Stars' Comeback Bit Comes up Short
Published on January 16, 2026 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Lincoln Stars News Release
FARGO, ND- The Lincoln Stars (18-15-2-0) fell in overtime to the Fargo Force on Friday night at SCHEELS Arena.
The Stars would strike first, with Jackson Rudh (St.Cloud State) ripping a puck through a screen in front to give the Stars the early lead. Fargo's Eero Butella would respond seven minutes later to knot the game at one heading into the first intermission. Stars netminder Will Prowse (Princeton) would leave the game late in the first, and Charles Menard (Augustana) would play the rest of the game.
The Force would strike first in the second, but Lincoln would answer right back with a tally from John Hirschfeld (Vermont) to tie things up at two. Fargo would respond with two goals in under a minute to take a 4-2 lead, but a late tally by the Stars' Will Kortan would make it a one-goal game heading into the final 20 minutes.
The Stars would tie it up immediately in the third, with Alex Pelletier (Boston College) putting home his 31st goal of the season on a perfect set-up by Layne Loomer. The Force would take the lead just one minute later to make it 5-4. Lincoln would pull their goaltender for the extra-attacker late in the third, leading to Kade Kohanski (UM-Duluth) tying the game up at five, and sending the game into overtime.
The extra frame was back-and-forth, but after a collision in the Stars net, Fargo would put home the game-winning goal. Lincoln got a point in the overtime finish.
The Stars are back in action on Saturday at 6:05 p.m. in Fargo against the Force.
United States Hockey League Stories from January 16, 2026
- Steel Grind out 3-2 Win over RoughRiders - Chicago Steel
- Bucs Take 4-3 Win over Lancers in OT Thriller - Des Moines Buccaneers
- Jacks Finish Dominant Performance with Two Goals in Final Minute. Drop Phantoms, 3-1 - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Lancers Fall Late in Overtime to Buccaneers - Omaha Lancers
- Herd Take 5-4 Win over Musketeers in First of Three Games of the Weekend - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Stars' Comeback Bit Comes up Short - Lincoln Stars
- Two More Weekend Opportunities - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Final Minute Sinks Phantoms - Youngstown Phantoms
- Storm Alumni Spotlight: January 2026 - Tri-City Storm
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
