JANESVILLE, WI – The Jets split again in Janesville last weekend versus the Chippewa Steel on Salute to Service weekend. Playing in specialty camo jerseys, which were auctioned off for thousands of dollars in donations to local veterans initiatives, Janesville picked up a point in a back-and-forth overtime loss on Friday before sending the Steel packing with a 1-0 shutdown win on Saturday.
Today, they take to the road with sights set on a sweep.
It’ll be a tough task in Richfield, where the first-place Minnesota Magicians, who have yet to suffer a sweep this season, await their rivals from Janesville.
The stakes are high for the Jets. A solid road showing against the division’s top dogs could bring them as close as two points to first place by Thanksgiving. After splitting four straight series, these Jets are less hungry for turkey as their are for a pair of Ws.
Coach Gary Shuchuk’s Jets won the season series with Minnesota last season, 8-4, with a pair of home sweeps in September and in December. Historically, Janesville holds a 19-13-0-2 against the Magicians, who became the Jets’ division rival only three seasons ago.
Minnesota comes into tonight’s game rested and eager for home ice after their Alaska trip. The Magicians opened with a split in Fairbanks, then swept Kenai River last weekend. Canadian forward Joel Pavey enjoyed a 2-2—4 weekend en route to Bauer Hockey Midwest Division Star of the Week status.
The Jets’ Canadian, goaltender Cole Brady, will backstop his group tonight and tomorrow in search of a big statement weekend.
Tonight’s game was designated the NAHL Game of the Week on HockeyTV, meaning the broadcast stream is completely free for all viewers.
Puck drops tonight at 7:15pm CDT, and tomorrow at 7:00pm CDT. Both games are broadcast live on HockeyTV.
JANESVILLE JETS
Record: 11-7-2-0 (2nd, Midwest)
Road Record: 6-3-0-0
Goals For/Game: 2.22 (20th)
Goals Against/Game: 2.65 (9th)
Shots For/Game: 25.00 (24th)
Shots Against/Game: 31.20 (11th)
Power Play: 14.7% (19th)
Penalty Kill: 83.7% (8th)
Top Scorers: F Jack Vincent (19GP—4G-10A—14PTS); F Matt Hanewall (20GP—5G-6A—11PTS); F Erik Bargholtz (18GP—3G-6A—9PTS); F Mason Salquist (20GP—0G-9A—9PTS)
Goaltenders: Cole Brady (8-4-1-0; 2.18 GAA; .928 SV%); Zach Hearn (0-0-0-0); Garrett Nieto (3-3-0-0; 3.42 GAA; .899 SV%)
Rostered Commitments: F Nicholas Nardella (Michigan Tech); F Justin Engelkes (Miami); F Erik Bargholtz (Michigan State); G Cole Brady (Arizona State); F Brenden MacLaren (Ferris State); G Garrett Nieto (Union)
MINNESOTA MAGICIANS
Record: 15-5-0-0 (1st, Midwest)
Home Record: 5-4-0-0
Goals For/Game: 3.10 (7th)
Goals Against/Game: 2.35 (5th)
Shots For/Game: 30.45 (17th)
Shots Against/Game: 31.90 (14th)
Power Play: 19.4% (11th)
Penalty Kill: 85.1% (6th)
Top Scorers: F Cameron Buhl (20GP—7G-15A—22PTS); F Matthew Stanton (20GP—10G-9A—19PTS); F Carter Breitenfeldt (19GP—3G-12A—15PTS)
Goaltenders: Ethan Haider (9-4-0-0); 2.19 GAA; .927 SV%); Jack Robbel (5-0-0-0; 1.77 GAA; .946 SV%); Mitchell James (1-1-0-0; 4.00 GAA; .889 SV%)
Rostered Commitments: G Ethan Haider (Clarkson); F Jack Jensen (Minnesota); F Jackson Jutting (Colorado College); F Valentino Passarelli (Miami); G Jack Robbel (Lake Superior State)
