Jets Players Nearing Historic Marks
Published on February 8, 2007 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Fargo-Moorhead Jets News Release
Fairbanks (AK) Fargo-Moorhead Jets' veteran forwards Jesse Echternach (Bemidji, MN) and Chris Connolly (Duluth, MN) have never been the type of players to genuflect at their own altar like so many productive (and not so productive) players in the modern era. However, they are both nearing milestones where it would be more than acceptable to have that brief lapse of judgment.
Echternach has had a monstrous season, gobbling up points as if he were pac man devouring those little white balls. Echternach already leads the North American Hockey League's Central Division in scoring, but is now within striking distance of the FM Jets' single-season records for points and goals
Echternach has 61 points (27 goals) through the team's first 43 games, with 19 regular season games remaining. The FM Jets' franchise record for single-season points and goals is held by former player Phil Fox who had 64 points (33 goals) last season.
Once past Fox, Echternach has a good chance at setting a new all-time FM Jets' Junior A hockey record for goals in a season which is 37, held by former Ice Shark Tyler Arnason during the 1997-1998 season. He also has an outside chance at catching Arnason's all-time single-season point record which is 82, also during the '97-'98 season.
While Echternach is chasing F-M records, Chris Connolly is going after a North American Hockey League standard. With at least one point in each of the last 15 games, Connolly is within four games of tying the modern NAHL's record for consecutive point streak. The current record is held by Josh Heidinger who had a 19 game streak last season for the Bozeman Icedogs.
Almost as an after thought, Connolly is also on the verge of setting a new franchise record. Already the team's all-time assist leader with 88 career helpers, Connolly is on the cusp of setting a new franchise single-season mark for assists. Entering play this weekend, Connolly has 41 assists.
The FM Jets record is 44 assists by Mark Agnew during the 2003-2004 season. The all-time F-M record is 45 helpers, done by Tyler Arnason during the 1997-1998 Ice Sharks season.
Both Echternach and Connolly look to continue their historic seasons this weekend with a three-game series at the Fairbanks Icedogs on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The FM Jets (29-12-2, 60pts) will be facing their first opponent with a winning record since mid-January as Fairbanks (25-18-1, 51 pts) has won 17 of their last 20. This is the first meeting this season between the teams, but the franchises have meet before splitting six previous encounters.
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 February 8, 2007
- Phantoms seek revenge in Alpena - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- U.S. National Under-18 Team Tops Finland in Shootout - U.S. National Team
- Big-time Bobcat action this weekend - Bismarck Bobcats
- U.S. Nat'l Under-17 Team Ties Germany, 1-1, in Vlad Dzurilla Tournament Opener - U.S. National Team
- Jets Players Nearing Historic Marks - Fargo-Moorhead Jets
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