BLAINE, Minn. — After a physical 5-2 victory over the Topeka Roadrunners to open the 2017 NAHL Showcase, the Johnstown Tomahawks will meet an old division foe in the Janesville Jets in a Thursday afternoon tilt at 2:15 p.m.
In their 5-2 victory, the Tomahawks showed poise with the puck and a relentless forecheck and eventually wore down the Roadrunners. Joe Kile added two goals as did defenseman Karim Del Ponte in the win. Joey Baez added the other marker late in the third period.
GAMEDAY LINEUP
DATES: September 21, 2017
TEAMS: Johnstown (2-2-0) vs. Janesville (2-0-0)
LOCATION: Blaine, Minnesota | Schwan Super Rink
VIDEO: HOCKEYTV
TWITTER UPDATES: @johnstownhawks
———————————————————————————-
A CLOSER LOOK AT JANESVILLE
As the NAHL’s only Wisconsin-based organization, the Janesville Jets are one of the league’s standard-bearers when it comes to players development. Combined, the Tomahawks and the Jets sent 22 players to Division I NCAA hockey.
The Jets return a handful of key players to the 2017-18 squad including Carter Ekberg, Kip Hoffmann and Jakov Novak. A core that was responsible for another solid season in Janesville, the Jets will rely on that veteran leadership during the season.
Janesville started the 2017-18 season on a 2-0-0 record, defeating Springfield and the Kenai River Brown Bears. Matt Hanewall leads the Jets in points with four (two goals, two assists). Hanewall, an Illinois native, joined the Jets from the now-defunct Wichita Falls Wildcats. Novak places second with two goals and one assist on the young season.
JOHNSTOWN STORYLINES
- Samuel Solensky’s return to Johnstown started with a bang as he earned three assists in his first game of the season against Topeka. Solensky was placed on a line with Matyáš Kačírek and Joe Kile.
- The Tomahawks power play continues to shine as the team places first in the NAHL.
- This will be the first meeting between Janesville and Johnstown since the 2014-15 season. The Jets and Tomahawks were division rivals for three seasons before the East Division was formed.