Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Captain's Corner - beating Flint, team chemistry, this weekend

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 beating Flint in a shootout last Friday night.

The Flint game was an all-around great game. We played well in every area of the ice and stayed out of the penalty box to get the win. That is the way we should play every night and what it will take to win key games in this league.

-- On how his individual game progressing.

My game has progressed in multiple areas so far this season. Mostly mentally, the game seems to be slowing down and it is becoming second nature to make routine plays on the ice.

-- On team chemistry almost two months into the season.

The chemistry of the team is starting to get better as the guys get to know each other and get familiar with the system we want to play. With so many rookies, it takes time for players to learn the system and the way junior hockey works. The team is starting to come together on and off the ice. I think our on-ice play is starting to reflect that as well.

-- On playing at Michigan Saturday night and Cleveland at home Sunday afternoon.

I expect for us to come out with four points as we need them to keep pace in our division. These teams are both talented and can be tough to play against if you don’t prepare all week for them. I expect Michigan to be aggressive all over the ice and to be able to keep pace with us for 60 minutes. Cleveland we have played before and know what kind of effort it will take to play them. Both games will be a challenge, but if we play how we know we can, we should come out with four points.  

Friday, October 26, 2012

Jets run win streak to three games with shootout win over Flint

WATERFORD, MI - The Flint Jr. Generals scored late in the third period to knot the game at 3-all, but the Metro Jets eked out a 4-3 win in a shootout Friday night at Lakeland Arena to extend their winning streak to three games.

Andrew Palushaj scored two goals for the Jets, while captain Matt Stirling had a goal and two assists and Mike Gambino a goal and an helper.

The win was the first for the Jets against Flint since last January when Metro squeezed out a 4-3 win at Lakeland.

Flint led 2-1 after two period before Palushaj and Stirling scored in the third to put the Jets ahead.

Nick Gnagni recorded the equalizer at 19:08 of the third with goalie Patrick Drazkowski on the bench for the extra attacker.

In the shootout, Metro goalie Austin Julvezan stopped three of the four Flint shooters and picked up his first win of the season. Julvezan made 24 saves in the game.

Drazkowski finished with 32 saves in the Flint net, while Eddie Osowski had a goal and an assist.

The Jets (5-6-0-0) face the Michigan Mountain Cats on the road in Fraser next Saturday night (Nov. 3) before returning home the following afternoon to host the Cleveland Jr. Lumberjacks at 2:50 p.m.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Big defenseman Britton leaving mark on Jets' blue line

WATERFORD, MI – Derek Britton came to the Metro Jets by way of a trade from the Toledo Cherokee in late August and he has helped to solidify a blue line that was perhaps average at best coming into the season.

Britton has done more than just add depth to the Jets’ defense. He has brought a much-needed size factor (6-foot-4, 190 pounds) and usually is matched up with the opponent’s top line most nights.

For Britton, though, the trade back to his home state wasn’t something he requested, but was something he gladly accepted.

”The trade occurred because there were many obligations I had close to home,” said Britton, a 19-year-old Sterling Heights native. “I was enrolled in college courses, working full time and had an old car that couldn’t make the commute to Toledo. Although (Toledo) coach (Scott) Syring had wanted me on his team, he was willing to make the trade and encouraged me to keep playing hockey.

“I did not set out to be traded, but I knew it needed to be done if I wanted to keep playing. I feel lucky to have had two great coaches last year and this year who push to get the most out of me. It was nice that they put my best interests ahead of everything.”

In the deal, the Jets sent defenseman Zach Schlacht to the Cherokee.

Through 10 games, Britton feels he has found his role with the Jets and is fitting on with his new teammates.

“This Jets team has a mix of experienced and talented young players,” explained Britton. “It has been very easy to adjust because I have played with and against some of my teammates. I was also familiar with (Metro) coach (Jason) Cirone and his expectations from past tryouts and speaking with friends who have played for him. I feel I fit in well with this team by supporting our defensive line and providing leadership for the younger players. I try to teach them what I have learned from my past and teach them to work hard every shift.”

And if the old adage that states hard work pays off holds true, Britton will see it happen in Waterford first-hand.

”My personal target is to keep working hard to improve my skills to make it to college or the next level,” said Britton. “I will do this by defending our side of the ice in any situation. My main focus is to stop scoring chances against us by getting the puck to our forwards as fast as possible. I need to make sure I am in the right position at all times for positive results.

”From a team standpoint, we need to keep working hard in practice so the wins keep coming to make it to the finals. I know this is tough, but we can do it if we work hard and do our jobs on the ice. This can and will happen if we work together as a team.”

LOOKING BACK, LOOKING AHEAD

The Jets sat idle last weekend after sweeping the Quad City Jr. Flames Oct. 13-14 at Lakeland Arena.

Metro (4-6-0-0) hosts the Flint Jr. Generals Friday night at 7:50 p.m. at home in its lone game of the weekend.

“Flint is always a good team,” said Metro captain Matt Stirling. “We always seem to have close games with them and they always bring a good effort every time we play them. With one game this week, we need to leave it all out on the ice to get the two points.”

JET STREAKS

Through 10 games this season, forward Travis Hargett has scored six goals – equaling his total goal output his first two seasons when he played 76 games.

Forward Doug Andrews has recorded a point in all but one game this season. His 17 points are good for a sixth-place tie among league scoring leaders.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? 

Dwight Parrish, a forward from the early days of the Jets’ franchise, retired from a long pro career in 2009 that saw stops in the American Hockey League, International Hockey League, East Coast Hockey League and in England.

Parrish, a 40-year-old Southfield native, also skated four years at Ferris State University from 1992-96.

His No. 17 jersey was retired by the Elite Ice Hockey League’s Manchester (England) Phoenix in 2009.

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Colorado native Campbell finding role on Jets' back end

WATERFORD, MI – Aksel Campbell has gone from Colorado to Pittsburgh to Waterford in just over two months’ time.

One of the newest Metro Jets’ defensemen, Campbell is hoping his latest stop is his last this season.

Acquired by the Jets from the Three Rivers Vengeance two weeks ago, Campbell has taken to Metro’s systems in a heartbeat and is excited at the potential the Jets have shown in his four games so far.

“I was very surprised by the trade from Pittsburgh, but I know that (Three Rivers) coach Brian (Cersosimo) is doing what he thinks is best for me and I have a lot of respect for him as a coach,” said Campbell, an 18-year-old native of Lone Tree, Colo. ”I didn’t realize I was going to be moving out until about the middle of last year. I hadn’t even looked into juniors until my last year of high school. It was a tough decision to move so far from home, but it has been worth it.”

Campbell played six games with the Vengeance after joining the team as a rookie this season. According to Jets’ coach Jason Cirone, Campbell has looked anything but like a rookie in his four games since the trade.

“Aksel has been fitting in really good for us,” said Cirone. “I thought our ‘D’ was a concern at the beginning of the year and now it’s starting to round itself out with the additions of (Brian) Ziola, (Josh) Hosking and Aksel. All these guys bring a dimension to our team that we really missed and lacked in the beginning.”

Campbell is the first Colorado native to suit up for the Jets since Jimmy Sanders in the early 2000s and Chance Thede, who went on to play in goal for Division I American International College, in the mid-1990s.

Campbell feels he can be an offensive defenseman for the Jets and said he likes moving the puck in the offensive zone from the point to try and create scoring chances for the forwards.

Getting acclimated with the Waterford area has been on Campbell’s agenda as well.

”Waterford is different than home, but there are still some similarities,” Campbell said. “I really like all the people out here and the cold winter is a lot like winter in Colorado.”

Now entrenched on Metro’s back end, Campbell wants to get down to business and help tack on a few more wins for the Jets.

”I’m going to strive for team success this season and try to grow as much as I can as a player,” explained Campbell. “I just have to keep working hard so I can try to move to the next level. “So far, everything with the Jets has been great and I have been getting along really well with all the guys. Coach Cirone has been great, too, I’m excited to see where we can take it as a team this year.”

LOOKING BACK, LOOKING AHEAD

Metro snapped its six-game losing streak last weekend with a two-game sweep of the Quad City Jr. Flames at Lakeland Arena.

Saturday night, the Jets took a 4-2 win over the Jr. Flames. Alex Holm and Jeff Monfils each scored and added two assists to back Trevor Kalinowski's 20 saves in goal.

"The kids have been working hard and I thought they deserved better last week (against Toledo), but I felt they got what they deserved in this game," Cirone said. "They worked hard from start to finish."

Mike Gambino scored and chipped in an assist, while Ziola registered the empty-netter after Quad City's Easton Halbert cut the Jets' lead to one with two goals in the third period.

 Travis Hargett's goal at 15:16 of the third period snapped a 2-2 tie and the Jets held on for a 3-2 win over Sunday afternoon.

With the win, the Jets move their season record to 4-6-0.

Gambino and Metro captain Matt Stirling also scored and Luke DuBois finished with 37 saves between the pipes.

Peter Coppola and Harley Manus scored for Quad City.

The Jets are idle this weekend before hosting the Flint Jr. Generals on Friday, Oct. 26.

JET STREAKS 

Ziola, an 18-year-old from Commerce Township, made his Jets’ debut in the Quad City series after originally signing a tender with the team over the summer.

“He adds more depth and I’ve always liked him; that’s why we tendered him,” said Cirone. “We were patient with him and let him do what he wanted to do. His first choice was to go to school and see how that worked out, but he obviously had a change of heart.”

Monfils was named the NA3HL’s 2nd Star of the Week after tallying a goal and three assists against the Jr. Flames. On Saturday, he scored the game-winner and on Sunday, he assisted on the game-winner.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? 

Forward Jon Elliott will start his freshman season at Division III St. Mary’s University next weekend after spending the last two years in Canada and the 2009-10 season with the Jets.

Elliott, a 21-year-old Birmingham native, played in all 48 games for the Jets and was second in team scoring with 15 goals and 26 points. He played from 2010-12 with the Cumberland Grads of the Central Canada Hockey League.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Captain's Corner - losing streak over, idle weekend, newbies

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 sweeping Quad City last weekend to end the team's six-game losing streak.

It feels great. The way we won was the most important - we played well for 60 minutes in both games and came out with the four points we needed. The weekend is the way we need to play every weekend to be competitive in this league and get the points.

-- On keys to last weekend.

Playing our game and making sure that we played well for the whole game. We brought the effort that is needed and ended up with the four points.

-- On the upcoming weekend off.

I think the off weekend has come at a good time for us. The momentum is good to ride, but we have been going hard for about four weeks here and the weekend off is a good way to refocus.

-- On veteran newcomers Jeff Monfils and Derek Britton, both acquired in August.

They both have fit in well. The two are both older guys who know what it takes to play in this league. Britton brings a size factor that we need along with the ability to play in multiple situations on defense. Monfils brings his leadership over from Cleveland last year and fits well with the guys up front as he puts up solid numbers for us every weekend. They both assist me in helping lead the team this year.  

-- On new defenseman Aksel Campbell's second weekend with the team.

Campbell, since coming over from Three Rivers, has been a nice addition to the defense and not only adds another body back there, but also is catching on to our system and starting to fit in with the other guys on the back end. He brings multiple talents that can be used on the power play and on the penalty kill.

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Hargett scores late as Metro edges Quad City Sunday afternoon

WATERFORD, MI - Travis Hargett's goal at 15:16 of the third period snapped a 2-2 tie and the Metro Jets held on for a 3-2 win over the Quad City Jr. Flames Sunday afternoon at Lakeland Arena.

With the win, the Jets sweep the weekend series and move their season record to 4-6-0.

Metro captain Matt Stirling and Mike Gambino also scored and Luke DuBois finished with 37 saves between the pipes.

Peter Coppola and Harley Manus scored for Quad City.

The Jets are idle next weekend before hosting the Flint Jr. Generals on Friday, Oct. 26.

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Metro ends losing skid with 4-2 win over Jr. Flames Saturday

WATERFORD, MI - The Metro Jets ended their six-game losing streak Saturday night with a 4-2 win over the Quad City Jr. Flames Saturday night at Lakeland Arena.

Alex Holm and Jeff Monfils each scored and added two assists to back Trevor Kalinowski's 20 saves in goal.

"The kids have been working hard and I thought they deserved better last week, but I felt they got what they deserved in this game," Metro coach Jason Cirone said. "They worked hard from start to finish."

Mike Gambino scored and chipped in an assist, while newcomer Brian Ziola registered the empty-netter after Quad City's Easton Halbert cut the Jets' lead to one with two goals in the third period.

The two teams finish up their series Sunday afternoon at 2:50 p.m.

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Veteran Hargett showing increased production in third season

WATERFORD, MI – Travis Hargett is hoping the third season with the Metro Jets is the charm.

So far, it has been for the 18-year-old Clarkston native as he has been scoring more than he did his first two years and has seen his ice time increase.

“Personally, I think that this year I have made huge strides in my game in my hockey sense and my ability to score,” noted Hargett, who has five goals and an assist through eight games. “I've been playing a lot more and having the confidence knowing that (Metro coach) Jason (Cirone) trusts me enough to put me on the ice in certain situations, like when we pull our goalie. I would say that so far this year in eight games, I am happy with the way I have played, but I still know that I can do better.”

Off the ice, Hargett has become much more acclimated to the lifestyle of playing junior hockey in the North American 3 Hockey League.

 “I know what to expect when I come to practice during the week and the difference between an early-week skate and a practice right before an important weekend,” said Hargett.

In his rookie season of 2010-11, Hargett posted just seven points and last year, he had 15 points. He is on pace to record greater numbers this season and part of that notion is how offensively-gifted the Jets seem to be this season.

”At camp this year, I knew right away that our team wouldn't have a problem putting the puck in the net,” said Hargett. “Scoring goals has not been an issue for us this year, just as it wasn’t last year. With our team, it’s being consistently defensively sound for the whole game.”

Playing mostly on a forward line this season with Alex Holm and Jeff Monfils, Hargett said the trio “plays together really well.”

“I love those guys and we usually know where the other two are on the ice and we make some really good plays,” explained Hargett. “We have a lot of fun together in the locker room and off the ice, too.”

On the ice lately, the Jets have not had too much fun as the team is embroiled in a six-game losing streak that began after a season-opening sweep at home of Battle Creek. Hargett isn’t ready to push the panic button, nor does he plan on it.

”The main thing to keep the guys focused is definitely knowing that it’s not an eight-game season,” said Hargett. “We have 40 more games and I know we will be OK and things will come around. We just need to keep working hard and keep our heads up.”

Taking his own advice is also something Hargett plans on doing to help further his career and get the Jets some more notches in the win column.

”This year I want to play my best, plain and simple,” Hargett said. “I will go where the road takes me and would consider both staying in junior hockey or playing in college.”

LOOKING BACK, LOOKING AHEAD

The Jets played a home-and-home series with the Toledo Cherokee last weekend and came out on the losing end each night.

Metro held a 3-1 lead over the Cherokee midway through the second period, but couldn't hang on as the Cherokee rallied for a 4-3 win Saturday night at Lakeland Arena.

Doug Andrews scored a pair of goals for the Jets, while Mike Gambino added the other. Newcomer Luke Rendino and Andrew Palushaj each had two assists on the night and in goal, Austin Julvezan made 30 stops.

Gambino and Rendino scored for the Jets Sunday afternoon, but it wasn't enough as Toledo took a 4-2 win over the Jets at the Team Toledo Ice House.

For the Jets, Trevor Kalinowski finished with 25 saves between the pipes.

Metro hosts the Quad City Jr. Flames Saturday and Sunday back at Lakeland Arena. Game time Saturday night is 7:50 p.m. followed by a 2:50 p.m. start on Sunday.

“As a team, we are growing through this skid we are in right now,” Metro captain Matt Stirling said. “We know we are a good team and can win games. The most encouraging things, however, are to see us play a sound game for 60 minutes and continue to see some of the younger guys settle in to the NA3HL level of hockey.”

JET STREAKS

Rendino and defenseman Aksel Campbell made their Jets’ debuts last weekend and played well.

On loan from the NAHL’s Michigan Warriors, Rendino is now back with the Warriors.

“I was asked by my coach (Moe Mantha) if I would like to come down and play two games for the Jets because I was going to be scratched,” said Rendino. “So I said, why not come down and play some hockey? My impression of the team and the NA3 was that all around there was some good hockey being played.”

Campbell, a Colorado native, was acquired from the Three Rivers Vengeance prior to last weekend and is excited to be with the Jets.

“Loving Detroit. Trades can be a good thing,” Campbell posted on Facebook this week.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Dillon Kelley played the 2011-12 season in Waterford and posted an 18-8-1 record in goal with three shutouts, a 3,62 goals-against average and a .891 save percentage.

He was called up to the NAHL’s Port Huron Fighting Falcons at one point during the season and also played one game for the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the United States Hockey League once the Jets’ season was over.

This season with the NAHL’s Corpus Christi IceRays, the 18-year-old Petoskey native is 0-1-2 with a 2.22 goals-against average and a .899 save percentage in three games.

Photo courtesy Andy Grossman/Detailed Images

Monday, October 8, 2012

Captain's Corner - Toledo, finding positives, 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 dropping both ends of the home-and-home last weekend with Toledo.

We played well this weekend and deserved to win both games. The effort and smarts were there, just not the results. We fought hard for 60 minutes in both games and that is all you can ask for. Even though the results weren’t there this weekend, it is a positive to see us playing well for the full 60 minutes.

-- On any positives during the current six-game losing streak.

As a team, we are growing through this skid we are in right now. We know we are a good team and can win games. The most encouraging things however, are to see us play a sound game for 60 minutes and continue to see some of the younger guys settle in to the NA3HL level of hockey.

-- On new players Luke Rendino and Aksel Campbell.

Both of the new guys looked good. Campbell helps us on defense where we have limited bodies and Rendino brings in a ton of offensive talent that we can use up front. For jumping right in on game day, both guys played well while adjusting to our systems.

-- On this weekend's home series against Quad City, also a team with a 2-6-0 record.

You can look and say that Quad City is a 2-6 team, but so are we. We know that we are playing well and know that the results haven’t come yet. This could be the same for Quad City, but the only thing we can control is how we play and how we prepare. Just like every week, this starts Monday at practice.

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Cherokee complete the sweep Sunday in Toledo

TOLEDO, Ohio - Mike Gambino and newcomer Luke Rendino scored for the Metro Jets, but it wasn't enough as the Toledo Cherokee took a 4-2 win over the Jets Sunday afternoon at the Team Toledo Ice House.

 Tyler Zalecki scored twice for Toledo.

For the Jets, Trevor Kalinowski finished with 25 saves between the pipes.

Metro hosts the Quad City Jr. Flames this coming Saturday and Sunday back at Lakeland Arena. Game time Saturday night is 7:50 p.m. followed by a 2:50 p.m. start on Sunday.

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Jets blow two-goal lead, fall to Toledo Saturday night

WATERFORD, MI - The Metro Jets held a 3-1 lead over the Toledo Cherokee midway through the second period, but couldn't hang on as the Cherokee rallied for a 4-3 win Saturday night at Lakeland Arena.

Doug Andrews scored a pair of goals for the Jets, while Mike Gambino added the other.

Newcomer Luke Rendino and Andrew Palushaj each had two assists on the night and in goal, Austin Julvezan made 30 stops.

Alec Gerred scored twice for Toledo.

The two teams finish up their home-and-home series Sunday afternoon in Toledo with a 2:30 p.m. faceoff at the Team Toledo Ice House.

Friday, October 5, 2012

Jets' rookie Gambino playing like a first-round pick should

WATERFORD, MI – The Metro Jets liked forward Mike Gambino so much last season that on draft day this past June, the Jets made a major deal with Quad City to move up to No. 5 in the first round to nab the slick-skating 18-year-old from Livonia Churchill High School.

Now a few weeks into the North American 3 Hockey League season, Gambino has seven points in his first six games and seems to be fitting in well and adjusting to junior hockey.

In fact, when Metro coach Jason Cirone was asked if Gambino has played as he hoped he would, Cirone answered, “Well, yes and no.”

“On the offensive side, Gambino has done an outstanding job for us,” said Cirone. “There is no doubt about that. The reason I said ‘no’ is that I never knew the kid could play as physical as he’s been this year. He’s definitely brought a new element to our team this season.”

At 6-foot and 185 pounds, Gambino has the size to make an impact in the NA3HL, but more than that, he’s a player that wants to keep learning and wants to get better.

“He has great speed and you always need that up front at any level of hockey,” said Cirone. “Mike is also learning to play well in his own end and that’s something good players do – they excel on both sides of the puck and in all three zones.

“I think Gambino is the type of player North American Hockey League teams want and I think if he keeps improving as much as he has so far, he will have his pick of NAHL teams for next season.”

LOOKING BACK, LOOKING AHEAD

The Three Rivers Vengeance earned a pair of victories over the Jets last 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, Gambino, Travis Hargett and Doug Andrews scored for the Jets, while Trevor Kalinowski made 34 saves in the loss.

Metro captain Matt Stirling added two assists.

Stirling then 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.

 JET STREAKS

Gritty defenseman Josh Hosking, a 19-year-old from Oxford, signed with the Jets last week and suited up for the two games with the Vengeance. He began the season in the NAHL with the Jamestown Ironmen and played two games at the start of the season.

Hosking played with Palushaj in Jamestown and when Palushaj signed with the Jets, he referred the team to Hosking.

“Josh has the potential to run our power play,” Cirone said.

Hosking played last season for the Oakland Jr. Grizzlies’ 18U team and tallied four goals and 14 points in 39 games.

Then this week, the Jets announced that rookie defenseman Steven Shariak has left the team for personal reasons and also acquired 6-foot-3 defenseman Aksel Campbell, an 18-year-old Colorado native, from Three Rivers for a 2013 player tender.

Campbell is expected to be in the lineup this weekend.

“From what I saw of Aksel last weekend, he’s a big, mobile defenseman,” said Cirone.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Dustin Cloutier, a forward who played for the Jets during the 2004-05 season, signed with the ECHL’s Kalamazoo Wings last week.

Cloutier, a 26-year-old Berkley native, joined the K-Wings last year after starting the season in the Southern Professional Hockey League with the Augusta RiverHawks, where he posted 33 points (10 goals, 23 assists) in 20 games. He then notched 23 points (13 goals, 10 assists) in 45 games with Kalamazoo.

“His work ethic earned him every minute of ice time he received last season,” said Kalamazoo head coach Nick Bootland. “If he can pick up where he left off from a season ago, we expect him to push for an even larger role this season.”

Before turning pro, Cloutier was a four-year standout at Division I Bentley (Atlantic Hockey) and also played in the United States Hockey League for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders and in the North American Hockey League for the Mahoning Valley Phantoms.

Monday, October 1, 2012

Captain's Corner - Three Rivers sweep, frustration, Toledo

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 what prevented the Jets from getting a win last weekend against Three Rivers.

Penalties. Both games we seemed to spend most of the game in the box. The Saturday game really I put most of the emphasis on the officials, as it seemed to be fairly one-sided and although that happens, it was to the point where some of the rules seemed to be amended and player safety was on the line. The Sunday game we got carried away in their style of play and ended up taking more penalties than the night before. We spent most of the game killing penalties and never got anything started otherwise. When you take upwards of 12 penalties in a game, you can’t expect to win.

-- On if frustration is setting in within the team ranks.

Yeah, to an extent. We know what we are capable of and how good we can be, but we have come up short the past two weekends one way or another.

-- On keeping the team focused during a losing skid.

The veteran guys assist me and try to keep everyone level-headed. The highs can’t be too high and the lows can’t be too low. The only way to really get out of this skid we are in is to keep working hard in practice and continue to improve as a team.

-- On expectations for this weekend's home-and-home with Toledo.

Toledo is another tough team to play, especially in Toledo. These types of games are the ones that you need to help establish yourself in your division. Giving up eight points in the last two weekends is not good and we need to win this weekend.