Jets End Road Trip With Two Wins
January 16, 2006 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Fargo-Moorhead Jets News Release
Fargo (ND) The Fargo-Moorhead Jets won the last two games of a lengthy road trip, but still saw their lead in the North American Hockey League's Central Division slip to five points this weekend. Back-to-back wins at the last-place North Iowa Outlaws on Jan. 14 and 15 put a cap to a three-week road trip which included seven consecutive games.
However, this latest weekend began with a loss at the Southern Minnesota Express, opening the door for that second-place team to inch closer to the FM Jets for the division's top spot.
The FM Jets used two goals from Kai Kantola (Raleigh, NC) and a goal and an assist from Joe Schuster (Grand Rapids, MN) to upend North Iowa 5-2 on Jan. 14. Fargo North High senior Elliot Okland (Fargo, ND) made 26 saves to notch the victory.
B.J. O'Brien (Lakeville, MN) and Ryan Cramer (International Falls, MN) would then carry the FM Jets the following afternoon in a 4-0 victory at North Iowa. Playing just 14 hours after their win the previous night, the FM Jets looked as though they had never left the ice from the previous night while North Iowa appeared groggy. The result was a game dominated by the FM Jets as Cramer scored twice and O'Brien made 21 saves to earn his fourth shutout of the season.
The win elevated team spirits and made for a fun ride back home, a far cry from the misery the team experienced on Jan. 13 in Owatonna, MN against Southern Minnesota. For the second consecutive game (Jan. 7 the other), the FM Jets were unable to hold on to a second intermission lead and would go on to lose. Playing a Southern Minnesota team that may be an expansion club, but has all the confidence and swagger of a year-in-year-out contender, the FM Jets took a 2-1 first period lead on goals from Kantola and Chris Connolly (Duluth, MN).
The FM Jets out shot Southern Minnesota 19-8 in that first period, but it was downhill from there. After a scoreless second period that was controlled by Southern Minnesota, the Express would take complete charge in the third period, scoring twice to win 3-2.
Southern Minnesota also ended up out shooting the FM Jets for the game at 38-35, making it 14 straight games in which they had finished with more shots then their opponent.
Still, the FM Jets come away from this three-week odyssey away from the Red River Valley no worse for the wear, ending with a 3-3-1 record. "It was a great trip, but I think it was good for the guys" head coach Chad Johnson said. "I think that if we were to look at this trip, and the teams we were playing, before it began we would've been pleased to go .500%"
When the road trip began on New Years' Eve at Bismarck, the FM Jets held an eight-point edge over second place Southern Minnesota. That lead would eventually balloon out to ten; only to have the Express cut it to its current five.
"We are only in January, there is a long way to go but you can tell this is going to be a very tight race with us, Southern Minnesota and likely Bismarck as well" Johnson added.
Kantola Emerging
Kai Kantola had one of his best weekends in a couple months, posting 6 points (3 goals), including a two goal performance in the FM Jets Jan. 14 victory at North Iowa. Kantola has 19 goals on the season, tied for the team lead with Phil Fox (Stillwater, MN), after scoring all off five goals last season.
Strong Weekend for Schuster and Cramer
Veteran leaders Joe Schuster and Ryan Cramer also had strong weekends with 3 points (2 goals) each in the two-game sweep of North Iowa.
Last Week (2-1-0)
Fri. Jan. 13 @ Southern Minnesota 2-3 Loss
Sat. Jan. 14 @ North Iowa Outlaws 5-2 Win
Sun. Jan. 15 @ North Iowa 4-0 Win
This Week
Fri. Jan. 20 North Iowa Outlaws 8:05pm
The FM Jets are the 2005 Borne Cup Champions and are in their third 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 30th 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 sportsjuice.com.
North American Hockey League Stories from January 16, 2006
- Three is a Charm - Alexandria Blizzard
- Wildcats Get Back on Track in Wasilla - Wichita Falls Wildcats
- Jets End Road Trip With Two Wins - Fargo-Moorhead Jets
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