October 19, 2026
Janesville, WI
For immediate release
The Minnesota Wilderness again flexed its offensive muscle over the weekend, scoring nine goals in a 2-game
series split vs. the Janesville Jets.
Minnesota took down the Jets Friday, 6-1, but dropped Saturday’s contest, 5-3 with both games played at
Janesville’s Mercyhealth Arena
Jakeb Lynch again shined on the scoresheet, notching four goals (including a hat trick Friday) and three assists, for
a 7-point weekend. Over 12 games, Lynch now leads all NAHL scorers with 23 points (9 goals, 14 assists).
The Wilderness next play its first two official home games for the 2026-27 season. Minnesota will take on the
Springfield Jr. Blues at Northwoods Credit Union Arena in Cloquet this Friday and Saturday (Oct. 23 and 24), with
both games set to start at 7:15 p.m.
Friday: Wilderness 6, Janesville 1 Shots 35-35
Minnesota had the lead after the first period with two goals scored from the same location, with similar shots and
scored by two different players.
Frantisek Netusil gave the Wilderness a 1-0 lead just 49 seconds in with a one-timer from the left circle that was
set up by Lynch. That goal gives Netusil 11 on the season.
With 6:27 left, Netusil returned the favor and set up Lynch with his own one-timer from the left circle, with an
additional assist going to Cole Cheeseman. The Wilderness followed with a dominant second period where it added four more tallies. The first two were
scored as the team worked on a 5-minute major power play. At the 5:53 mark, Cheeseman struck with his second
of the season with Lynch and Cayden Neice recording helpers. 42 seconds later, Jackson Reeves gave the
Wilderness a 4-0 with assists going to Max Edwards and Owen Smith.
That gave Reeves his first goal of the season in his first game with the Wilderness after beginning the year with the
Fargo Force of the USHL. Reeves spent all of 2025-26 with Minnesota, playing 47 regular season contests and 12
playoff games.
Lynch added two more before the second period would end. His first came on a backhander with 5:01 remaining
with Alfred Carlsson and Neice assisting.
Lynch’s second tally of the middle frame gave him his first junior career hat trick. The Papillon, NE, native scored on
another one-timer with 2:12 left with Smith and Jackson Lackas delivering apples on the power play.
Janesville scored the third period’s only goal, as Grant Dillard lit the lamp on the power play at the 7:48 mark.
The Wilderness went 3-for-9 on the man-advantage, while the Jets went 1-for-3.
Both teams recorded 35 shots on goal. Oliver Kanat was the winning goaltender, denying 34 Janesville shots. The
Jets used two goaltenders – Kyle Jones started and took the loss. Jones played 26:25, facing 16 shots and making
12 saves. Former Wilderness netminder Nathan Mach stood guard for 33:35 and stopped 17 of 19 shots from his
old team. Mach played one game with Minnesota during the 2025-26 campaign.
Saturday: Janesville 5, Wilderness 3
The Wilderness again had a 2-0 lead early into the second period, but the Jets took over from there, outscoring
Minnesota 5-1 to force the series split.
Cheeseman opened the scoring, posting his second of the weekend and third of the season when he lit the lamp
3:52 into the first period, with assists going to Lynch and Lackas.
The Wilderness lead doubled 43 seconds into the middle frame when Neice scored on the power play. Reeves and
Robinson Djian registered helpers on Neice’s first red-lighter of 26-27.
The Jets responded by scoring the next four goals. The first two came just 48 seconds apart. Harry Minucci lit the lamp with 9:12 left in the second, followed by
Matthew McGovern scoring on the man-advantage to tie the game 2-2.
The next two came in the third period and were only separated by 2:24. McGovern posted his second of the game
7:56 into the final stanza, shortly after Declan Jason scored, to give the Jets a 2-goal lead.
Lynch scored on the man-advantage with 5:22 left to cut Minnesota’s deficit to one. His fourth of the weekend and
ninth of the season was assisted by Neice and Lackas.
But the Wilderness comeback would fall short. McGovern completed a hat trick with an empty-netter with 43
seconds on the clock.
Despite falling short on the scoreboard, the Wilderness had the advantage in shots on goal at 42-33. Goaltender
Ryan Gerlich took the loss for Minnesota, making 28 saves on 32 shots.
Jones bounced back after a tough Friday start, and earned the win Saturday, making 39 saves.
For the second straight night, Minnesota (7-5-0) had nine power play chances and struck twice. Janesville (7-5-0)
finished 1-for-5 on the man-advantage.