GRAND FORKS, N.D. (NDAPSSA)- Twin sisters Monique Lamoureux-Morando and Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson played starring roles in leading the U.S. Women’s Hockey Team to its first gold medal in 20 years and became North Dakota’s first born-and-raised Olympic gold medalists in the process.
For their achievements, the sisters are winners of the Dakota Award, which is given out by the North Dakota Associated Press Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association. The Dakota Award is given to a North Dakota native who excels in sports outside of the state.
The Lamoureux twins were two of the top three scorers for the U.S. Olympic team and came through when it was needed the most.
With the U.S. trailing 2-1 in the third period of the gold-medal game against Canada, Lamoureux-Morando scored on a breakaway with just 6 minutes, 21 seconds remaining to tie it up.
After a scoreless overtime, Lamoureux-Davidson scored the game-winning goal in the shootout to give the U.S. gold. On the winning goal, Lamoureux-Davidson pulled off a dazzling move, twice faking out Canadian goalie Shannon Szabados before finishing it off.
Lamoureux-Davidson led the U.S. with four goals and five points. Lamoureux-Morando was third in goals (two) and points (three).
The Lamoureux twins previously won Olympic silver medals in 2010 and 2014. They are the first North Dakotans to win three Olympic medals.
Other finalists: Tom Hoge, Fargo golfer, and Carson Wentz, Bismarck, quarterback for the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles.
Breuer non-school athlete of the year
Mandan professional rodeo rider Ty Breuer has been selected the non-school athlete of the year by the North Dakota Associated Press Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.
The Mandan bareback rider qualified for the National Finals Rodeo for the third time in his career. His 10-ride point total of 814.5 was the seventh-highest average of the top 15 riders who qualified for the 2017 event, which was held in Las Vegas in December. He won the fourth round at the NFR, the first round victory of his career at the event.
Breuer finished 13th in the PRCA World Bareback Riding standings in 2017 with $145,645 in earnings.
Other finalist: Austin Yano, Minot State hockey.
Force named non-school team
The Fargo Force have been selected the non-school team of the year by the North Dakota Associated Press Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.
The junior hockey team finished third in the United States Hockey League’s Western Conference during the 2017-18 regular season. The Force were unstoppable in the postseason, winning the league’s playoffs to capture the Clark Cup for the first time in the 10th season of the team’s existence.
Fargo beat the Youngstown Phantoms 3-1 in the championship series, claiming a 4-2 road win in the fourth and decisive game of the series.
Ty Farmer scored the game-winning goal with just less than than four minutes to play in the finale, while teammate Griffin Loughran was named Clark Cup playoffs MVP after recording seven goals and three assists in 13 postseason games.
Farmer and teammate Jacob Schmidt-Svejstrug were named to the all-USHL second team, while Force goalie Strauss Mann was a third-team pick.
Other finalists: Thompson American Legion baseball and Minot Minotauros hockey.
Eades named top coach
Cary Eades of the Fargo Force has been selected the non-school coach of the year by the North Dakota Associated Press Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.
Eades led the Force to their first United States Hockey League playoff championship, beating the Youngstown Phantoms 3-1 in the championship series to claim the Clark Cup for the first time in the Force’s 10-year history.
It was the first berth in the finals for the Force since 2013. Eades won the title with a roster of which several of the players had been traded or cut previously by other USHL teams.
It was the second USHL title for Eades, who led the Sioux Falls Stampede to a Clark Cup Final victory in 2015.
Other finalists: Marty Murray, Minot Minotauros hockey, and Ryan Miner, Minot State women’s hockey.