Jets' Echternach, Connolly Set Records
February 13, 2007 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Fargo-Moorhead Jets News Release
Fargo (ND) The Alaska swing is a road trip that tends to make many excellent North American Hockey League teams look mediocre at best and since 2003-2004, NAHL teams have a combined winning percentage of less than 40% in the nation's 49th state. In essence, the Alaskan trip is one that tends to be full of many sightseeing memories, but equally as many losses.
However, with their 6-2 win over the Fairbanks Ice Dogs on February 11, the Fargo-Moorhead Jets (31-12-3, 65pts) completed a 12-day visit to the Last Frontier with a 4-0-1 record, entirely bucking a league-wide history of struggles in Alaska. The unbeaten record makes the FM Jets' only the second NAHL team since the 2005-2006 season to not lose in regulation while in Alaska, joining the former Bozeman Ice Dogs who were 4-0 in October 2005.
"The players had a chance to do something that hasn't been done often and were able to stay focused throughout the entire trip" said head coach Chad Johnson. "I wouldn't go as far as to say that what they did was necessarily special, but it is a great accomplishment and one they worked hard for."
The FM Jets' 6-2 win in Fairbanks on Feb. 11, was the lone game that wasn't decided by a single-goal on the entire trip. After opening the trip in Wasilla with wins over the Alaska Avalanche by 4-3 and 5-4 decisions, the FM Jets headed six hours north to face the Ice Dogs, a team that entered the series with a winning percentage of .771% since November 10th.
What resulted was one of the more entertaining series of the year from a fan's perspective. The three-game series began Feb. 9th, and the FM Jets jumped out to a 3-0 lead heading into the final minute of the second period. However, Fairbanks rallied for a goal late in the second, and two more early in the third period eventually forcing overtime and a shootout.
In the shootout, Fairbanks goaltender Kenny Reiter and FM Jets' netminder Austin Lee (Bloomington, MN) dueled through nine rounds of a scoreless shootout, before Brooks DeZellar (Eden Prairie, MN) scored in the top of the tenth and Lee stopped Craig Johnson to preserve the victory.
It was Fairbanks' first shootout loss in six tries this season.
The next night provided an encore just as entertaining, with another game ending with a shootout. Though the shootout almost never happened to begin with as the FM Jets trailed Fairbanks 4-2 with nine minutes remaining in regulation, before Robert Carr (Roseau, MN) scored with 8:52 remaining.
With 1:19 remaining, and a face-off coming up in the Fairbanks' zone the FM Jets pulled Lee in net for an extra attacker and it paid off when Matt Moreland (Grand Forks, ND) deflected Jesse Echternach's (Bemidji, MN) shot into the goal to tie the game.
But in the shootout, Fairbanks earned their revenge from the previous night with a 1-0 victory in the shootout.
"The games' weren't the best from an execution standpoint, but they were great games for the fans to watch anyways" added Johnson.
Fargo-Moorhead completed the series with the 6-2 triumph, highlighted by Moreland's second hat trick of the season.
The strong Alaska trip was a necessity for the FM Jets to maintain their lead in the NAHL's Central Division. Second place Southern Minnesota is currently on a seven-game unbeaten streak so the excellent road trip for the FM Jets' helped them hold on to a six-point lead for first place.
Echternach and Chris Connolly (Duluth, MN) each had 10 points during the five game road trip. Echternach had four goals and six assists, while Connolly had two goals and eight assists.
Moreland finished with a team-high five goals, and proving its quality over quantity, both of Brooks DeZellar's goals were game winners.
In net, Austin Lee was fantastic going 3-0-1 in four games played. His stats weren't eye-popping with a GAA of 3.00 and 91%, but the quality of shots he faced was good. He also made a season-high 55 saves in the Feb. 10th shootout loss.
New Single-Season Records Set
Jesse Echternach (Bemidji, MN) and Chris Connolly each set new franchise records during the Feb. 11th win over the Fairbanks Ice Dogs, continuing an historic season for the two veterans.
Echternach had a goal and four assists in the victory, upping his season total to 68 (29 goals) and setting a new franchise single-season point record. The previous record was 64 held by Phil Fox during the 2005-2006 season. Echternach now eyes the area's overall Junior A hockey record which is 82 held by Former Ice Shark Tyler Arnason during the 1997-1998 season.
Connolly had two assists in that same game, giving him 45 assists for the season and setting a new team-mark for the most assists in a single-season. Mark Agnew held the previous record of 44 during the 2003-2004 season. In addition, Connolly is now tied with former Ice Shark Tyler Arnason for the area record as Arnason had 45 assists during the 1997-1998 Ice Shark season.
He Keeps Going and Going...
Along with setting a new single-season assist record, Chris Connolly (Duluth, MN) recorded at least one point in each of the three games against Fairbanks, extending his league leading scoring streak to 18 games. Connolly is just two games away from tying the NAHL's post-merger era record which is 20 held by former Bozeman Ice Dogs' forward Josh Heidinger last season.
Spaghetti on Skates
On Wednesday March 7 at the Carlson Coliseum, the FM Jets' Host Families will be gathering for a fundraiser deemed, "Spaghetti on Skates". The event begins at 6:45pm that night, but all tickets must be pre-purchased through the FM Jets' offices by calling 235-2354.
Attendees will sit at tables on the Coliseum ice while FM Jets' players will skate their pasta dinners out to them.
The cost is $15 per adult, and $10 per child.
North American Hockey League Stories from February 13, 2007
- Sweep For Santa Fe - NAHL
- Phantoms Quigley commits to Northeastern - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- Jets' Echternach, Connolly Set Records - Fargo-Moorhead Jets
- Another busy week for the IceDiggers - Alpena IceDiggers
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