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18U Junior Jets take second in CCM Invite

By Junior Jets Press Release, 11/19/18, 8:00PM CST

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Loss in title game is only blemish in seven games

The weekend of November 2-4, 2018, 526 teams representing 9 age classifications and 19 different divisions within those age classifications descended on the windy city. The 18U Janesville Jr. Jets were placed in the AAA division, which had 40 teams from 20 different states and one team from Ontario, Canada.

The team started the four-game pool play by defeating Kensington Valley (MI) Raiders by a score of 6-2.  Goal scorers for the Jr. Jets were: Garrett Wilderman (3), Jake Bailey, Ryan Gargaro and Gunnar Schiffman.  Goaltender Patrick Kelly earned the victory.

Game 2 of pool play was against the Jr. Hurricanes (NC) which saw the Jr. Jets win 4-3.  The Jets trailed 1-0 after the first period and then scored the next four goals in a span of just over 14 minutes.  The Jr. Hurricanes scored twice in the third period in a span of 28 seconds to make the score 4-3, but the Jr. Jets were able to keep them off the scoreboard for the last 10 minutes.  Goal scorers for the Jr. Jets: Tyler Bailey, Garrett Wilderman, Owen Engel and Travis Kernen.  Jason Cooke was the winning goalie.

Pool play game 3 was versus the Huskies Hockey Club (IL).  The Jr. Jets scored twice in the first and once in the second, before giving up two third period goals in a one minute 27 second span.  Jr. Jets again held on for a hard fought 3-2 victory.  Goal scorers: Owen Engel, Ryan Gargaro and Tommy Duren.   Cooke got the W in net.

The final pool play game was to see if the Jr. Jets would be seeded first or second in their pool.  Kelly got the start in net and earned a shutout as the Jr. Jets defeated Regis Jesuit HS Hockey Club, CO, 3-0.  The Jr. Jets scoring one goal in each period.  Scoring for the Jr. Jets: Dillon Fox, Laszlo Orosz and Tyler Nelson.  This victory earned the Jr. Jets First Place in their pool.

Playoff round quarterfinals started Sunday morning with the Jr. Jets facing Falcons Hockey Association, IL.  Tournament format changed to a two-period game.  TJ Fenton scored with 2:59 left in the second (last period).  Falcons tied the score with 1:41 left in regulation.  After playing 5-minute OT of 4 on 4 and then 5 minute 3 on 3, the game proceeded to a shootout.  After an initial five round shootout, which saw each team score twice, it went to sudden death shootout.  Each team had an additional four shots and Tyler Nelson ended the shootout on the 18th shot.  Kelly was the winning goalie of record.

The semi-final game was against Big Boy Hockey Club, MI, and was also a two-period game.  The Jr. Jets jumped out to a 2-0 lead both goals by Benett Halbleib in the first period.  Big Boy scored early in the second, but Fenton answered 35 seconds after their goal.  Travis Kernen added the final goal; Jr. Jets win 4-1.  Cooke was the goaltender of record.

Jr. Jets then took on the North York (ON) Knights team in the championship game.  The Jr. Jets jumped out to a 1-0 lead on a goal by Halbleib, only to have the Knights score next.  Owen Engel scored putting the Jr. Jets back ahead, only to have the Knights tie the score at 2.  Tyler Nelson put the Jr. Jets up 3-2 in the third and the Knights tied it yet again.  Game headed to OT.  The Knights scored halfway through the first overtime, ending the tournament and giving the Jr. Jets their first lost, 4-3.

Garrett Wilderman was selected and honored as Team MVP for the tournament. 

“The Janesville Jets are proud to partner with WAHA, Team Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Elite Hockey League (WEHL) to provide high level exposure opportunities to 40 additional high school hockey players in Wisconsin.  The partnership works!  But the 18U team getting to championship game of the AAA division of the CCM Chicago World Invite – losing in overtime – was the highlight.  It proved what we already knew; that more Wisconsin kids can play at a higher level if they have the opportunity,” said Jets Founder and President Bill McCoshen.

This is the third year of the partnership with WAHA/WEHL and the Janesville Jets and highest finish to date of any team that has participated at the U16 or U18 level.

The Junior Jets were coached by Eric Fenton and Alex Shuchuk.

Stats of note: The Jr. Jets penalty kill ended the tournament 100%. All skaters recorded at least one point, and 13 different players scored goals.

player stats

Name G A Pts PIM
Benett Halbleib 3 4 7 14
Tyler Nelson 3 4 7 2
Travis Kernen 2 4 6 0
Garrett Wilderman 4 1 5 2
Ryan Gargaro 2 3 5 6
Owen Engel 3 1 4 0
TJ Fenton 2 2 4 14
Dillon Fox 1 3 4 0
Kaden Brunson 0 4 4 4
Jake Bailey 1 2 3 4
Gunnar Schiffman 1 2 3 4
Tyler Bailey 1 2 3 0
Laszlo Orosz 1 1 2 4
Sam Peterman 0 2 2 0
Dom Murano 0 2 2 6
Tommy Duren 1 0 1 0
Name W-L GAA
Patrick Kelly 3-1 1.64
Jason Cooke 3-0 2.17

Note: Stats were taken from game scoresheets. Saves were not tracked during tournament.

Results

Date Opponent Score
11/2 Kensington Valley W, 6-2
11/2 Jr. Hurricanes W, 4-3
11/3 Huskies W, 3-2
11/3 Regis Jesuit W, 3-0
11/4 Falcons W, 2-1 (ot)
11/4 Big Boy W, 4-1
11/4 North York L, 4-3 (oT)