Contact Us
Fargo Force
5225 31st Ave S
Fargo, North Dakota 58104
(P) 701.356.7656
(F) 701.356.7655
Front Office
For info call: (701) 356-7656
Monday – Friday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
JON KRAM – PRESIDENT
Jon is the President of the Fargo Force hockey organization and Scheels Arena. Prior to the Force, Jon was a District Team Leader for Target Corporation, in Waukesha, WI. He was a part of the Target Corporation for 14 years. Jon has been with the Fargo Force since September 2010. His main responsibilities are to oversee the day to day operations of the team and the arena.
Jon holds a Bachelor’s degree of Business Administration from Moorhead State University, Moorhead, MN, and an Associate of Arts degree from North Dakota State College of Science, Wahpeton, ND. He is originally from Langdon, ND. He and his wife, Peggy, and their two children live just outside of Fargo. Jon and his family enjoy the outdoors and spending time at the lake.
Jon Kram
President – JonK@fargoforce.com
CARY EADES – PRESIDENT OF HOCKEY OPS / GENERAL MANAGER
In May of 2019, after a 35-year career in coaching, Eades was promoted to the President of Hockey Operations in addition to his General Manager duties for the Force. Eades joined the Force organization on May 20, 2015 when he was named the 5th Head Coach in the team’s history. In his 4 years as GM/Head Coach, Eades finished as the all-time winningest coach for the “BLACKnBLUE” with a record of 139-82-21 for a .618 winning %. In 2018, he helped lead the Force to their 1st ever Clark Cup Trophy – emblematic of the USHL’s Playoff Champion.
Eades and the Force organization take a great deal of pride in being a stepping stone to a young man’s career, and all 4 teams from 2015-2019 had at least 20 players earn NCAA Div. I scholarships.
As a player, Eades played at the University of North Dakota from 1978-82, winning two national championships in 1980 and 1982, and three WCHA titles. He was Captain of the Sioux his senior season and finished his playing career with 164 points (85 goals, 79 assists) in 144 games. Eades then went on to play professional hockey in the St. Louis Blues organization for two seasons before an injury cut short his playing days.
Eades began his coaching career at UND in 1984 and worked under head coach Gino Gasparini for seven seasons (1984-91). Eades was an assistant on North Dakota’s 1987 WCHA and National Championship team alongside former Force coaches Dean Blais and John Marks. In 1991, Eades headed to the USHL for two seasons as the GM / Head Coach of the Dubuque Fighting Saints where he compiled an overall win/loss record of 86-46-7 (.647). The Saints qualified for the National Junior Tournament both seasons under Eades and won the 1993 National Junior championship.
In 1993, Eades went to Warroad (MN) High School where he spent 11 seasons as the Head Coach of the boy’s hockey team. In his time coaching the Warriors, he posted an overall win/loss record of 237-62-6 (.787) and led the team to three Minnesota State Class “A” championships and seven Section 8A championships. In 1996, he was named Minnesota State High School Coach of the Year.
In 2004, Eades returned to UND where he coached for another eight seasons under former head coach Dave Hakstol, and during that time the Sioux captured at least one championship each year. UND competed in five NCAA Frozen Four tournaments, won two WCHA league titles, and won four WCHA Final Five Playoff championships.
In 2012, Eades returned to the USHL where he spent three seasons as the Head Coach and General Manager of the Sioux Falls Stampede. Eades inherited a team that had finished in last place overall in the USHL during the 2011-12 season (41 pts.) and in his first season at the helm of the Stampede, he led them to first place and a Western Conference regular season title (92 pts.). The 51-point increase is a USHL record for points improved from the previous season. Sioux Falls also set team records for wins (45), home wins (24), and points (92), and for these accomplishments, Eades was named USHL Coach of the Year. Eades compiled a win/loss record of 125-70-14 (.599) in Sioux Falls, culminating in winning the 2015 Clark Cup Championship.
Cary Eades
President of Hockey Ops/GM – CaryE@FargoForce.com
BRETT SKINNER – HEAD COACH
Skinner comes to Fargo after one season in the NAHL as Head Coach of the Minnesota Wilderness where he coached the team to the Robertson Cup after winning the Midwest Division. Before that he was an Assistant Coach for 5 seasons with the Sioux Falls Stampede in the USHL winning a championship in the 2018-19 season.
Prior to his coaching career Skinner played 12 seasons of Professional Hockey as a defenseman including a short stint with the New York Islanders of the NHL as well as 500 games played in the AHL including a Calder Cup Championship in 2012-13 with the Grand Rapids Griffins. He also spent time in European leagues including Russia, Germany, Finland, Sweden and the Czech Republic.
Before turning pro Skinner attended the University of Denver where he won Back to Back National Championships in 2004 and 2005. The Pioneers also won the WCHA Regular Season and WCHA Playoff Championships in 2005. Skinner was a 2nd Team All-American as well as First Team All-WCHA in ’05.
Skinner played one season for the Des Moines Buccaneers in the 2001-02 season where he was awarded the USHL Defenseman of the Year award and was a 3rd Round NHL Draft Pick of the Vancouver Canucks.
Skinner and his wife Katie have two boys Thomas (5) and William (3).
Brett Skinner
Fargo Force Head Coach
COREY LEIVERMANN – ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH
Leivermann comes to the Force with 3 years of coaching experience in the USHL. Previously with the Madison Capitals. He served as Associate Head Coach from 2020-2022 helping lead the team to the first finals appearance in franchise history during the 2021-22 season. In 2022-23 Leivermann led the Capitols as GM/Head Coach. Prior to his time in the USHL he coached the Janesville Jets of the NAHL from 2017-2020, the Wichita Falls Wildcats of the NAHL & Jersey Shore Wildcats of the NA3HL in 2016-17.Leivermann comes to the Force with 3 years of coaching experience in the USHL. Previously with the Madison Capitals. He served as Associate Head Coach from 2020-2022 helping lead the team to the first finals appearance in franchise history during the 2021-22 season. In 2022-23 Leivermann led the Capitols as GM/Head Coach. Prior to his time in the USHL he coached the Janesville Jets of the NAHL from 2017-2020, the Wichita Falls Wildcats of the NAHL & Jersey Shore Wildcats of the NA3HL in 2016-17.
A native of Mankato, MN, Leivermann played for the Fargo Force in the team’s inaugural season in 2008-2009 and led the team as Captain during the 2009-2010 season. While in Fargo Leivermann put up 28 goals and 29 assists for 77 points in 108 regular season games. He played 3 years of D1 College Hockey at Minnesota State University Mankato followed by his senior season at Gustavus Adolphus College where he was an All American & team captain.
Leivermann and his wife (Tanya) come to Fargo with their dog Bella.
Corey Leivermann
Fargo Force Associate Head Coach
CARTER KRIER – ASSISTANT COACH / GOALTENDING COACH
Carter Krier, of Moorhead, MN, was hired by the organization in 2020. In his first season with the Force, Krier coached some of the best goaltenders in the league, earning honors such as USHL Goaltender of the Week (4x), ALL-USHL Third Team, Ace Brandt MVP, 2nd Longest Shut-Out Streak in USHL Playoff History and helped lead the Force to a Western Conference Championship and the Clark Cup Finals.
In 2022, Carter was promoted to become an Assistant Coach alongside his role as Goaltending Coach. In this role, he led the penalty kill and still developed the goaltenders. In his third season with the team, Carter helped both goaltenders earn honors in the Top 3 in GAA and Save Percentage in the league, as well as ALL-USHL Second Team goaltender. He also assisted the team in becoming Anderson Cup Champions, Western Conference Champions and led them to the Clark Cup Finals.
Carter Krier
Goaltending Coach – CarterK@FargoForce.com
JACKSON KEANE – ASSISTANT COACH
Born in Denver Co, Keane is coming to Fargo after beginning his coaching career with the Winning Blues in the second half of the 2022/23 season.
Prior to coaching, Keane spent two seasons playing for the Winnipeg Blues winning a championship with the team in 2013-14, along with being named to MJHL All Rookie team and second team all-star.
Keane spent two seasons in the USHL for the Sioux City Musketeers winning the Anderson Cup. Along with one season in the BCHL with the Penticton Vees. Keane also represented Canada on two separate occasions with the U17 World Challenge along with the Jr. A Challenge playing for Team Canada West.
Keane then went on to play three years in Grand Forks for the University of North Dakota, where he won two Penrose Cups along with an NCHC playoff title.
After graduating from North Dakota, Keane spent parts of two seasons professionally in the ECHL with the Wheeling Nailers, and Orlando Solar Bears.
Keane is a graduate of St. Paul’s High School, along with a graduate of the University of North Dakota with a bachelors degree in Communication.
Son of Mike and Tammy Keane.
Jackson Keane
Assistant Coach – JacksonK@FargoForce.com
KATIE MERRICK – VP OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS
Katie began with the Force in October of 2020 as a Media Intern. After graduating from Minnesota State University Moorhead in the Spring of 2021 with a degree in Sports Communications she transitioned into a full time role with the team. Katie is the Vice President of the Force and oversees all of the team’s business operations, including promotions, media, marketing, game day events, and more.
Katie is from Elbow Lake, MN where she grew up with her parents and twin brother Jackson. In her free time she likes to go to the lake, golf and spend time with friends and family.
Katie Merrick
VP of Business Operations – KatieM@fargoforce.com
Phone: 320.760.8984
STEVE RATTI- VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES
Steven Ratti
Vice President of Sales – SRatti@scheelsarena.com
Phone: 701.356.4393
KYLE EBACH – ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE, GROUP SALES
Kyle began with the Force in August of 2021, after graduating from North Dakota State University with a degree in Sports Management. Kyle has been working in sports for the last 6 years. In those years he has worked for multiple teams the likes of NDSU Football and the Fargo Moorhead RedHawks. He doesn’t know much about the sport of hockey but will talk your ear off about the Twins or Timberwolves.
Kyle is from Rugby, North Dakota. If you’re ever in the Geographic Center of North America, take a stop at his family’s restaurant, Rockin’ Relics.
