The host Janesville (Wisconsin) Jets swept the Kenai River Brown Bears 4-2 on Friday and 4-0 on Saturday in North American Hockey League play.
The Bears go into the holiday break on a four-game losing streak. Kenai River plays again at Janesville on Jan. 4 at 4:05 p.m. AKST.
Kenai River falls to 12-18-2-0 and is in seventh place in the Midwest Division with 26 points. The Jets, at 17-10-2-1, are in third place with 37 points. The Minnesota Wilderness lead the division with 41 points, while the Chippewa (Wisconsin) Steel have fourth place and the final playoff spot with 33 points.
Friday, Springfield’s Christian Venticinque had the lone goal of the first period, then with 19:15 left in the second period, Max Wagener put the Jets up 2-0.
With 17:50 left in the second period, Dylan Contreras cut it to 2-1 with a short-handed, unassisted goal. However, Wagener struck again before the second period was done for a 3-1 lead.
With 15:58 left in the game, Nick Stevens, assisted by Carter McCormick and Joe Manning, cut it to 3-2. But only 35 seconds later, Conner Brown had the Jets up 4-2 and Kenai River never recovered.
Matthew Alberti had 36 saves for the Jets, while Marks Slavinskis-Repe stopped 23 for the Bears.
Saturday, Alberti had a 36-save shutout to key the victory.
The Jets had a 3-0 lead by the end of the first period on goals from Haden Kruse, Trey Fechko and Geno McEnery. Fechko’s goal came on the power play.
James Taylor wrapped up the scoring in the third period.
Conor Sullivan made 32 saves for the Bears.
