Three Rivers takes pair of one-goal victories from Jets

WATERFORD, MI - The Three Rivers Vengeance earned a pair of victories over the Metro Jets this weekend, winning 4-3 Saturday night and 5-4 Sunday afternoon at Lakeland Arena.

The Jets are now 2-4-0-0 after starting the season with a two-game sweep of Battle Creek.

Saturday night, Travis Hargett, Mike Gambino and Doug Andrews scored for the Jets, while Trevor Kalinowski made 34 saves in the loss. Metro captain Matt Stirling added two assists.

Stirling had two goals and an assist on Sunday to go along with single goals from Hargett and Andrew Palushaj. Luke DuBois made his season debut in goal and stopped 54 shots.

Metro and the Toledo Cherokee play a home-and-home set this weekend, starting Saturday night at Lakeland Arena for a 7:50 p.m. start. Game time Sunday in Toledo is 2:30 p.m.

Newcomer Chapie getting points out of the chute for Jets

WATERFORD, MI – Ryan Chapie has been skating since the age of four and said he has “loved it ever since.”

He’s hoping this year of junior hockey is just as enjoyable with the Metro Jets.

A 19-year-old Midland native, Chapie played last season for Delta College (pictured) and heard about the Jets while attending school and playing for the Pioneers.

“A buddy on my team, Jordan Reames, had played for the Jets previous to that season and was telling me about the team,” said Chapie. “I thought I would give it a shot and here we are.”

If the last name Chapie sounds familiar, it should. Adam Chapie, a cousin of Ryan, played for the Cleveland Jr. Lumberjacks a couple years back and then moved on to the North American Hockey League’s New Mexico Mustangs and is a freshman at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell this year.

“I knew my cousin played in the league, but I never talked to him about it,” said Ryan Chapie.

So far this season, Chapie is averaging a goal per game and is third in team scoring with six points. He had two goals and two assists in Metro’s season-opening 10-4 win against Battle Creek on Sept. 15.

While the goals are certainly a plus, Chapie said that’s not the strongest part of his game.

”I would describe my style of play as a playmaker,” Chapie said. “I love dishing off a nice pass to a teammate for them to bury a goal.”

Chapie added that his early impressions of Jets’ coach Jason Cirone have been very positive and he thinks the Jets have a solid team from top to bottom.

”Jason knows what he is doing as a coach and if our team plays the game he wants us to play, we will be a good team,” said Chapie. “He knows his hockey. My expectations for the season are just to be a solid teammate that’s in the lineup every weekend and can help my team win. The only numbers that matter to me are if the team can come up with two points each game we play.”

LOOKING BACK, LOOKING AHEAD

The Jets traveled to Cleveland last weekend and suffered a two-game sweep at the hands of the Jr. Lumberjacks.

Saturday night, Dallas Szustak scored with 4:29 to play in the third period to snap a 1-1 tie and Cleveland held on to beat the Jets 3-1.

Chapie scored Metro’s lone goal and goalie Austin Julvezan made his season debut and stopped 31 shots.

Cleveland finished the sweep with a 7-1 win Sunday afternoon.

Andrew Palushaj scored the Jets' only goal to briefly tie the game at 1-1 late in the first period. Julvezan made 34 saves.

“Last weekend was kind of the tale of two teams,” said Metro captain Matt Stirling. “We played extremely well in the first game and fought all the way to the end, but we just came up short. The second game as a team we did not play well at all in any phase of the game and for as good as Saturday’s game was, Sunday’s game kind of overshadowed Saturday’s good performance.”

The Jets (2-2-0-0) return home to Lakeland Arena this weekend for two games with the Three Rivers Vengeance. Game time is 7:50 p.m. Saturday night and 2:50 p.m. Sunday afternoon.

 JET STREAKS

Last week, forward Kyle Shreve was released and Palushaj was added to the roster.

Palushaj, a 19-year-old Livonia native, is the younger brother of NHL prospect Aaron Palushaj, a one-time Michigan Wolverine (2007-09) who has seen action in 41 games with Montreal the past two seasons.

Andrew Palushaj played 19 games with the NAHL’s Odessa Jackalopes last year and was named Division I First Team All-State in 2011 while playing for Livonia Stevenson High School.

This past Tuesday, defenseman Tim Foley was released. Foley played in all four games for the Jets, recording three assists (all on the power play).

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Goaltender Devin Williams played 19 games with the Jets last year before signing with the Ontario Hockey League’s Erie Otters and staying in the OHL the rest of the season.

Williams was drafted by the Otters in the fifth round of the 2011 OHL draft.

With the Jets, the Saginaw native went 9-9-0 with a 3.88 goals-against average and a .896 save percentage.

This year in Erie, Williams, who doesn’t turn 17 until Oct. 30, will battle for playing time with Swedish goalie Oscar Dansk.

Captain's Corner - Getting swept by Cleveland, weekend ahead

Each week during the 2012-13 season, Metro Jets’ captain Matt Stirling will give his thoughts on topics surrounding the team as it makes its way through the North American 3 Hockey League grind.

-- On getting swept last weekend in Cleveland. 

Last weekend was kind of the tale of two teams. We played extremely well in the first game and fought all the way to the end, we just came up short in our 3-1 loss. The second game as a team we did not play well at all in any phase of the game and for as good as Saturday game was, Sunday’s game kind of overshadowed Saturday’s good performance. 

-- On what went wrong in Cleveland. 

Overall, it was just one weekend of games against a very competitive and highly skilled Cleveland team. We go back to work today and prepare for a Three Rivers team that plays a very aggressive style and competes to the end of every game. In practice, we will continue to improve and prepare for our next set of games. 

-- On any positives to be taken from the Cleveland series. 

Even with the two losses last weekend, we still played well in the first game and competed all the way through that game. I think that was the best we had played so far and we came up just a little short. 

-- On what to expect this weekend against Three Rivers. 

Three Rivers brings back a couple of players from last year’s team that can put up points very quickly. They play a very aggressive style that makes other teams match it or fold under the pressure. We will stress this in practice this week and we will hope to take advantage of some of their miscues because of this style of play. As always, I expect to come out and have a competitive series in which I expect to take four points.

Jr. Jacks complete sweep, knock off Metro 7-1 Sunday afternoon

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio - The Cleveland Jr. Lumberjacks completed a two-game sweep over the Metro Jets with a 7-1 win Sunday afternoon at the Cleveland Heights Community Center.

Andrew Palushaj scored the Jets' lone goal to briefly tie the game at 1-1 late in the first period.

Austin Julvezan made 34 saves in goal for Metro (2-2-0-0).

Cleveland got goals from seven different goal-scorers and a 13-save performance from goalie Christian Michalik, who won a Division I state title last spring with Brighton High School.

The Jets return home to Lakeland Arena next weekend for two games with the Three Rivers Vengeance. Game time is 7:50 p.m. Saturday night and 2:50 p.m. Sunday afternoon.

Jets lose 3-1 in Cleveland Saturday night

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio - Dallas Szustak scored with 4:29 to play in the third period to snap a 1-1 tie and the Cleveland Jr. Lumberjacks held on to beat the Metro Jets 3-1 Saturday night at the Cleveland Heights Community Center.

After a scoreless first period, Ryan Chapie opened the scoring for the Jets (2-1-0-0) with a power-play goal at 5:21 of the first period. Chapie has scored in all three games so far this season.

Former Cleveland forward Jeff Monfils, acquired by the Jets last month, tacked on the only assist.

Fred West tied the game at 7:15 of the second period with a power-play goal of his own.

After Szustak gave Cleveland the lead, Nick Balavich added an empty-net goal with 36 seconds to go in the third period.

David Heflin earned the win in goal making 19 saves, while Austin Julvezan made his season debut and stopped 31 shots in suffering the loss.

The two teams wrap up the series Sunday afternoon at 1:15 p.m.

Local goalie Kalinowski playing with confidence for Jets

WATERFORD, MI – Trevor Kalinowski might have been the only Metro Jets’ rookie who was in familiar surroundings last weekend.

Kalinowski played the past few seasons at Lakeland Arena for the Lakeland High School team and made the jump to Junior A hockey with the Jets after skating in July at the team’s open camp and being invited back to main camp in mid-August, when he signed to play in the North American 3 Hockey League.

Just 16 years old (he turns 17 on Sept. 24), Kalinowski earned the start in both games last weekend at home against the Battle Creek Jr. Revolution to open the season and picked up two wins.

“I was a little nervous, but I felt more comfortable in net after playing in the Toledo and Adrian exhibition games,” Kalinowski said. “I feel like I have an advantage knowing the boards at Lakeland Arena. They are very lively and the glass is unpredictable and we all have to adjust to them.”

As one of three goalies on the Jets’ roster this season with Luke DuBois and Austin Julvezan, Kalinowski knows there will always be internal competition for playing time between the pipes.

”I didn’t know either of the two before the season, but it already feels like we’ve played a season together,” said Kalinowski. “We support each other and feed off each other’s positive reinforcement. We all work hard in practice to push each other so that we are all ready for the weekend’s games.”

Kalinowski, who goes just 5-foot-9 and 155 pounds, said his style of play revolves around his small stature.

“Being under 6-foot, I have to play aggressive on the rush and conservative on the power play and penalty kill,” said Kalinowski. “Above all, I’ll do whatever it takes to stop the puck.”

Showing a team-first approach, Kalinowski knows that if everyone is on the same page, wins usually fall into place.

“On a personal level, I want to prepare and push myself so that I can play at the next level,” Kalinowski said. “As for the team, I want to win as many games as we can.”

LOOKING BACK, LOOKING AHEAD

The Jets opened their 2012-13 NA3HL season with a sweep over Battle Creek at Lakeland Arena last Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday night in a 10-4 win, Doug Andrews (two goals, two assists), Ryan Chapie (two goals, two assists) and Mike Gambino (goal, three assists) each had four-point games to back Kalinowski’s 23 saves in goal.

Metro took an 8-0 lead into the third period before allowing four goals to Battle Creek.

Metro captain Matt Stirling had a goal and two assists, while Kyle Shreve (goal, assist), Jeff Monfils (goal, assist) and Tim Foley (two assists) had multi-point games. Travis Hargett and Ian Springfield also scored for the Jets.

Then on Sunday, Metro took a 6-1 win over the Jr. Revolution.

Hargett and Monfils notched two goals apiece for the Jets, while Andrews recorded four assists and Stirling added three helpers. Springfield and Chapie added single goals for Metro and Alex Holm tacked on a pair of assists. Kalinowski finished with 31 saves in goal.

“(Last) weekend, I liked the fact that we scored goals,” said Metro coach Jason Cirone. “Offensively, we don’t have any issues. I like our team camaraderie and the fact that when I get on someone, one of his teammates is going to pull him aside and tell him not to worry about it and keep playing.”

The Jets (2-0-0-0) head to Cleveland this weekend for a two-game set with the Jr. Lumberjacks.

Game time Saturday night is 6:30 p.m. with a 1:15 p.m. matinee wrapping the series up on Sunday.

The last time these two teams met was in the opening round of the NA3HL playoffs last March, with Cleveland eliminating the Jets, two games to one.

JET STREAKS

Andrews, also an alternate captain for the Jets, was named the NA3HL’s 3rd Star of the Week for his eight-point weekend. Chapie earned an honorable mention.

With his eight points, Andrews is tied for the NA3HL scoring lead with Cleveland’s Andrew Mitch.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Defenseman Steve Oleksy, who played for the Jets during the 2004-05 season, will skate in the American Hockey League again this year with the Hershey Bears, the top affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche.

After graduating from the Jets, Oleksy played one year for the Traverse City North Stars of the North American Hockey League and then three years at Division I Lake Superior State University.

At the pro level, the 26-year-old Chesterfield native has played for the ECHL’s Las Vegas Wranglers, Toledo Walleye and Idaho Steelheads, IHL’s Port Huron Icehawks and last year with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the AHL. He also has AHL experience with the Lake Erie Monsters.

Andrews nets NA3HL 3rd Star of the Week honors

The North American 3 Hockey League today announced the Three Stars of the Week presented by Combat Hockey for the week ending Sept. 16, 2012.

The three stars of the week is an award given each week of the regular season to the top performing players in the 3HL as nominated by their head coaches.

3rd Star: Doug Andrews, forward, Metro Jets

Andrews, 20, opened his 2012-13 campaign with an explosive offensive performance as Metro swept the Battle Creek Jr. Revolution.

The Macomb native recorded four points in both games.

“Doug really grown as a player since last season,” said Jets’ head coach Jason Cirone. “He is playing with more confidence, more patience and it paid off this past weekend because he worked hard to create offense.”

Andrews had the game-winning goal on Saturday and assisted on four of Metro’s six goals on Sunday, including the game-winner. He is tied for the 3HL lead in points with eight.

1st Star was St. Louis forward Mike Lozano and the 2nd Star was Cleveland defenseman Andrew Sprouse.

Metro forward Ryan Chapie earned honorable mention.

Photo by Andy Grossman/Detailed Images

Captain's Corner - Battle Creek, Cirone's message, wearing the 'C'

Each week during the 2012-13 season, Metro Jets’ captain Matt Stirling will give his thoughts on topics surrounding the team as it makes its way through the North American 3 Hockey League grind.

-- On the two-game sweep over Battle Creek last weekend. 

Overall, I thought that the opening weekend went well. We played better in the second game and continued to improve over the whole weekend. There is always room for improvement and that’s what we will focus on this week as we gear up for our trip to Cleveland. 

-- On head coach Jason Cirone’s mood like after the 10-4 win Saturday night, but allowing four goals in the third period. 

Jason sent a clear message after Saturday night’s game and I think it was what we needed to come out and play well on Sunday afternoon. We took it as a notion that we needed to play well in every area of the game for the whole game to be successful. 

-- On playing his first games as captain after two years of being an alternate captain with the Jets. 

The ‘C’ didn’t change a whole lot of things from the previous games I have played at this level and as a player, I think it is more what you do on and off the ice than what is on your jersey. 

-- On what to expect this week in practice. 

This week in practice will be the toughest yet, in my opinion, as we gear up for a Cleveland team that I expect will play well and give us a competitive series this weekend.

Hargett, Monfils each score twice as Jets sweep Battle Creek

WATERFORD, MI – The Metro Jets completed a season-opening two-game sweep with a 6-1 win over the Battle Creek Jr. Revolution Sunday afternoon at Lakeland Arena.

Travis Hargett (pictured) and Jeff Monfils notched two goals apiece for the Jets, while Doug Andrews recorded four assists and captain Matt Stirling added three helpers.

“Today was a better game (than Saturday night) and the kids played hard,” said Metro coach Jason Cirone. “We went over things in our video session before the game that we really did wrong yesterday and I think they worked hard at improving it. There is obviously a lot that isn’t where we want it to be and nothing against Battle Creek, but if we make the same mistakes against Flint, Toledo, Cleveland and St. Louis, we won’t win.”

Ian Springfield and Ryan Chapie added single goals for Metro and Alex Holm tacked on a pair of assists to help back Trevor Kalinowski’s 31 saves in goal.

Kalinowski’s lone blemish was a missed poke check on Battle Creek captain Joey Lioy, who scored into the open net on a Battle Creek power play late in the second period.

“This weekend, I liked the fact that we scored goals,” said Cirone. “Offensively, we don’t have any issues. I like our team camaraderie and the fact that when I get on someone, one of his teammates is going to pull him aside and tell him not to worry about it and keep playing.”

The Jets (2-0-0-0) head to Cleveland next weekend for a two-game set with the Jr. Lumberjacks. Game time Saturday night is 6:30 p.m.with a 1:15 p.m.matinee wrapping the series up on Sunday.

“I’ll watch some video on Cleveland tonight and then we get back to work at practice tomorrow at 4,” said Cirone.

Photo by Andy Grossman/Detailed Images

Jets top Battle Creek 10-4 in season-opener Saturday night

WATERFORD, MI – The Metro Jets opened their 2012-13 North American 3 Hockey League season with a 10-4 win over the Battle Creek Jr. Revolution Saturday night at Lakeland Arena.

Doug Andrews (two goals, two assists), Ryan Chapie (two goals, two assists) and Mike Gambino (goal, three assists) each had four-point games to back Trevor Kalinowski’s 23 saves in goal.

Metro took an 8-0 lead into the third period before allowing four goals to Battle Creek, making head coach Jason Cirone none too happy.

“Defensively, we were (expletive) terrible,” said Cirone. “We’re absolutely dog (expletive) defensively. There is no commitment to it and our ‘D’ were too slow with the puck tonight. Give Battle Creek credit. They continued to play in the third and they beat us. They won the third period.”

Cirone was pleased with Kalinowski’s effort, though.

“I thought the kid played well,” said Cirone. “Two goals go in off an arm or an ass or whatever it is, but I thought he played well.”

Metro captain Matt Stirling had a goal and two assists, while Kyle Shreve (goal, assist), Jeff Monfils (goal, assist) and Tim Foley (two assists) had multi-point games.

Travis Hargett and Ian Springfield also scored for the Jets.

The offensive outburst notwithstanding, Cirone had but one message to his team after Saturday night’s game.

“They better (expletive) play better tomorrow or there will be a lot of changes on Monday,” Cirone said. “Plain and simple. I’m not putting up with this bull (expletive) all year.”

Game time Sunday is 2:50 p.m.

Led by new captain Stirling, Jets ready for 2012-13 season

WATERFORD, MI - The Metro Jets went with an older, seasoned roster in 2011-12 and had their best season in several years.

This year, the roster looks a bit younger and while wins and losses may not mirror last season, the expectations for Metro coach Jason Cirone have not changed.

“We’re a development league and our goal is to develop these kids and move them to the North American Hockey League and the United States Hockey League,” said Cirone, entering his third year behind the bench in Waterford. “I’m excited that we have a younger team, to be honest with you, but I know the returning guys will help to bring along the younger guys.”

Third-year forward Matt Stirling (pictured above) will serve as the Jets’ captain this year after having been an alternate his first two seasons with the Jets. According to Cirone, Stirling was the obvious choice.

“I don’t know how much more I can expect from Matt,” said Cirone. “He has been outstanding for us the past two years. He’s played forward, he’s played ‘D,’ he’s done everything I’ve asked of him and done it well.”

Stirling said that while he’ll be the one donning the ‘C,’ he won’t be alone in leading Metro.

“As captain this year, I don’t feel much outside pressure because I have been here and know what to expect,” said Stirling, a 20-year-old from Dexter. “I put more pressure on myself this year than the past few just because I need to be a role model for a lot of these younger guys to look up to. I learned a lot about the role between (2010-11 captains Mike) Corder and Morgan (James) and (2011-12 captain Tommy) Kilgore as I have seen how they have handled certain situations and have learned from them along the way. I also plan to rely on older guys like (Jeff) Monfils, (Doug) Andrews and (Derek) Britton to help assist me.”

The Jets open the 2012-13 North American 3 Hockey League campaign this weekend with games Saturday night and Sunday afternoon at Lakeland Arena against the Battle Creek Jr. Revolution.

“My expectations for the season are for the guys to keep improving as a team and individually,” Stirling said. “With the guys we have this year, I think we can be one of the premier teams in the league and I expect us to make a good playoff run this year. I think after the first week of the season, the older guys might have to carry some of the load, but as the younger guys get used to the system and the pace of play, the team will come together and gel pretty well.

“We have a lot of young talent that is different from past seasons. The younger guys may be a little overwhelmed at the beginning of the season, but should settle down and be a huge part of what the Metro Jets need to be successful. I think with this younger talent and a mixture of the older guys we can be very successful this year. All of the rookies have done well so far and they are all catching on to the system and what we are trying to do.”

Back from last season are forwards Travis Hargett (Clarkston) and Andrews (Macomb), along with defenseman Chad Frost (Clarkston). Monfils (Cleveland, Washington native) and Britton (Toledo, Sterling Heights native) played in the NA3HL last year as well.

In goal, gone is Petoskey’s Dillon Kelley (NAHL’s Corpus Christi Ice Rays), but the three newcomers – Trevor Kalinowski (Commerce Township), Luke DuBois (New Boston) and Austin Julvezan (Dexter) – will rotate for the first few weeks until one takes the reins as the No. 1 goaltender.

“Randy Wilson has done a great job with all of our goalies and I’m not a goalie coach, so whatever Randy tells me about our goalies, I listen,” Cirone said. “Last year when Devin Williams got called up to Erie (Otters of the Ontario Hockey League), we only had one other goalie in Dillon and to his credit, he stepped up and played well for us. We learned our lesson, though, and this year, we’ll carry three goalies and will see if anyone jumps up for us.”

Other first-year Jets include forwards Ryan Chapie (Midland), James Tuljus (West Bloomfield), Zach MacKay (Brighton), 2012 first-round pick Mike Gambino (Livonia) and Chris Mayer (West Bloomfield) and defensemen Steve Shariak (New Boston), Myles Burrough (Metamora), T.J. Krajewski (Macomb), Thomas Evans (Waterford) and the recently-turned 16-year-old Ian Springfield (Sterling Heights).

Chapie’s cousin, Adam Chapie, played in the NA3HL for Cleveland and then in the NAHL for New Mexico before heading to the University of Massachusetts-Lowell, where he is now a freshman on the Riverhawks’ Division I hockey team.

How will the mix of young and old shake out for the Jets? This weekend will prove to be a test, no doubt.

“We open the season against a Battle Creek team that was much improved last year from their first year and I only expect them to get better,” said Stirling. “This will be a competitive series and I expect that they will come ready to play.”

Game time Saturday night is 7:50 p.m.with a 12:10 p.m.puck drop scheduled for Sunday.

Photo by Andy Grossman/Detailed Images

Kilgore continues Jets' parade of players to Oakland

WATERFORD, MI – Add Tommy Kilgore to the list of former Metro Jets’ players moving up the hockey ladder.

Kilgore, who captained the 2011-12 Jets to their best season in recent years, committed to play for Oakland University’s ACHA Division I team last week and will join the Grizzlies for the upcoming season.

Another former Jets’ captain, Adam Novack (2007-09), is a senior at OU this year. Several other ex-Jets have made their way through the Oakland ranks over the years as well.

“I met one of the (OU) coaches (Gordie Schaeffler) where I work out at Total Performance (in Wixom) and he told me about the team’s tryout camp that was happening last week and that I should come out and skate,” explained Kilgore. “I took him up on his offer and at the end of the camp, the coaches offered me a spot and I accepted.

“At the beginning of the summer, I began to realize that if I wasn’t going to play in the North American Hockey League that it was time to start looking at colleges and going to school. When the opportunity came up for me to have an opportunity at OU, one of the top ACHA D-I schools in the country, it was something I really couldn’t afford to turn down.”

Over two seasons with the Jets, Kilgore recorded 21 goals and 34 assists for 55 points in 79 games. He also skated in three games with the NAHL’s Port Huron Fighting Falcons during the 2010-11 season.

“If I didn’t come and play those two years for (Metro coach) Jason (Cirone), I wouldn’t be where I am today,” said Kilgore, a Pinckney native who turns 20 on Sept. 18. “He taught me so much about the game and there is no way I’m playing for OU if I didn’t play for Metro. When I played for Pinckney High School and graduated in 2010, I thought that was the end of the line. I thought college hockey would maybe be in reach, but not at such a prestigious school like Oakland.”

Now a full-time college student, Kilgore is looking to major in business management at Oakland while still playing hockey at a high level.

“Oakland has such high standards in both athletics and academics and on the ice, I know I will always have to be ready,” Kilgore said. “I think we only have five freshmen this year and I know I’ll have to work my way into the top six. Right now, I think they have me as an energy guy and that’s fine, but I’m willing to put in the hard work to play more of a bigger role.”

Perhaps a future captain in the making? Time will tell.

Photo by Andy Grossman/Detailed Images