Author Archives: Ryan S Clark

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About Ryan S Clark

Ryan S. Clark is a reporter for The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead who covers the United States Hockey League, the Fargo Force and Minnesota High School Hockey.

Memories and shot clocks

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Tomorrow’s Thursday and that means prep columns from me and North Dakota preps beat writer Heath Hotzler.

Heath’s column will talk about some of the interesting things he’s seen on Jan. 20 throughout the years including a game where North’s Tyler Koenig scored 19 points, 15 rebounds and seven blocks in a 74-48 win over Valley City in 2001.

My column will also talk about basketball, specifically, the use of the shot clock in Minnesota.

I asked area coaches like Moorhead girls coach Jim Kapitan and Barnesville coach Todd Henrickson if Minnesota needs to institute the shot clock all the time and the affects the shot clock could have on a game and potentially, a program.

Look for that and area prep standings in tomorrow’s Forum.

Fun stuff at the Valley News Live-Scheels Shootout

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Surely everyone is able to take something from the Valley News Live-Scheels Shootout.

For the coaches and players, it’s a chance to be on TV. For parents, it’s a chance to see their kids play in the Fargodome. For my bud and fellow Forum sports repoter Heath Hotzler it’s a chance to eat cookies and drink soda between quarters.

This is my first time covering the game and what I took away from it all was the presentation. There are cameramen around every corner and that was evident during the first game between Fargo North and Moorhead.

Moorhead’s Matt Fernholz landed funny on his right knee forcing the trainers and coaches to come look at him. Sure enough, there was the cameraman, which was an odd sight to see in these parts where high school games aren’t requently televised. Anyone who has been to a major college game or the NBA, is use to seeing these things in the stands.

You see it on the high school level too. Just not at the Fargodome.

The other odd thing to see was the Fargodome. Perhaps this is nothing new for anyone that has seen a game here. But it just feels like the more I come here, the more impressive this place gets with the different ways the floor can be shifted.

The west end bleachers were pushed in leaving just enough room for a scorer’s table and benches. Then there’s the court. Sure it’s a dome that holds around 20,000 but for high school basketball, it gives it a nice, somewhat hometown gym kind of feel.

Until there is a TV timeout.

Perham at Hawley should be a good one

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Tonight we’ll find out which girls basketball team is better: Hawley or Perham?

Perham has jumped out to an amazing start and finally suffered its first loss. The Yellowjackets are still 10-1, which is not bad by any means. Keep in mind, this is a program that’s had success over the last few years.

Hawley, on the otherhand, knows nothing but success. It is another ho-hum, 7-0 season with smart defense and an offense that just comes naturally.

It’ll be interesting to see what happens. I’ll be there at Hawley tonight and that story will be in Friday’s edition of The Forum.

Game’s on for Hockey Day Minnesota

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FS North spokeswoman Becky Ross said a few minutes ago Moorhead will continue to host Hockey Day Minnesota on Feb. 12.

There had been questions from some regarding if Moorhead would continue to host Hockey Day Minnesota because the team had players suspended along with head coach Dave Morinville following a hazing investigation.

Moorhead lost 3-1 to Minnetonka on Saturday, the first game following the investigation.

The Spuds will play in the 1:30 p.m. outdoor game against Hill-Murray. The first game, at 10 a.m., will pit Roseau against Wayzata.

Interesting times for Moorhead hockey

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By this point, it would be safe to say most people have had their say about the potential hazing incident involving the Moorhead boys hockey team.

It still is not clear what happened but we could find out more today as suspensions, if needed, could be given out today.

If you want more about what “happened” and who’s involved, ask your neighbor or someone else because everyone has a hypothesis as to what happened. But what we will talk about is how all this has gone on at a point when it looked like things were getting better for Moorhead.

The Spuds haven’t exactly had the easiest start to the year. Moorhead lost quite a bit of its scoring talent and has had to rely on a class that’s taking its turn when it comes to being leaders.

People were grumbling about not winning Section 8A this season especially after the 6-0 pounding by Duluth East at home a few weeks ago. Moorhead turned it around winning four of its last five games including last night’s 8-0 drubbing over Thief River Falls. One of those wins also includes the 2-1 upset over previously undefeated, top-ranked Wayzata.

Eight goals is a season-high that surpassed the five goals that was just scored on Tuesday at home against East Grand Forks. Keep in mind, the investigation started right after Christmas Break and school just resumed this week.

It has only been one game. Yet, is last night proof that Moorhead can work past the speculation and drama en route to winning more games? Getting over a slow start is different than what has possibly occurred if an investigation deems it to be hazing or anything near that.

Who knows? But one thing is for sure, last night was certainly a start.

Rules and Wrestling

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When you get a chance, make sure to read today’s prep columns written by North Dakota preps writer Heath Hotzler and myself on the Minnesota side.

Heath wrote a column about transfer rules in N.D. People have been discussing these rules, especially lately in regards to Anjelo Shepherd’s much talked about move from Fargo North to West Fargo. It was the second year in a row West Fargo has had a state champion wrestler transfer to its program.

Over in Minnesota, I had a chance to sit down with Frazee wrestling coach John Barlund about his team’s start to the season.

Frazee only lost one wrestler from last year’s team that finished second at state. They’ve had a bit of a rough spat having lost a meet in December but bounced back with a strong showing at the Rumble on the Red tournament in Fargo.

There’s just something about Bemidji

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Hope everyone had a Happy Holidays and stayed safe on the roads.

Speaking of roads, when it comes to area teams this year, it appears the road to win section will likely go through Bemidji this year.

The Detroit Lakes boys basketball teams is already learning that lesson. The DL boys (6-2) are off to a strong start and if it is not for the Lumberjacks (7-0) it would look like the boys would have the section wrapped up.

It is still early but Bemidji’s looking pretty strong this year on the court and this could pose a problem for DL in its search for a section crown.

Bemidji is fourth in Section 8AAA wrestling, which isn’t bad by any means given that it is one of the more even wrestling districts in the state.

Finally, what kind of blog would this be if we didn’t talk about Bemidji’s hockey program. Those who have not notice might want to take into consideration that the Lumberjacks are quite strong.

Bemidji skated to a 1-1 tie with the Moorhead boys earlier in the year. That game, well at the time, showed perhaps Moorhead might have some struggles winning section this year. After all, Roseau is no slouch in most years, Brainerd is looking strong, St. Cloud Tech has only lost one game to this point but Bemidji looks the strongest of the three.

How Bemidji (9-1-1) remains unranked is a mystery.

What’s not a mystery is Bemidji’s looking mighty tough in boys hockey and basketball so far.

What’s up with the Spuds boys hockey team?

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That is certainly a question many people are asking following Moorhead’s 2-1 win on Wednesday over No. 1 Wayzata.

After all, it was just a week ago where the Spuds got embarrassed 6-0 by No. 4 Duluth East, which lost 2-1 to Wayzata to open the season. Now Moorhead turns around and topples the top dog. Go figure.

Another question people are asking: Is this a repeat of 2009?

Those not familiar with 2009, here’s a quick note. Moorhead lost eight straight that year. Four of those losses were shutouts and they still managed to make the state tournament. When the Spuds got to state, it upset No. 1 Edina en route to finishing second.

Spuds coach Dave Morinville said to me after the game last night he sees shades of the 2009 team in this year’s group.

-Ryan S. Clark