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Janesville Jets feature youngest team in league

JANESVILLE — The Janesville Jets will be the youngest team in the NAHL this season as it opens the regular season Friday night at home against Fairbanks.

First-year coach Joe Dibble has a roster littered with rookies. The Jets have 17 players with no NAHL experience.

Yet despite the inexperience, Dibble also believes the league's youngest team will also be the league's most exciting.

"Our forwards are not as big as Janesville is used to, but it's definitely the best skating group of forwards this organization has ever had," Dibble said. "The speed we have up front is tremendous. Now we just have to get the systems and the learning down.

"All around, we skate pretty well. It's the one thing being as young as we are that is going to allow us to hang in games by being able to outskate teams."

Janesville began the season by going 2-2 at the NAHL's Showcase Tournament last weekend. The Jets won their opener, lost the next two penalty-filled games and then beat Austin, 2-1, to conclude the tournament.

"We learned that we have to stay out of the penalty box and be a much more disciplined team if we want to have success in this league," Dibble said. "Our inexperience showed a little bit because we had some kids that were bug-eyed playing in such a big event for the first time."

Janesville's roster includes players from 12 US states, along with Canada. There are six Wisconsin players on the roster, including captain and Janesville resident Conor Lemirande.

Austin Vieth led the Jets in scoring at the Showcase Tournament. The right wing forward from Marinette had seven points in four games, despite missing all of last season following shoulder surgery.

"The work ethic and intensity that Austin brings to the ice is off the charts," Dibble said.

"Another kid to keep an eye on is Jason Ford, the former Mr. Hockey (Wisconsin). He's a big kid with an incredible skill set. He's going to score a lot of goals for us."

Dibble said the organization is placing a greater emphasis on community involvement this season. The Jets have been active in and around Janesville, but Dibble believes the organization—and more specifically the players—owes it to the fans and the community to do even more.

Every player on this year's roster is involved in the local Big Brother organization, as well as pairing up with local schools for the "lunch buddy" program.

"Getting these guys' faces out there without their hockey helmets on and getting them active in the community is a big change you're going to see," Dibble said. "Anything extra we can do out in the community is a huge help for us.

"These people come out and spend money to watch these kids play, so it's really important to give back to the community. If we have kids that don't live up to that, they will be moved elsewhere. This isn't just about hockey. It's also about building character."

Youth will be served this season at the newly renovated Janesville Ice Arena. The question is will the talent and skill level of a young roster be enough to overcome the certain growing pains?

Janesville's 2012-13 schedule:

(All home games at the Janesville Ice Arena)

September: 21—Fairbanks at Janesville, 7 p.m.; 22—Fairbanks at Janesville, 7 p.m.; 28—Kenai River at Janesville,7 p.m.; 29—Kenai River at Janesville, 7 p.m.

October: 6—Janesville at Johnstown, 7 p.m.; 7—Janesville at Johnstown, 6 p.m.; 13—Janesville at Kalamazoo, 2 p.m.; 14—Janesville at Kalamazoo, 2 p.m.; 19—Coulee Region at Janesville, 7 p.m.; 20—Coulee Region at Janesville, 7 p.m.; 26—Janesville at Springfield, 7 p.m.; 27—Janesville at Springfield, 7 p.m.

November: 2—Soo at Janesville, 7 p.m.; 3—Soo at Janesville, 7 p.m.; 9—Janesville at Jamestown, 7 p.m.; 10—Janesville at Jamestown, 5 p.m.; 16—Coulee Region at Janesville, 7 p.m.; 17—Coulee Region at Janesville, 7 p.m.; 23—Janesville at Michigan, 7:05 p.m.; 24—Janesville at Michigan, 7:05 p.m.; 25—Janesville at Port Huron, 2 p.m.; 30—Kalamazoo at Janesville, 7 p.m.

December: Kalamazoo at Janesville, 7 p.m.; 7—Janesville at Coulee Region, 7 p.m.; 8—Janesville at Coulee Region, 7 p.m.; 14—Soo at Janesville, 7 p.m.; 15—Soo at Janesville, 7 p.m.; 21—Springfield at Janesville, 7 p.m.; 22—Springfield at Janesville, 7 p.m.; 31—Janesville at Port Huron, 7 p.m.

January: 1—Janesville at Port Huron, 7 p.m.; 4—Jamestown at Janesville, 7 p.m.; 5—Jamestown at Janesville, 7 p.m.; 11—Janesville at Fairbanks, 7:30 p.m.; 12—Janesville at Fairbanks, 7:30 p.m.; 18—Janesville at Kenai River, 7:30 p.m.; 19—Janesville at Kenai River, 7:30 p.m.; 25—Kalamazoo at Janesville, 7 p.m.; 26—Kalamazoo at Jan esville, 7 p.m.

February: 8—Johnstown at Jaensville, 7 p.m.; 9—Johnstown at Janesville, 7 p.m.; 16—Janesville at Kalamazoo, 2 p.m.; 17—Janesville at Kalamazoo, 2 p.m.; 22—Port Huron at Janesville, 7 p.m.; 23—Port Huron at Janesville, 7 p.m.

March: 1—Janesville at Coulee Region, 7 p.m.; 2—Janesville at Coulee Region, 7 p.m.; 8—Janesville at Soo, 7:30 p.m.; 9—Janesville at Soo, 7:30 p.m.; 15—Michigan at Janesville, 7 p.m.; 16—Michigan at Janesville, 7 p.m.; 22—Port Huron at Janesville, 7 p.m.; 23—Port Huron at Janesville, 7 p.m.; 28—Janesville at Port Huron, 7 p.m.; 29—Janesville at Soo, 7:30 p.m.; 30—Janesville at Soo, 7:30 p.m.