The Janesville Jets represent a significant chapter in the history of ice hockey in Janesville, Wisconsin. This article explores the different iterations of the Janesville Jets, from their brief stint in semi-professional hockey to their current status as a Tier II junior team in the North American Hockey League (NAHL).
Early Years: Continental Hockey League (1981-82)
An American semi-professional ice hockey team, known as the Janesville Jets, was in operation for part of one season in the Continental Hockey League. Due to low attendance, the franchise was moved to Rockford, Illinois in January and became the Rock River Jets. Despite winning just 6 of their 34 games, the team did not finish last in the league.
None of the players for Janesville achieved any notoriety in the sport.
Wisconsin Jr. Jets: Developing Young Talent
The Wisconsin Jr. Jets, originally known as the Madison Stars AAA player development program, was founded in 2004 by Bill McCoshen and Dan Schachte. Many others are current and former standouts on Team Wisconsin High School Select Teams, currently playing Junior Hockey, or NCAA College Hockey.
The goal of the Junior Jets program is to give high quality players from the area an opportunity to further develop their hockey skills through specific training methods both on and off the ice. We give players the knowledge they need to continue to improve if they are willing to put forth the effort. Our objective is to make good hockey players better!
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In addition, the Wisconsin Junior Jets will teach young athletes character development, leadership skills, and sportsmanship on and off the ice. Spring Youth teams and Fall 15-18u teams are available most years. Teams are selected by tryouts or invite only. This program is for serious players only.
Janesville Jets | Know Your Wisconsin
The Modern Janesville Jets: North American Hockey League (2009-Present)
The Janesville Jets are a Tier II Junior A ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League that began play in the 2009-10 season. The Jets name was chosen by a name-the-team contest.
Choices were Jackals, Jaguars, Jayhawks, Jets, and Juggernauts, having been whittled down from over 200 original submissions. The Jets name and logo were announced on June 5, 2009, with "Jets" taking 35% of the vote. The name is the same as a previous Janesville hockey team, which played in the former Continental Hockey League in the 1981-82 season. The first home game of the 2010-11 season on October 9 was against the Chicago Hitmen.
In the 2011-12 season, the Jets were moved from the North Division to a newly formed Midwest Division, along with the St. Louis Bandits and Springfield Jr. The Jets unveiled new uniforms for the 2014-15 season, featuring a home gold jersey. In the summer of 2015, the NAHL's divisional realignment moved the Jets into the Midwest Division, joining the Fairbanks Ice Dogs, Kenai River Brown Bears, Minnesota Wilderness, Coulee Region Chill, and the Springfield Jr.
NAHL Structure (2021-22 Season)
The North American Hockey League is divided into four divisions:
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- Central Division: Aberdeen Wings, Austin Bruins, Bismarck Bobcats, Minnesota Wilderness, Minot Minotauros, North Iowa Bulls, St. Cloud Norsemen
- East Division: Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks, Jamestown Rebels, Johnstown Tomahawks, Maine Nordiques, Maryland Black Bears, New Jersey Junior Titans, Northeast Generals
- Midwest Division: Anchorage Wolverines, Chippewa Steel, Fairbanks Ice Dogs, Janesville Jets, Kenai River Brown Bears, Minnesota Magicians, Springfield Jr.
Team Information
- City: Janesville, Wisconsin
- League: North American Hockey League
- Division: Midwest
- Founded: 2009
- Home Arena: Janesville Ice Arena
- Colors: Navy blue, Vegas gold, light blue
- Owner(s): Wisconsin Hockey Partners, LLC (Bill McCoshen, Mark Cullen, David Cullen, Stephen B.
Recent Success and Coaching Changes
The Janesville Jets are coming off of one of the most successful seasons in franchise history. After winning 42 games during the regular season and capturing the Midwest Division regular season crown, it was off to the playoffs, where they had a legitimate chance of winning the Robertson Cup.
After dispatching of Coulee Region and Fairbanks to win the Midwest, the Jets found themselves up against the Lone Star Brahmas in the NAHL Robertson Cup National Semi-Finals. After a heart-breaking 3-2 overtime loss in Game 1, the Jets gave their all in Game 2, but fell short as the Brahmas went onto win the Robertson Cup.
Success has now followed the Jets for several seasons, which was inclusive of another incredible season of NCAA commitments. In total, 17 players who played on the Jets roster in 2016-17, made an NCAA commitment at some point during the season, which led all NAHL teams.
First, Corey Leivermann, who had been coaching the Jersey Shore Wildcats in the NA3HL, was named as the new assistant coach. Then in early August, Jets head coach Joe Dibble announced his resignation in order to be closer to family in Minnesota.
Dibble helped changed the culture of the Jets to what they currently are by putting a priority on player development and advancement, and trusting that wins would follow. “Despite the change behind the bench with a new staff, our culture and philosophy is not going to change,” said Leivermann, who attended the NAHL coaches meetings.
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Three weeks later, the Jets found their new bench boss in Gary Shuchuk. Shuchuk joins the Jets after a storied career as a player and recently having been an NCAA Division I assistant coach for the Wisconsin Badgers and Michigan Tech Huskies. Shuchuk played 142 career NHL games and as a NCAA Division I hockey player Shuchuk was a co-captain and first team All-American in 1990 while leading the Badgers to the NCAA National Championship.
“We were very excited to get someone of Gary’s caliber as our new head coach. We believe Gary can build on the success we have had in recent years," said Jets president Bill McCoshen. "The Jets priority will continue to be on player development and advancement. Gary was a tremendous D1 player and played many years of pro hockey before coaching at the D1 level.
Leivermann said that playing with pace and puck possession and finding the right pieces to the puzzle will be some of the early focuses of the team with a new coaching staff in place. “I know the foundation is there thanks to the work of our incredible ownership and the previous coaching staff. Upon his hiring this past weekend, Shuchuk echoed the immediate mission of his new team. “I’m extremely excited about the opportunity to coach the Jets. I can’t wait to get the players here in training camp next weekend.
Playoff Results
The Janesville Jets have had varied success in the NAHL playoffs:
- Lost Div. Semifinal series, 0-3 vs.
- Lost Div. Semifinal series, 2-3 vs. St.
- Lost Div. Semifinal series, 2-3 vs. Springfield Jr.
- Lost Div. Semifinal series, 2-3 vs.
- Won Div. Semifinal series, 3-0 vs. Michigan Warriors
- Won Div. Final series, 3-1 vs. Soo Eagles
- Lost Robertson Cup Semifinal series, 0-2 vs.
- Lost Div. Semifinal series, 1-3 vs.
- Won Div. Semifinal series, 3-0 vs. Coulee Region Chill
- Won Div. Final series, 3-1 vs. Fairbanks Ice Dogs
- Lost Robertson Cup Semifinal series, 0-2 vs.
- Won Div. Semifinal series, 3-0 vs. Springfield Jr. Blues
- Lost Div. Final series, 2-3 vs.
- Lost Div. Semifinal series, 0-3 vs.
- Lost Div. Semifinal series, 1-3 vs.
- Lost Div. Semifinal series, 0-3 vs.
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