Jets hope to take flight this season

The 2008-09 version of the Lynn Jets will have plenty of returnees from a team that barely missed getting a playoff berth in its first year of existence.One element that will be new for the Jets, however, is the man who will be behind the bench, as Joe Conlon assumes the head coaching duties on an interim basis for this season while Al Melanson continues to recover from a heart attack suffered late last season.But Melanson’s presence is still being felt around the Jets’ locker room.”His message is still here,” Conlon said. “He is a very, very big part of what we’re doing here. He’s still going to be involved.”Conlon will, however, have plenty of experience to draw from, as former Beverly head coach Mike Deering, Ron Gaudet and Joe Gunning will join the English grad on the bench.”This staff really works well together and has a lot of confidence in each other,” Conlon said. “It’s still good to know that I have Mike and Al to lean on. And I will lean on Mike quite a bit.”The Jets return 18 skaters from last year’s team, but will have to replace the scoring punch of NEC all-star Billy MacDaniel and senior defenseman Steve Leighton, who transferred to St. Mary’s.But the Jets still have a core of four senior defensemen – Dave Stevens, Sean Crowley, Jack Erekson and Tim Shirley – who saw plenty of ice time last season. It’s that department where Conlon knows he is solid.”Those four seniors really help us on D,” Conlon said. “You can score all you want, but if you don’t lock down in the defensive zone, you can’t be successful.”Another spot where the Jets have experience is in net, where four goaltenders who saw varsity time last season are fighting for the starting spot.Nick Comeau, Tyler Slepoy and Craig MacDaniel split the starts for the Jets, while James Wall joins the mix after starting at Lynn Tech last season.The Tech team was added as a part of the Jets this season, with Jim Hannaford, Devyn Collins and Dana Kinney joining Wall on the team.”We have solid goaltending, and I expect a good year from them between the pipes,” Conlon said.The front line, though hurt by the graduation of MacDaniel, returns the bulk of its four lines from a season ago.”Our forwards are young, but I think they’re ready. If we work hard, we’ll be OK,” Conlon said.So far, according to Deering, practice has gone well for the Jets.”They are a very hard-working crew, and, I think, a better team than we were last year,” Deering said. “We have more depth, but the concern is our mental toughness. Winning is hard work, and we have to find the difference between false work and hustle.”Last season, the Jets played well against the big boys in the NEC, but struggled down the stretch with their NEC South competition. And with the league being just as good, Conlon knows that his team needs to be ready from the get-go.”We have to be ready to go in every game. There are three state tournament teams in the NEC South, and it’s going to be as tough as it was last year,” Conlon said.The Jets open the season on Saturday (8:30) at Connery Rink against Latin Academy, another tournament team from last season, which Lynn bested twice. Lynn also has non-conference dates with Division 3 South power Bourne and Methuen, along with two games with Bishop Fenwick.Last season, a pair of one-goal losses to the Crusaders proved to be damaging to Lynn’s tournament aspirations.”Latin Academy, Bourne and Methuen are all good, and every time we lace it up with Fenwick, it’s a battle,” Conlon said. “Our ultimate goal is to qualify for the tournament.”