A couple of Anchorage boys, wingers and linemates Bret Link and Mac Swanson, proved pivotal players in helping the Fargo Force secure the regular-season title in the U.S. Hockey League, the country’s top junior circuit, and a first-round bye in the Clark Cup playoffs.
Link and Swanson tied for second on the Force in points and tied for 19th in the league in points.
Link, committed to Colorado College, racked 26-29—55 totals in 61 games and led the league in plus-minus with a franchise-record plus-37 rating. He produced five two-goal games, finished fifth in the league in shots on goal (190) and tied for 18th in goals.
With tonights conclusion of the 2022-23 regular season, Force forward Bret Link has officially set the franchise record for highest plus-minus in a single season with +37!
This record was previously held by @LAKings forward Alex Iafallo at +34!#ForceNation⚡️ | #StarsRise pic.twitter.com/SW0AcvGdpZ
— Fargo Force (@FargoForce) April 23, 2023
Swanson, a rookie, went 12-43—55 in 57 games, with a plus-27 rating that tied for eighth in the league. He tied for fifth in the league in helpers and was fourth in rookie points. Swanson delivered nine games in which he recorded multiple assists, including a five-assist game and a four-assist game. He is committed to North Dakota.
Link, Swanson and Fargo’s leading scorer, Notre Dame-bound Cole Knuble, who centers the two Alaskans on Fargo’s top line, all sat out the regular-season finale Saturday.
With its first-round bye, Fargo (40-14-8) will face the winner of the best-of-3 first-round series between the fourth-seeded Tri-City Storm and the fifth-seeded Sioux City Musketeers.
Camden Shasby
Another Anchorage kid on the Force, rookie defenseman Camden Shasby of Anchorage, went 1-7—8 and plus-2 in 41 games.
Meanwhile, forward Colin Kessler of Anchorage, ticketed for Vermont, earned 5-10—15 totals in 60 games for Sioux City.
Muskegon Lumberjacks goaltender Raythan Robbins of Anchorage endured a tough season for a club that finished 13th overall among 16 teams and did not qualify for the playoffs. Robbins, the former Anchorage Wolverine, is committed to Bemidji State (Minn.). He went 10-19-1, with a 4.27 goals-against average and .886 save percentage.
Robbins 10 times made 35 saves or more in a game, and he won games in which he snuffed 50 shots and 49 shots, respectively.