Season Ends in Central Division Finals for Second Straight Year
April 30, 2007 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Fargo-Moorhead Jets News Release
Fargo (ND) Before the season began, the Fargo-Moorhead Jets tried to bring Dusty Jackson to the Red River Valley. The former Billings Bulls standout was in need of a team after that franchise folded, but despite interest in coming to the FM Jets, he elected to join the Southern Minnesota Express.
Nearly nine months after that decision, Jackson gave birth to one of the most dramatic goals in United States Junior A hockey history, and brought the FM Jets' season to a close all in one. Jackson's goal at 10:15 of the third overtime lifted Southern Minnesota to a 3-2 comeback win over the FM Jets on the campus of Shattuck St.Mary's in Faribault, MN on April 27. The victory completed a three-game sweep for Southern Minnesota in the Best-of-Five North American Hockey League's Central Division Finals and advances the Express to the Robertson Cup Tournament this week for a second straight year.
It's a similar position to what the FM Jets faced last season as Southern Minnesota swept the then, Best-of-Seven Divisional Finals, winning the last two games of that series in overtime at the Carlson Coliseum. This time there was only one overtime game but it more than made up for that.
The teams skated 110:15 minutes of hockey before a winner was finally determined in game three. It is arguable one of the longest games in NAHL history and junior hockey in general, though no sufficient records are available.
"It's a cliché' but it's true, no one deserved to lose that game. I can't fault our players for effort and determination. It just didn't go our way" said head coach Chad Johnson. "I've been in this position as a player and coach and it's never fun to have a season end in overtime but our team has no reason to feel down. They played their best and I was proud to have these players"
An issue that slowly crept up on the FM Jets like ivy on a wall all season, displayed itself in the penultimate Game Three. Once again, the FM Jets had a lead but were unable to hold it, giving up a 2-0 lead in the final six minutes of regulation. It was a problem all season for the FM Jets, but one that only started to affect their win-loss column in the final two months.
"There were times early in the season when it was an issue of easing back and not playing a complete game" said Johnson. "As the season continued, it became more of an issue of the others teams simply improving, and the already present parity that there is in this league. Any lead of less than three goals should never be considered safe and even three-goal leads aren't set in stone."
The loss ended the junior hockey careers of at least eight FM Jets who have aged out of this level and will either move on to college, the pros, weeknight men's league or hang up the blades and axe all together. Three-year veterans Jon Halstenson (Fargo, ND), Robert Carr (Roseau, MN) and Matt Moreland (Grand Forks, ND) are the longest standing roster members who will turn in their jerseys.
Other players include Matt Becker (Moorhead, MN), Ryan Adams (Deloraine, MB), Jesse Echternach (Bemidji, MN), David Larson (Warroad, MN) and Josh Brodeen (Warroad, MN).
Though the FM Jets were shutout of the Robertson Cup Tournament for a second consecutive season, the team did win its second regular season division title, taking the Central Division's regular season crown. The franchise also posted its fourth straight winning season, and third consecutive year of growing attendance.
Third Period Woes The FM Jets were outscored 12-8 in the third period in the playoffs. The minus 6 differential was the worst in the NAHL playoffs
PK Workout The FM Jets were short-handed 52 times, the most of any team in the NAHL playoffs. That was an average of 6.5 times per game, which was actually down from an average of 6.6 during the regular season.
Playoff Record The FM Jets are 16-14 in the post-season all time and of the six series the team has been in, they have won three of them.
Scoring Punch Matt Moreland's (Grand Forks, ND) 9 points (4 goals) was tied for the third highest in the NAHL postseason.
Success against the Best Despite their outcome versus Southern Minnesota in the playoffs, the FM Jets still fared very well against teams with winning records on a whole. For the season, the FM Jets were 13-8-2 (.609%).
#1 FM Jets vs. #2 Southern Minnesota
NAHL Central Division Finals
Best of Five
Game 1 Friday April 20 in Fargo Southern Minnesota 5-1
Game 2 Saturday April 21 in Fargo Southern Minnesota 4-3
Game 3 Friday April 27 in Faribault, MN Southern Minnesota 3-2 3OT
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 April 30, 2007
- Robertson Cup Games On B2 - NAHL
- Trio of IceDiggers commit - Alpena IceDiggers
- Stage set for Fairbanks - NAHL
- Jets Announcer Resigns - Fargo-Moorhead Jets
- Season Ends in Central Division Finals for Second Straight Year - Fargo-Moorhead Jets
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