Third North Dakotan could provide a boost for state in the USHL

Days after finishing his freshman season at Devils Lake, Keaton Thompson is now making a name for himself in the United States Hockey League.

And he hasn't seen a minute of ice time yet.

The Fargo Force junior hockey team defenseman is only the third North Dakota player in the league this season, joining Force captain Chad Demers (Grafton) and Indiana Ice forward Will Aide (Bismarck).

"I think it is an honor," said Thompson, who joined the Force on Feb. 9. "I think it is also cool that I am a teammate with one of the guys from North Dakota."

Having Demers and Thompson gives the Force more local ties, but can it help play a role in getting more North Dakota athletes in the USHL?

Former Grand Forks Central coach Tarek Howard thinks so.

Howard, who also coached the now-defunct Fargo-Moorhead Ice Sharks in the USHL, said the Force have the tools to help make the league a goal for instate kids.

"(The Force are) established there," said Howard, a former University of North Dakota star. "They have a great building, they've had some top-notch coaches, and it is great for North Dakota hockey that Fargo is doing so well that I think the number of kids will rise because of it."

Increasing that number, Howard said, means hockey will have to become popular in places like Bismarck and Minot.

He pointed out that Grand Forks is a place where the Sioux have made hockey the top sport, drawing the area's best athletes.

Howard claims the same can be said for Fargo, adding that a player like Thompson could help.

"I think North Dakota puts out a lot of players, but there's just not a big population base," he said. "Occasionally, you have talent from out west and that kid from Devils Lake (Thompson) is the real deal."

Demers, who has had three Force teammates from North Dakota in three seasons, said growing up he knew a little about the USHL.

He said that he knew about a couple players from Grafton and Grand Forks playing in the league, but there was not much exposure because there was not a team.

The Force, he said, have created exposure by having players like him and now Thompson on the team.

"Yeah, watching him come here is exciting," said Demers, who will play college hockey at Air Force. "Keaton is coming in at a very young age and coming from Devils Lake, which isn't considered a hockey hotbed, is - as far as I am concerned - is great."

Readers can reach Forum reporter Ryan S. Clark at (701) 241-5548.

Clark's Force blog can be found at slightlychilled.areavoices.com