Former Fargo Force Star Cole Knuble Debuts With Philadelphia Flyers

Fargo Force Alum Cole Knuble Makes Immediate Impact With Philadelphia Flyers

For the Schumacher family in West Fargo, tuning into a routine National Hockey League broadcast turned into an unforgettable family milestone. Cole Knuble, who lived with the Schumachers as a teenager when he played for the Fargo Force, made his debut with the Philadelphia Flyers on Oct. 19.

KNUBLE BURIES IT SHORTHANDED🚨: Cole Knuble 🍎: Andre Gasseau🍏: Bryan Huggins#BLACKnBLUE pic.twitter.com/iqpbiqEL0V

— https://x.com/FargoForce/status/1479636691946250243

The transition from junior hockey to the professional league happened swiftly for the forward. Just two games into his Philadelphia tenure, Knuble recorded two goals during a 3-1 victory over Buffalo.

Those tallies arrived with family watching closely from afar, while his father, former NHL player Mike Knuble, witnessed the milestone in person. Mike and Cole became the first father-son duo to play regular season games for Philadelphia.

Back in West Fargo, the Schumacher household caught the action entirely by chance. Ryan Schumacher checked the broadcast, turned on the television, and heard the announcers call the goal seconds later, quickly followed by his second.

Headed by Heidi and Ryan Schumacher, the family served as Cole’s billet hosts in 2022-23. To their son Austin, the hockey standout was simply a big brother who spent basement afternoons playing mini-sticks and fueling up on his favorite cereal.

“He is incredible. For as good as he is, he is one of the most humble people you can meet. It would take a lot for him to say that he is having a moment,” Heidi Schumacher said.

“When he was with the Fargo Force he may have been the star of the game but he would come home here and you would never know it,” Ryan Schumacher added.

For the Schumacher family, watching their former houseguest skate in the NHL offered a unique look at the human side of professional sports.

“I was his fake mom for two years, I was his Fargo mom, so this was a real proud parent moment,” Heidi Schumacher said.