Calumet forward Kaden Cronenworth attempts to keep the puck away from Jeffers defenseman Reese Laitala during a game Tuesday at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena. (Daver Karnosky/Daily Mining Gazette)

HOUGHTON — Tuesday night at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena, the Jeffers Jets and Calumet Copper Kings hockey teams met in a clash that could seal the Great Lakes Hockey Conference for the Jets. The Jets also wanted to prove to themselves that an 8-0 loss to the Copper Kings back on Dec. 9 was an anomaly.

They jumped to a 3-0 lead, and then held on late to defeat the Copper Kings, 3-2.

“That’s what we talked about before the game,” said Jets coach Aaron Helminen. “We have to prove ourselves to ourselves. We’re not looking to prove it to anyone else. It was more or less a sell to ourselves that we can play with this top team in Division 3. They had their way with us early on in the season, so this was a little bit of roles reversed.

“Early in the year, we were missing one of our guys, and now they’re missing two of their guys. So, just happy that our guys were able to come out, play our game, and get a little confidence. We’ll have another one Friday and keep prepping for (next) Wednesday.”

The Jets (18-7-1 overall) did all of their scoring in the first period, getting goals from co-captain Brogan Turner, sophomore forward Max Nordstrom and junior forward Tage Rajala, three goal scorers that Jeffers has turned to in big moments all season.

“Those are guys that can make it happen,” Aaron said. “Glad to see they stepped up and did it with a lot of help from their supporting cast, doing the little things that make a difference. Those guys finishing as they should, or as they have throughout the season.”

Turner struck first just 2:47 into the contest for his 27th of the year. He got the puck from freshman forward Carson L’Esperance, and just put the puck on net while driving across the top of the crease and the shot got through Copper Kings goaltender Beau Jukuri.

“You always need to get off to a good start, get the guys some momentum, get their feet going,” said Aaron. “I think our guys committed to our forecheck, and we created some turnovers early and made it tough on them. Then we cashed in on the opportunities we got.”

The Jets struck again at 12:59 when Nordstrom took a pass from alternate captain Blake Heltunen on his way out of the defensive zone. Nordstrom carried the puck through the neutral zone and entered the offensive zone on a 3-on-2. He cut to his left and wristed a long shot that found the net for his 15th.

Rajala then scored what stood as the game-winner at 15:43 when he got the puck in the right circle and fired a wrist shot that found the net. His 13th of the season was assisted by senior forward Cameron Anderson and senior forward Easton Therrian.

Calumet coach Dan Giachino did not like his team’s start.

“We played a half a hockey game,” he said. “First period was probably one of the weakest efforts we put forth all year. From an effort, stick checking, skating by pucks, not picking up guys, coming back into the zone with no back pressure, no nothing. We floated through the first period.

“Second period, we started skating a little bit, and it took us a half a period, I felt like, before we started to establish anything. At that point, you’re down 3-0, and it’s a tough hole to climb out of.”

Calumet (16-8-1 overall) did get a power play in the middle frame, but were unable to establish their attack with any consistency, and were outshot 19-12 heading into the third period.

On their second power play of the game, in the third period, they were able to figure things out enough to get the puck back to senior defenseman Dylan Crouch in the high left circle. He fired a shot that found the net at 8:52. The goal, Crouch’s fourth of the year, was assisted by senior defenseman Drake Niemela and co-captain Erik Loukus.

Things remained 3-1 for the Jets until Calumet alternate captain Luke Hamlin flipped a puck down the rink from his own end. A Jets defender went back to retrieve the puck, but missed it and fell away. Senior defenseman Robert Loukus jumped on the loose puck and wristed a shot home at 13:29.

“I don’t want to play like this next Wednesday, by any means,” Giachino said. “We’ve got some work to do in terms of a few different areas, but ultimately, this was just not a solid effort from us tonight, just all the way around. We need to see a better effort and intensity level.”

The Copper Kings pulled Jukuri with 1:32 left in regulation, but could not establish themselves in the offensive zone with the extra attacker before Hamlin was whistled for roughing with 15 seconds remaining.

Jets co-captain Kasen Helminen made 20 saves to earn the win. Jukuri stopped 24 in the loss.

Up next

The Jets are back in action Friday when they host Northland Pines for their final tuneup before the regional tournament next week. The Copper Kings host Kingsford Thursday, and then Escanaba Friday before the regional tournament begins.