LAST WEEK…
Friday, January 26: Janesville Jets 4, Austin Bruins 1
Shots: Jets 32, Bruins 22
PP: Jets 2-6, Bruins 1-5
After a scoreless first period, the Janesville Jets (31-6-0-3) erupted for four goals in the second, their highest total this season in the middle frame, and hung on for a big 4-1 road win over the Austin Bruins (17-18-2-2) on Friday night.
Each goaltender stood tall in the opening period, with Janesville’s Derek Schaedig making 13 saves opposite Austin’s rookie Jake Kucharski, who stopped 12 Jets chances.
Seven minutes into the second, Bruins defenseman Zsombor Garat boarded Lordanthony Grissom, drawing a five minute major penalty. The Jets capitalized on this opportunity, with Kip Hoffmann (8:44 2nd) crashing the net as the late man for the game’s first goal. Less than three minutes later, on the same power play, Cullen Munson (11:12 2nd) tapped in a spectacular feed from Carter Ekberg for his 17th of the season. Kip Hoffmann (13:56 2nd) sniped one over the pads on a two-on-one rush to extend the lead to three, and Jakov Novak (17:37 2nd) converted a breakaway, capping off a four-goal explosion in a span of nine minutes.
After killing four minors, the Jets’ penalty kill unit finally broke down when Jon Richards (11:55 3rd) ended Derek Schaedig’s shutout efforts, but that was all the Jets would allow, holding on for the 4-1 win.
Derek Schaedig (13-4-0-3) rode a hot first period through for a 21-save win, while Jake Kucharski (8-8-0-0), the future Providence Friar, was given the loss, stopping 28 of 32 shots.
Saturday, January 21: Janesville Jets 1, Austin Bruins 5
Shots: Jets 26, Bruins 27
PP: Jets 1-4, Bruins 0-4
The Austin Bruins (18-18-2-2) never trailed as they jumped all over the Janesville Jets (31-7-0-3) on Saturday, beating Janesville 5-1 for a series split in the state of hockey.
Austin’s Jon Richards (3:51 1st) opened the scoring with a backhand shot on a partial breakaway. On the power play, Jets captain Adam Roeder (8:23 1st) jumped on a poor clearing attempt and picked a corner, tying the game with his fifth goal of the season. The first period set a mood for the game, as high energy levels and occasionally unchecked emotion brought some physical, chippy hockey. Officials tended to let each team play, but Bruins forward Jan Stefka earned a 10-minute misconduct for throwing Lordanthony Grissom’s stick into the crowd towards the end of the period.
Jon Richards (9:24 2nd) scored his second of the night on the doorstep, poking in a loose puck to regain the Austin lead. Less than two minutes later, Justin Misiak (11:13 2nd) snuck a center ice shot past Derek Schaedig, ending his night at three goals.
The third period was gravy for the Bruins, as they beat Jake Barczewski, who was battling an illness, on goals from Cole Lawrence (10:42 3rd) and AJ Drobot (15:49 3rd) to seal the game and secure the split.
Jake Kucharski (9-8-0-0) was nearly perfect, stopping 25 of 26 shots for Austin. Derek Schaedig (13-5-0-3) received the loss in a 10/13 night, while Jake Barczewski’s (18-2-0-1) relief effort, 12 saves on 14 shots, recorded no decision.
Midwest Division Recap
The Minnesota Magicians split a road series in the Land of Lincoln, losing to the Springfield Jr. Blues 5-2 on Friday before following up with a 2-1 Saturday win. In another interdivisional series, the Coulee Region Chill couldn’t take a point out of Cloquet, as the Minnesota Wilderness swept the Jets’ in-state rivals, 3-1 and 5-2 in northeast Minnesota. More splits came in the Last Frontier, as the Northeast Generals picked up their second win of the season Friday over the Kenai River Brown Bears, and the Fairbanks Ice Dogs smoked the Aston Rebels, who currently hold the NAHL’s top seed (via points percentage), 5-0 on Saturday.
Midwest Division Standings:
| Place | Team | Record | Pts |
| 1 | Janesville Jets | 31-7-0-3 | 65 |
| 2 | MN Magicians | 23-13-2-2 | 50 |
| 3 | Springfield Jr. Blues | 18-18-1-1 | 38 |
| 4 | Coulee Region Chill | 16-19-2-0 | 34 |
| 5 | Fairbanks Ice Dogs | 15-22-2-1 | 33 |
| 6 | Kenai River Brown Bears | 10-27-2-0 | 22 |
THIS WEEK…
Friday, February 3, 2017 vs. Springfield Jr. Blues – 7:00 p.m. CST
Saturday, February 4, 2017 vs. Springfield Jr. Blues – 7:00 p.m. CST
This weekend, the Jets play their first home games in four weeks. Coming to town are the Springfield Jr. Blues, over whom Janesville holds a 5-1-0-0 season record to date. The Jr. Blues split a home series with the second place Magicians last weekend, and sit solidly in third place in the Midwest Division, 12 points behind Minnesota and four points ahead of Coulee Region. Springfield is 4-6-0-0 in their last 10 games, and 9-10-1-0 away from the Nelson. Third-year veteran Matt Long leads the team in scoring, with 34 points in 36 games. San Jose Sharks third round pick Mike Robinson has battled well for Springfield, posting a .915 save percentage behind a 7-5-1-0 record. Robinson is committed to the University of New Hampshire, as one of four Jr. Blues roster players with a Division I commitment (F Matt Cassidy – Quinnipac; D Fletcher Fineman – Union; G Garrett Nieto – Lake Superior State). Tickets are still available for both games, and can be purchased at www.janesvillejets.com/buy-tickets. Both games will be broadcast live with Mike Hammett’s call on www.hockeytv.com.
PROMOS AND EVENTS…
Friday, February 3rd is Salute to Dairy Night, presented by Blain’s Farm and Fleet. Evansville’s Ann O’Leary, the 69th Alice in Dairyland, is an alumnus of the Rock County 4-H Program and will perform the night’s ceremonial puck drop. Jets fans in attendance will have the chance to win prizes from Blain’s Farm and Fleet and the Jets, including team-signed cheeseheads. Sponsored games and contests include corn shucking and a cheese wheel shootout.
Saturday, February 4th is Youth Hockey Night, presented by Alliant Energy, and also the second and final Skate with the Jets of the season, sponsored by ATC. Youth Hockey Night features extended intermissions to showcase the Janesville Jayhawks, Beloit Blades, Elmbrook Eagles, and Crystal Lake Maple Leafs.
IN THE COMMUNITY…
In addition to their assistance with Janesville Youth Hockey practices, Jets players will appear at Sunday’s Shootout Showcase, in concordance with JYH’s hosted Mite Tournament. Jets goalies will do their best against the top Mite talent in southern Wisconsin!
JETS BITS…
The Jets finished their seven-game, 2,200+ mile road stand with a 5-2-0-0 record, and 10 of a possible 14 points…Cullen Munson (seven goals, five assists) led the team with 12 points during the stretch…Joey Abate (nine), Michael Maloney (seven), and Jack Gates (seven) also finished the trip with point-per-game averages or better…Janesville scored 32 times in the stretch, and surrendered just 19…With a goal on Friday, Cullen Munson tied Ross Mauermann for 99 career points with the Jets, second only behind Adam Winborg (145)…Munson’s 40th goal of his career also ties him with Jordan Himley for third behind Connor McBride (48) and Winborg (62)…Adam Roeder’s goal on Saturday is his 13th as a Jet, leaving him one away from tying Alex Smith (14) for first among defensemen in franchise history…