Feature Story

Tough decision paying off for Force’s Lee

 

By Jon Garver

 

One of the trends in hockey is watching players depart their high school or midget programs early to play junior hockey. These days, more and more players are taking that plunge, and they are doing it earlier. In Minnesota, the northern part of the state in particular, this trend has been bucked, for the most part, as players stay at home in an attempt to make a run at a state hockey tournament.

In Roseau, where hockey was, is and always will be king, there have never really been players that left the tradition-rich program early for life away from home. But that wasn’t the case for Mike Lee. One of the most decorated goaltenders in the state the last two years as a member of the powerhouse Rams, Lee bypassed his senior year to play for the expansion Fargo Force of the USHL.

“It was the toughest decision that I’ve ever made in my life. Roseau just embraces the game so much and there is so much pride in wearing the green and white that it was tough to leave,” Lee said. “I left a lot behind, but I thought this was the best move for my hockey career.”

Lee has been a stalwart in goal for the Force, who currently sits in third place in the West Division. That position would get the first-year team in the Clark Cup playoffs, something that some may not have expected from an expansion team.

“Playing in the USHL and in Fargo has been a great experience so far. Our team has a lot of talent, and being so young and having so many guys new to it, we took our lumps early on,” Lee said. “But now that guys have gotten their feet wet and the team has more confidence, we’re playing better. We’ve gotten better as the season has gone on.”

A lot of that is attributed to Lee, who has played in 30 of 37 games for the Force and has a 14-12-2 record with a 2.60 goals against average and a .911 save percentage. 

“Mike is a big part of our success. He’s a big, strong goalie who is very composed. He doesn’t get rattled and the whole team feeds off that,” said Force Head Coach Dean Blais. “He’s a leader on the team and a 4.0 student off the ice. He’s the complete package, just a great kid.”

Lee has similar praise for Blais.

“It’s awesome playing for him,” Lee said. “He’s so competitive and will do anything to win the game. That’s how I want to be.”

After his stint in Fargo, which could last one more season, Lee will head to St. Cloud State.

“A lot of people said as I was going through it that I would know which school is right. I felt comfortable there right away,” Lee said. “Everything just felt right there. I look forward to going there.”

Pro hockey will also most definitely beckon for Lee, who is the fourth-highest ranked goaltender in North America in the NHL’s mid-term rankings for the 2009 NHL Draft.

“It’s an honor to be ranked, but I’m not worried about that. I’m worried about getting wins and getting the Fargo Force into the playoffs,” Lee said. “If I do that and play well, this summer will take care of itself.”

 

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