Central Division Race Tightens
March 5, 2007 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Fargo-Moorhead Jets News Release
Fargo (ND) Just when it seemed the Fargo-Moorhead Jets were about to stroll up to the table and grab a division title seemingly anointed to them since January, they've been stopped in their tracks for the time being. What was once a double-digit lead atop the North American Hockey League's Central Division has been whittled to only five points with four weeks remaining in the regular season.
The FM Jets (34-15-4, 72pts) earned only one of a possible six points as they were swept in a three-game series by their North Dakota rivals the Bismarck Bobcats last weekend. The FM Jets fell 4-2 on Thursday in Bismarck, 6-0 in Fargo on Friday, then dropped a 3-2 overtime decision on Saturday back in Bismarck. This is the FM Jets' first three-game winless streak of the season.
Meanwhile, Southern Minnesota (32-21-3, 67pts) swept the North Iowa Outlaws to gain three points on the FM Jets.
Since January, the FM Jets and Southern Minnesota have been in an all out sprint to the finish line. For the most part, the FM Jets have had a comfortable lead of a few strides, even growing that margin when they went unbeaten in Alaska, a trip that typically causes teams to slip off into the ditch. However, this weekend the FM Jets found themselves stumbling for the first time in a while and as the balance gave way and chest moved parallel to the ground, Southern Minnesota narrowed the gap.
The key for the FM Jets is to make sure that this stumble doesn't turn into a full-fledged, spread eagle nose dive into the unforgiving pavement of late regular season action. Its something head coach Chad Johnson doesn't see happening.
"We've hit a slump here of late but it's nothing to push the panic button on" he said late last week. "I'll never critique a win and sometimes they mask your deficiencies. I'm not going to say losing is a positive but we are seeing the see the holes that need to be plugged and have a month left to fix them before playoffs."
The FM Jets have nine games remaining in the regular season and are 6-3-1 against the five teams that comprise the schedule. By comparison, Southern Minnesota only has six games left and are 7-2-1 versus the two teams they are squaring off with.
"We're at a time in the season when distractions can get to a team from college commitments to talk of clinching spots and magic numbers and all of that" added Johnson.
The FM Jets' lead was recently as high as 10 points following the games of Jan. 13th.
Goal Record Set
With his third period goal at Bismarck on Mar. 3rd, Jesse Echternach (Bemidji, MN) set a new single-season franchise-record with his 34th of the season. He passes Phil Fox's record of 33 during the 2005-2006 regular season.
Echternach is closing in on former Ice Shark Tyler Arnason's area record of 37 during the 1997-1998 campaign.
Career Record
Matt Moreland (Grand Forks, ND) has 66th career goals, one away from Phil Fox's career total of 67. Moreland has been with the FM Jets since November 2004 and is in his third season with the team.
Franchise Attendance Mark
23,311 fans have come to the FM Jets' 24 regular season home games, moving the franchise to within 418 people of the team's attendance record. The FM Jets' drew 23,729 fans for 27 regular season home games last season.
The total attendance this season doesn't include Team USA game.
Last Week
Mar. 1 @ Bismarck Bobcats 2-4 Loss
Mar. 2 Bismarck Bobcats 0-6 Loss
Mar. 3 @ Bismarck Bobcats 2-3 OTL
This Week
Mar. 8 Bismarck Bobcats 7:35pm
Mar. 9 Fairbanks Ice Dogs 7:35pm
Mar. 10 Fairbanks Ice Dogs 7:35pm
The FM Jets Junior A Hockey Club is in its fourth season as members of the North American Hockey League. The NAHL is the nation's largest Junior A hockey league and is now in its 31st year of operation. For more information, visit fmjets.com or call (701) 235-2354.
Jets home games are played at the John E. Carlson Coliseum in Fargo, ND. All games are broadcasted on Today's Hot New Country 103.9 THE TRUCK and audiosportsonline.com.
North American Hockey League Stories from March 5, 2007
- Wildcats Defeat Santa Fe and Texas - Wichita Falls Wildcats
- IceDiggers to wear NASCAR jerseys this weekend - Alpena IceDiggers
- Central Division Race Tightens - Fargo-Moorhead Jets
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
