Grand Forks native Pierre-Paul Lamoureux made his head coaching debut Thursday night in Pittsburgh.
It was a successful one.
Lamoureux's Fargo Force beat the Lincoln Stars 3-0 in the United States Hockey League's Fall Classic, the annual event to open each season.
Lamoureux, 32, took over for Cary Eades in the offseason. Eades, who had been working as both the team's general manager and head coach, opted to just handle the general manager duties and hand over coaching to Lamoureux.
In the season opener, the Force scored twice in the first period -- the season-opening goal by Casey McDonald was assisted by Grand Forks native Mason Salquist -- and added another goal late in the third period.
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Goaltender Cole Brady posted a 30-save shutout.
The Force are led by an all-local coaching staff.
Grand Forks native Eli Rosendahl is the associate head coach and Grafton's Chad Demers is the assistant coach.
After Lamoureux earned his first win, Eades sent his congratulations.
The @FargoForce win their season opener 3-0 over the Lincoln Stars at the @USHL Showcase in Pittsburgh. Cole Brady was #1 in posting a 30 save shutout ! Congrats to Coach @pp_lamoureux on his 1st win as a Head Coach ! #manymore2come #BLACKnBLUE
— Cary Eades (@caryeades) September 27, 2019
Fargo plays against Waterloo in its second Fall Classic game at 7 p.m. Friday night.
Fargo's home opener is Oct. 11 against Omaha in Scheels Arena.
