JANESVILLE – The Janesville Jets defeated the Coulee Region Chill 3-1 on Saturday night, completing the weekend sweep of their in-state rivals and bringing the “America’s Dairyland” Milk Can Trophy back to the southern end of the state.
In his first game as a Jet, Roberts Smits scored the game-winning goal for Janesville late in the third period on a feed from Mario Bianchi. Smits was acquired from the Amarillo Bulls last week.
Goaltender Kevin Reich, also in his first appearance as a Jet, stopped 27 of 28 shots for his first NAHL win. The Jets received Reich last week as a result of Gavin Nieto’s call-up to the USHL’s Dubuque Fighting Saints.
Cullen Munson also scored for Janesville on a second period power play conversion, and defenseman Alex Smith notched the shorthanded empty-netter to seal the Jets’ win with 56 seconds remaining.
The “America’s Dairlyland” Milk Can Trophy is in its fourth year as the coveted prize fought over between Wisconsin’s two NAHL teams. The trophy stays with the winning team of each weekend series, and goes to the club with the most total goals in the event of a 1-1 draw. Friday’s game, the first of the series, saw Janesville explode with four third period goals to win 5-2.
The Jets retrieved the Milk Can after Coulee swept a weekend series on October 10th and 11th, punctuated with 4-3 match decided in the shootout. The Milk Can will stay in Janesville until the Jets have to defend it again on January 2nd when the Chill will visit the Janesville Ice Arena.