LAST WEEK…
Thursday, January 12: Janesville Jets 6, Coulee Region Chill 2
Shots: Jets 50, Chill 18
PP: Jets 1-4, Chill 0-5
The Janesville Jets (27-5-0-3) surrendered a two-goal lead, allowing the tying marker in the third period, but then exploded for four unanswered goals to knock off the Coulee Region Chill (14-16-2-0) in the first of three road games in three nights.
The Jets’ lethal power play struck on its first attempt of the weekend when Cullen Munson (9:02 1st) shoveled in a centering pass from Jakov Novak. Two minutes later, Cole Paskus (11:06 1st) scored in his third straight game, beating the goaltender high on a wrist shot. The Chill cut into the lead with a nice goal from Steven Quagliata (15:37 1st) to end the period.
Despite outshooting Coulee Region 17-5 in the second, Janesville couldn’t extend its lead, and allowed the Chill the equalizer on a Christian Stevens (2:29 3rd) rebound goal. Shortly after, Jets captain Adam Roeder (3:55 3rd) came into the slot as the late man and scored the eventual game winner. Just 16 seconds later, Cullen Munson (4:11 3rd) scored his second of the night, similar to his first, on the doorstep to regain the two-goal lead. The Jets would collect an insurance marker from Frank Sullivan (5:15 3rd) and a shorthanded beauty from Joey Abate (8:13 3rd) to seal the victory.
Jake Barczewski (17-2-0-1) earned the win in a relatively quiet night, stopping 16 of 18 pucks. Brad Arvanitis (1-4-0-0) was pulled after the sixth goal, and received the loss on a 33-save night. Joe Marcoulilier (6-1-0-1) earned no decision and stopped all 11 shots in relief.
Friday, January 13: Janesville Jets 4, Brookings Blizzard 3
Shots: Jets 28, Blizzard 33
PP: Jets 1-2, Blizzard 1-5
The Janesville Jets (28-5-0-3) allowed another third period comeback, but a late goal from Cole Paskus secured the regulation win over the Brookings Blizzard (18-12-2-1), keeping the Jets’ 12-game point streak alive.
The first period saw just one goal between the clubs, when Jets third year pivot Cullen Munson (11:28 1st) again set Janesville up early with a doorstep tally.
Janesville’s second line struck again in the second period, doubling the lead when Peter Bates (2:57 2nd) scored his 17th, tapping in a pass from Munson.
The Blizzard’s top flight rookies, Paul Cotter and Cade Borchardt, took control of the 3rd period in an impressive rally. Paul Cotter (3:52 3rd) ended Derek Schaedig’s shutout effort with a goal right off the faceoff. Michael Maloney (9:52 3rd) finished a tic-tac-toe play for his league-leading 12th power play goal, but Cotter (13:48 3rd) got his own man advantage marker to keep the Blizzard within one. Cotter capped off his hat trick, all scored in the third period, with the game-tying goal two minutes later. Relieving the threat of overtime, Cole Paskus (17:36 3rd) buried a one-timer from Jack Gates, winning the game for Janesville.
Janesville’s Derek Schaedig (11-3-0-0) made 30 saves on 33 shots in the winning net, while workhorse Josh Boyko (15-8-0-3) received the loss in his 24-save night.
Saturday, January 14: Janesville Jets 7, Brookings Blizzard 3
Shots: Jets 31, Blizzard 32
PP: Jets 2-3, Blizzard 1-4
The Janesville Jets (29-5-0-3) kept their foot on the gas Saturday night, scoring twice in the first period, twice in the second, and three times in the third to edge the Brookings Blizzard (18-13-2-1), 7-3, to cap a three game road sweep.
For the third consecutive game, it was Cullen Munson (4:08 1st) who scored the game’s first goal, this one scored shorthanded as Munson finished a 3-on-1 rush. Halfway through the period, Cole Paskus (10:10 1st) extended his goal scoring streak to six games as he lifted a backhander from the slot. Two minutes later, Brookings captain Tim Faulkner (12:40 1st) cut into the lead.
In the second, the Blizzard quickly tied the game on a goal from Connor Koviak (1:42 2nd), but Cullen Munson (9:13 2nd), with his second of the game and fifth of the road trip, regained the lead for Janesville on the power play. Defenseman Carter Ekberg (13:49 2nd) added his own powerplay goal, but another man advantage goal from Brookings’ Nicholas Cardelli (15:29 2nd) kept the game close after 40 minutes of play.
The third period was all Janesville, as insurance markers from Peter Bates (8:31 3rd), Michael Maloney (13:40 3rd), and an empty net goal from Joey Abate (19:28 3rd) earned the Jets their fifth straight win and extended their point streak to 13 games.
Josh Boyko (15-9-0-3) registered the loss with 24 saves on 30 shots in his 12th straight start. Jake Barczewski (18-2-0-1) earned his ninth straight win as he saved 29 of 32 pucks directed his way.
Midwest Division Recap
The Minnesota Magicians played just once, beating the Central Division’s Austin Bruins 2-1 on Friday night, but Janesville’s six-point weekend extended the Jets’ division lead to 15 points. The Springfield Jr. Blues enjoyed a restful weekend off, and the Coulee Region Chill beat the Bruins 4-1 on Saturday. The Fairbanks Ice Dogs were unable to close the gap on the Chill for the fourth and final playoff spot in the division, as they fell in a Saturday/Sunday series to the East Division’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights, 4-1 and 4-2. The Kenai River Brown Bears were shut out in Aston, losing a pair of 3-0 contests to the Rebels.
Midwest Division Standings:
| Place | Team | Record | Pts |
| 1 | Janesville Jets | 29-5-0-3 | 61 |
| 2 | MN Magicians | 21-11-2-2 | 46 |
| 3 | Springfield Jr. Blues | 16-16-1-1 | 34 |
| 4 | Coulee Region Chill | 15-16-2-0 | 32 |
| 5 | Fairbanks Ice Dogs | 11-21-2-1 | 25 |
| 6 | Kenai River Brown Bears | 8-25-2-0 | 18 |
THIS WEEK…
Friday, January 20, 2017 @ Minnesota Magicians – 7:15 p.m. CST
Saturday, January 21, 2017 @ Minnesota Magicians – 7:15 p.m. CST
The Jets’ road streak continues with a pair of games against the second place Minnesota Magicians in suburban Richfield, Minnesota. The Magicians’ win over Austin was their fourth in a row. The Magicians swept Janesville at home in early October, split the Jets’ Pink in the Rink series later that month, and lost both contests at the Janesville Ice Arena in December. Both games will be broadcast live with Mason Lyttle’s call on www.hockeytv.com.
IN THE COMMUNITY…
Jets players will help serve drinks and desserts at the annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner Thursday night at the Salvation Army.
JETS BITS…
The Jets won three games in two states in a 51-hour period…The 1,043-mile road trip is the longest this season…Munson’s nine-point weekend earned him NAHL Bauer Midwest Division Star of the Week…Peter Bates earned an Honorable Mention….Cole Paskus’ six-game goal streak is the highest in the league this season…Peter Bates has also scored in five straight games and registered a point in nine straight…Janesville has scored the first goal every game during their 13-game point streak…Four Jets (Maloney, Bates, Munson, Paskus) compose the top six scorers in the NAHL…Holesinsky (11th) and Dodero (17th) also place in the top 20… Jake Barczewski has won nine straight starts…Barczewski’s .925 save percentage ranks fifth among qualified goalies…Barczewski has just one loss in his last nine appearances dating back to October 28th…the Jets’ 25.5% power play percentage ranks third in the NAHL, and their 39 power play goals lead the league.