By Mason Lyttle
LAST WEEK…
Friday, October 2: Fairbanks Ice Dogs 3, Janesville Jets 4 (OT)
Shots: Ice Dogs 32, Jets 29
PP: Ice Dogs 2-5, Jets 1-3
The Janesville Jets (4-2-1) came from behind to hand the season’s first loss to the previously undefeated Fairbanks Ice Dogs (8-0-1) at the Janesville Ice Arena.
Jets veteran forward Roberts Smits (1:08 1st) quickly opened the scoring with his second of the year. The Ice Dogs’ Cayden Cahill (4:39 1st) converted a power play opportunity three minutes later to tie the game at 1-1.
Fairbanks again struck on the man advantage off the stick of Alex Mehnert (5:27 2nd ) shortly before Alaska native Aaron McPheters (7:50 2nd) put the Ice Dogs ahead by two.
Janesville’s new all-time leading scorer Adam Winborg (8:19 3rd) began the comeback with his own power play marker. Second-year defenseman Adam Roeder (13:47 3rd) scored the equalizer and added the game winner (1:54 OT) in the 3-on-3 overtime period.
Jets goaltender Jack LaFontaine (3-1-1) stopped 29 of 32 pucks directed his way in the winning effort, while former Jet Gavin Nieto (3-0-1) was tagged with the loss.
Saturday, October 3: Fairbanks Ice Dogs 1, Janesville Jets 3
Shots: Ice Dogs 28, Jets 27
PP: Ice Dogs 1-1, Jets 0-3
The Janesville Jets (5-2-1) completed the sweep of their Midwest Division foe, the Fairbanks Ice Dogs (8-1-1) at the Janesville Ice Arena.
Jets forward and University of Alaska Anchorage recruit Kip Hoffmann (4:33 1st) was credited with an early goal on a bouncing puck that leaked through Fairbanks netminder CJ Boothe. Less than forty-five seconds later Nils Rygaard (5:14 1st) added his third of the season to double the lead. The Ice Dogs called on their lethal power play to chip into the lead with a goal from Ryner Gorowsky (9:26 1st).
Czech native Vaclav Krudenc (2:57 2nd) scored in his first game at the Janesville Ice Arena to again put the Jets ahead by two.
Jets goaltender Blake Weyrick earned the win, making 27 of 28 saves, while CJ Boothe registered the loss, stopping 24 of 27 pucks.
THIS WEEK…
Friday, October 9, 2015 vs. Springfield Jr. Blues – 7:05 p.m.
The Janesville Jets play a rare one-game weekend against their bitter rivals the Springfield Jr. Blues at the Janesville Ice Arena. Janesville will face Springfield 12 times this season, hoping to build on last year’s 8-0 season series sweep. Under head coach Joe Dibble, the Jets are 16-3-1 versus Springfield, and maintain an overall winning record of 30-14-5 over their rivals to the south.
PROMOTIONS: The Jets’ first Youth Hockey Night of the 2015-16 season will feature a special giveaway prize for youth players in attendance. Every youth hockey player wearing his or her team jersey, shirt, or hoodie will have a chance to win a Jets t-shirt signed by the entire team. For tickets, call the ticket line at (608) 752-5387.
Midwest Division Standings:
Fairbanks Ice Dogs 8-1-1, 17 points
Janesville Jets 5-2-1, 11 points
MN Wilderness 4-3-1, 9 points
Springfield Jr. Blues 4-2-0, 8 points
Coulee Region Chill 2-4-0, 4 points
Kenai River Brown Bears 1-9-0, 2 points