• 
• CLASS
• JOBS
• AUTO
• HOMES

Bluebirds face early road test

The Janesville Bluebirds begin the 2009-10 season Tuesday night.

Coach John Mauermann hopes the Janesville Craig/Janesville Parker co-op team can find an identity early because the Bluebirds are on the road the entire month of January.

The Bluebirds have a nonconference home game on Dec. 17 against Fond du Lac, but will not see the Janesville Ice Skating Center again until Feb. 2 against the co-op team of Madison La Follette/East.

There’s talent on the roster, but also a very limited amount of varsity experience.

“The exciting thing about high school sports is that kids wait their turn, and when they get that opportunity, it’s fun to watch and see how they respond,” Mauermann said. “We don’t have a lot of experience, so you take the cards you’re dealt and play with them.

“And because we’re not that experienced, our job as coaches is to challenge these kids to get better and to get them to play at a level where we can compete night in and night out.”

Aaron Jacobson is the top returning scorer. The Janesville Parker senior will center a front line that will also include Craig High junior forward Cody Stettin and sophomore Cody Iverson.

“The thing with Aaron is that there has to be consistency in the whole picture,” Mauermann said. “He definitely has the ability, it’s just a matter of taking care of things on and off the ice.

“Stettin came from the (Madison) Capitols and moves the puck well. Iverson also has good skills, so if we can keep that line together, there’s potential.”

Parker High senior Ryan Shelton and Joe Allen will be on the second line, along with Craig High junior Sean MacDougall.

“Joe and Ryan bring good speed to the ice, while Sean is a playmaker. If we can get some production out of that line, it will take a lot of pressure off the first unit.”

Mauermann knows in order to have success he must find a reliable third line. Craig High sophomores Brett Lessner and Tanner Woodman figure to skate on the third line, as well as Parker junior Owen Ahlstrom.

The Bluebirds will be very green on defense. No player with any significant varsity ice time returns, but Mauermann remains confident that the defense can be effective despite being undersized.

“Right now, I’m in search of a defense that can hold the blue line, be strong in front of the net and be able to start our break,” Mauermann said. “Just because you don’t have a lot of experience doesn’t mean you can’t play hard. That’s what we’re asking from our defense until they get a feel for how much quicker the game is at the varsity level.”

Craig High sophomore Ron Lingren and Parker sophomore Brad Money are expected to log plenty of ice time on defense, along with Craig junior Mo McCrone, Craig freshman Keaton Eichman and Parker junior Mark Brady.

David Jacobson, a three-year starter at goalie and the program’s all-time leader in wins will be difficult to replace. Craig High freshman Tyler Lewis will get the start in the net Tuesday night against Beloit Memorial.

Mauermann expects Verona, with 13 seniors on the roster, to be the frontrunner in the Big Eight Conference.

“Verona’s going to be tough to match up with because of that senior class,” Mauermann said. “But the rest of us will knock heads, and that could lead to some interesting results.

“I just want to be competitive every time we take the ice, and I really think we’ll have a chance to do that.”