Jets Lose Two of Three in Montana
January 10, 2005 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Fargo-Moorhead Jets News Release
Fargo (ND) The Fargo-Moorhead Jets made their first trip to Montana this season and came away with a rare losing week. Two losses, sandwiched around a lone win, characterized the Jets five day trip.
After being crushed 7-2 in Billings on Jan. 5 to open the trip, the Jets came back on Jan. 7 for an emotional 5-4 win at Helena. However, the momentum generated in that game couldn't be carried over in Bozeman Jan. 8 as the Jets fell 5-3.
Dain Prewitt (Westminster, CO) âwho is familiar with the Montana terrain- had four points (1 goal, 3 assists) on the trip. Prewitt has family in Montana and was also a one-time member of the Bozeman Icedogs and former Great Falls Americans.
Matt Grasseschi (Great Falls, MT) scored a goal in the Jan. 5 loss at Billings. A native of Montana, Grasseschi also had family and friends at each of the three games.
In addition, rookie goaltender Elliot Okland (Fargo, ND) started in goal for the Jets in their loss at Billings. While Okland lives in Fargo, he was born in Butte, MT.
Though the Jets lost two of three, they did receive contributions from their two leading scorers. Phil Fox (Stillwater, MN) had 4 points (2 goals, 2 assist). Meanwhile, Chris Myhro (Eden Prairie, MN) had 3 points (1 goal, 2 assists).
Fox and Myhro are both tied with 17 goals to lead the Jets.
Fargo-Moorhead saw its penalty kill continue to struggle as the Jets allowed their opponents to score on 3/18 power play chances. Billings, Helena and Bozeman scored a single power play goal in their games. Though the Jets did score their 11th shorthanded goal of the season on Jan. 7 at Helena.
For its own right, the Jets power play was successful going 3/13 (23%).
Nonetheless, the Jets still endured their first multiple loss week this season. Prior to the Montana trip, the Jets hadn't lost more than one game in a single-week.
Now the Jets get a relative respite. After playing 7 games in 12 days and going 5-2-0, Fargo-Moorhead plays just seven games after the next four weeks. This leads into the North American Hockey League All-Star Game on Feb. 8 in Frisco, TX.
Wed. Jan. 5 at Billings 2-7 Loss
Billings (MT) Brian Kaufman continued to be a pesk to the Fargo-Moorhead Jets picking up four points in a 7-2 Bulls win on Jan. 5. Two goals and two assists from the three-year veteran led Billings to the win.
Billings scored twice within a minute late in the first period and never looked back. Another Bulls goal 15 seconds into the second period extended the lead to 3-0. Fargo-Moorhead would never be able to pull closer than two goals the rest of the way.
Chris Myhro (Eden Prairie, MN) and Matt Grasseschi (Great Falls, MT) scored second period goals for the Jets but it wasn't enough.
Elliot Okland (Fargo, ND) started in goal and suffered the loss in just his third start of his Junior A career. His counterpart, Jon Anderson, made 30 saves âincluding 17 in the third period â to pace the Billings defense and keep any Jets comeback hopes at bay.
Fri. Jan. 7 at Helena 5-4 Win
Helena (MT) In a game that featured a playoff atmosphere, the Jets received a wide range of contributions characteristic of postseason play.
Creighton Scarpone (Buchanan, MI) redirected a shot by Bob Preece (Bonita Springs, FL) at 5:06 of the third period to give the Jets a 5-3 lead. Helena would score a controversial goal with 3:39 remaining when Andy Gevorkyan appeared to kick the puck past Jets goalie Andy Stricker (Mountainlake Terrace, WA).
Nonetheless, Stricker would play well down the stretch to hold on to the win.
Each of the Jets five goals came from a different scorer as Fargo-Moorhead moved to 5-0-0 versus Helena this season.
Sat. Jan. 8 at Bozeman 3-5 Loss
Bozeman (MT) Ross Johnson and Bill Leahy scored in the final ten minutes of regulation to lead Bozeman to a 5-3 win over the Jets on Jan. 8. Johnson broke a 3-3 second intermission tie with 8:36 left when his shot from the goaline extended deflected in off a Jet defender.
Leahy then scored the insurance goal when he beat Jets goalie Andy Stricker (Mountainlake Terrace, WA) from the high slot with 5:55 left.
Dain Prewitt (Westminster, CO) who started his Junior A career three years ago with Bozeman tied the game 1-1 with when he scored at 14:05 of the opening period. Joe Schuster (Grand Rapids, MN) gave the Jets their only lead of the night 2-1 with a power play goal at 16:12 of the first.
However, Bozeman tied the game late in the first period and took a 3-2 lead late in the second. Though a lucky break guaranteed the Jets would go into the second intermission tied. With 35 seconds left in the second period, Phil Fox (Stillwater, MN) stole the puck from Zach McKelvie at the Bozeman blue line. Fox then tried a centering pass to Trevor Bruess (Minneapolis, MN), but McKelvie âhustling to get back in the play â accidentally kicked the puck into his own net.
Schedule Change The Fargo-Moorhead Jets have announced that they will play a rare hockey doubleheader on Saturday January 22 at the John E. Carlson Coliseum versus the Minnesota Blizzard beginning at 6:00pm.
At 6:00pm, the Jets and Blizzard will resume their suspended game from Nov. 27. That game -played in Wahpeton, ND - was stopped with 13:33 left in the second period due to poor ice. The game will resume from that point with the Jets having a 2-0 lead.
After this game is concluded, their will be a 20 minute break followed by the originally scheduled game.
Tickets for this night will be good for BOTH games.
Last Week's Results
1/5 @ Billings 2-7 Loss
1/7 @ Helena 5-4 Win
1/8 @ Bozeman 3-5 Loss
This Week's Games
1/14 @ Bismarck 7:00pm
Next Home Game
1/22 Minnesota 6:00pm (DH)
- First game is remainder of 11/27 suspended game.
The FM Jets are in their second 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 29th 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 sportsjuice.com.
North American Hockey League Stories from January 10, 2005
- Jets Lose Two of Three in Montana - Fargo-Moorhead Jets
- Minnesota Blizzard weekly summary - Alexandria Blizzard
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