The Jets open their Showcase schedule at 2:00pm Wednesday afternoon against the Northeast Generals of the East Division. Janesville defeated Northeast, 3-0, at the 2016-17 Showcase Tournament, the only meeting between the two teams.
At 8:00pm Thursday evening, the Jets play the Central Division’s Austin Bruins, a familiar opponent to Jets fans. Janesville has played a four-game series with Austin in three of the last five seasons, and twice has met the Bruins at the Showcase. The Jets lead the all-time series, 10-4.
Friday night at 7:00pm, the Jets will take on the East Division’s Maryland Black Bears for the very first time. The Black Bears were founded last season and became the first team in NAHL history to play in the state of Maryland.
The Jets’ Showcase schedule concludes Saturday afternoon with a 4:00pm matchup with the St. Cloud Blizzard of the Central Division. The Blizzard, formerly of Brookings, South Dakota, announced their move to St. Cloud, Minnesota, this offseason. Like the Bruins, the Blizzard also have a small history with the Jets. The teams played a four-game series for three consecutive seasons (2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18) and met at the 2014-15 Showcase Tournament. Janesville holds the all-time series lead, 8-5.
Since their inception in 2009, the Jets hold a 23-15-1 record in NAHL Showcase games. Janesville went 2-2 in last year’s event, defeating the Lone Star Brahmas and the defending Robertson Cup Champion Shreveport Mudbugs, and losing to the eventual Robertson Cup Champion Aberdeen Wings and the Bismarck Bobcats.