Lynn Jets ready to take off

The Lynn Jets hockey team will hit the ice this season with plenty of experience up front thanks to a solid contingent of returning players.Coach Joe Conlon will be counting on senior captain Jeff Porter, last year’s leading scorer (10 goals, 8 assists), to lead the attack that will also include Chris “Bucky” Surette (5 goals, 6 assists) and brothers Terry and John Finnigan. As a freshman, John Finnigan had seven goals and two assists.Conlon will also be looking for some offensive firepower from returning players Jack Carter and Jordan Morelli, as well as junior Kyle Martin, a transfer from St. Mary’s.Senior co-captain Eric Bransfield, who has been a fixture up front the past three years, could find himself shoring up the defense. The Jets lost three defensemen to graduation including Northeastern Conference All-Star Dave Stevens, who is now playing at Bridgton Academy in Maine; Sean Crowley; and Jack Erekson.”We lost a lot of senior leadership on the blue line,” Conlon said.The offense also took a hit with the graduation of Danny Casale, Dylan Bogart, Matt Lunden and Mike Donovan.The good news for Conlon is that he returns seniors Mike Duggan and Ryan Powers on defense, although Duggan has been hobbled by an injury. Conlon said he’s hopeful Duggan will be ready by the first game.”We’re kind of crossing our fingers on that one,” Conlon said.The news gets even better when it comes to the goalie situation. Junior Nick Comeau, who logged the bulk of the minutes in net last year, is back along with Craig McDaniel, who also brings plenty of experience to the mix. James Wall, who was the third goalie last year, has graduated.”We’re confident in both of them,” Conlon said.The Jets finished 7-11-2 last season, missing the state tournament by four points. There will be a few new wrinkles on the schedule this year. The Jets will be playing in a tournament at Governor’s Academy after Christmas where they’ll face Bishop Fenwick in the first game and either Salem or Triton in the second. Conlon added two games against Somerville to go along with nonleague outings against Latin Academy and Methuen.Conlon has decent numbers this year with 30 players showing up for tryouts. He said he’s keeping about 26, which gives him enough to play a junior varsity schedule. Of the 26, he had nine freshmen, including Kyle Devin.”We expect our forwards to produce a little more than last year and we expect our seniors to be leaders,” Conlon said. “The schedule is tough right off the bat. We have to be ready. We have to put our best foot forward right away.”The Jets open Wednesday, Dec. 16, against Swampscott with Marblehead on tap a few days later.Conlon returns his assistant coaches – Mike Deering, Ron Gaudet, Brian Greeley (goalies) and Joe Gunning.