care services at their local critical access hospitals or rural health clinics, a press release said.

“The Community Care program literally can be a lifeline,” said Cramer, R-N.D. “(What) prevents it from being a lifeline as often as it ought to be is all of the roadblocks that get put up. After hearing from veterans and rural health care providers and leaders across North Dakota, I proposed a solution with Sen. Sheehy to simplify access to the critical access network, whether it’s a critical access hospital (or) rural health clinic.”

Cramer and Sheehy’s (R-Mont.) bill would amend the VA (Veterans Affairs) MISSION Act of 2018 to make a new category under which “care is required to be furnished through community providers, specifically for care sought by a veteran residing within 35 miles of the critical access hospital or rural health clinic,” the release said.

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The release also said a number of veterans live in rural areas and face major challenges to accessing timely and quality health care. In North Dakota, there are 37 critical access hospitals, but only five of those communities housing them also have a VA community-based outpatient clinic. The state has one VA medical center in Fargo and eight community-based outpatient clinics in total.

The bill has received letters of support from the North Dakota Rural Health Association and a coalition of 22 North Dakota rural health care providers, the release said, who wrote that the legislation will offer a streamlined and practical approach building on existing infrastructure and recognized designations in rural health care. The American Hospital Association, America’s Warrior Partnership and the National Rural Health Association have also voiced support for the bill.

Another letter of support for the bill has come from Marcus Lewis, CEO of the North Dakota Veteran and Critical Access Hospital. A veteran himself, he said he lives more than three hours from the nearest VA hospital and works two hours away from it. However, there are three community health care facilities within 50 miles of his home.

“Despite the availability of this high quality local care, I am currently paying out of pocket for needed therapy because accessing services through the Community Care Network has proven prohibitively difficult,” he wrote.

Cramer said the VA system gives veterans less access to care that is readily available, and the goal of the bill is to give rural veterans access to their local critical access hospitals without strings attached.

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“I worry if the bill is watered down, quite honestly, that we turn the authority back over to the bureaucracy to decide,” he said.

Our newsroom occasionally reports stories under a byline of “staff.” Often, the “staff” byline is used when rewriting basic news briefs that originate from official sources, such as a city press release about a road closure, and which require little or no reporting. At times, this byline is used when a news story includes numerous authors or when the story is formed by aggregating previously reported news from various sources. If outside sources are used, it is noted within the story.





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