Saturday, February 23, 2013

Shreve pops pair of goals to lead Jets over Jr. Generals

FLINT, MI - Kyle Shreve netted a pair of goals to lead the Metro Jets to a 4-2 win over the Flint Jr. Generals Saturday night at Iceland Arena.

Mike Lawrence added a goal and an assist and Brad Hepler also tallied for the Jets.

Doug Andrews picked up three assists, Brian Ziola two helpers and goaltender Riley Corbin made 38 saves for the win.

"Winning in Flint is always hard and they're a good hockey team over there," said Metro coach Jason Cirone. "I thought everybody was really good tonight. It took a total team effort to beat Flint, a team that's deep and if your team doesn't play as a complete unit, you don't beat them. I thought everyone was good, right from Corbin on down to Hepler, who didn't get a lot of ice, but scores a big goal for us."

For Flint, Eddie Osowski and Nick Gnagni scored and Ted Barile finished with 26 stops.

The Jets (19-21-3-0), still mathematically in the hunt for the NA3HL postseason, play a home-and-home series with the Toledo Cherokee next weekend, starting Saturday night at Lakeland Arena with a 7:50 p.m. opening faceoff.

Thursday, February 21, 2013

After November trade, Lawrence providing spark for Jets

WATERFORD, MI – Michael Lawrence has been all over the map over the last year or so, but is happy to have found a home with the Metro Jets this year.

Last season, Lawrence skated for the West Michigan Hounds AAA and in the North American Hockey League for a bit with the Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings.

This year, he started out with the Granite City (Minn.) Lumberjacks, the team that tabbed him in the tenth round of last summer’s North American 3 Hockey League draft. With the Lumberjacks, Lawrence tallied two goals and six points in 13 games, but wanted a bigger role.

On Nov. 30 while both teams were at the first league showcase in Blaine, Minn., Lawrence was traded to the Jets and since the deal, has 17 points in 24 games in a Jets’ uniform.

“I requested a trade here because I felt I wasn't getting the playing time I deserved in Granite City,” said Lawrence, a 20-year-old from Mattawan. “With all the returners they had from winning a national championship last season, I kind of got lost in the mix of players. I came into the league kind of blind and not really knowing what to expect, but I feel I adapted pretty quickly, which was good.”

Lawrence said he serves a variety of roles with the Jets, a team scratching and clawing to earn a playoff berth.

”My role is to bring a physical presence on the ice and to answer the bell when called upon, but who doesn't like to score?” quipped Lawrence. “On this team, the mood changes depending on the day. Some days, we have a lot of life, but the next, we come out with no energy or drive. All in all, though, the mood is always good. Obviously, the captains like Matt Stirling, Dougie Andrews and I are called upon the most to get the boys going, but we have a group of leaders including Andrew Palushaj, Hargs (Travis Hargett) and Zack MacKay who aren’t afraid to let everyone know what's on their mind.

”As far as I'm concerned, there's still a lot of season left. We just need to grip down and play hockey like we can. We aren’t out of the playoffs just yet. If that day comes where we are officially out of the playoffs, that doesn't mean the season is over. We will still be playing for our pride.”

Playing for the love of the game is something Lawrence learned at a young age from his father, Mark Lawrence, who logged 142 NHL games with the Dallas Stars and New York Islanders and also played several years in the minors after starting in the Ontario Hockey League and playing at one time for the Detroit Compuware Ambassadors, now known as the Plymouth Whalers.

“I give him my dad the credit to where I am today,” said Lawrence. “He was still playing when I was growing up playing, so it was always easy to talk to him about the game. Then him coaching me my whole life, he was able to mold me into the player I am today. I just wish I had the scoring touch like him, though.”

Next season, Lawrence knows the options should be aplenty, but wants to look at each and every one of them with a fine-tooth comb.

”I have a great offer to play for Aquinas University, but also I still have another year of junior eligibility left, so I'm really up in the air right now,” Lawrence said. “I just want to take things day by day.”

JET STREAKS

Forward Josh Beleski, who made his return to the Jets just prior to the NA3HL trade deadline and roster freeze two weeks ago, was originally the team’s first-round draft pick in 2010.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Jack McCoy played with the Jets during the team’s early years and has worked his way up to be a linesman at the American Hockey League level.

McCoy, a Livonia native who played college hockey at Oswego State in the SUNYAC, has also worked as an on-ice official in the OHL, ECHL, International Hockey League and United Hockey League.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Flying Aces top Jets in overtime Wednesday morning

TROY, MI - The Metro Jets spotted the Minnesota Flying Aces a 3-0 lead and rallied to tie the game in the second period, but fell in overtime 4-3 Wednesday morning to close out the NA3HL Showcase at the Troy Sports Center.

Metro captain Matt Stirling, Alex Holm and Mike Lawrence scored for the Jets, while Riley Corbin and Trevor Kalinowski combined for 43 saves between the pipes.

Payton Trammel's goal 3:24 into overtime won it for the Flying Aces.

Metro (18-21-3-0) next plays in Flint this Saturday night. Game time at Iceland Arena is set for 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Corbin pitches 31-save shutout as Jets down Queen City in Troy

TROY, MI - Riley Corbin stopped all 31 shots he faced as the Metro Jets blanked the Queen City Steam 3-0 Tuesday afternoon at the NA3HL Showcase at the Troy Sports Center.

Kyle Shreve had a goal and an assist, while Mike Gambino and Thomas Evans scored for the Jets.

Mike Lawrence chipped in two assists as well.

The Jets (18-21-2-0) play the Minnesota Flying Aces Wednesday at 9 a.m. to wrap up the Showcase.

Sunday, February 17, 2013

Metro edges Breezy Point on first day of NA3HL Showcase

TROY, MI - The Metro Jets spotted the Breezy Point North Stars an early 2-0 lead, but came back with three unanswered goals to take a 3-2 victory Sunday night at the NA3HL Showcase at the Troy Sports Center.

Metro captain Matt Stirling had a goal and an assist, while Brad Hepler added two assists and Trevor Kalinowski picked up the win in goal with a 25-save effort.

Mike Gambino and Doug Andrews also scored in the win, the Jets' fourth straight.

The Jets (17-21-2-0) next play Tuesday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. in Troy against the Queen City Steam.

Friday, February 15, 2013

Captain's Corner - Quad City, Cats, NA3HL Showcase

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.

The Flint game was a tough one to swallow losing by only one goal (on Feb. 7), but it was nice to rebound against Quad City a few days later. Quad City didn’t have a good showing against us and we were able to take advantage of that in both games. I think the games in Quad City showed when we play our best we are a tough team to beat. The way we played those games are the way we should play every game.

-- On Doug Andrews' big series against Quad City.

Doug played well in both games during the weekend and in the second one, it seemed to be everything that he touched in the offensive zone went in. Performances like that come along rarely and I’m glad he was able to have it because of his recent struggles.

-- On beating the Michigan Mountain Cats this past Wednesday night.

Michigan was another good game. We played well at some points in the game and awful in others, so we need to get back to practice to work on a few things. The good part about the game was we came out with two points and keep moving in the right direction.

-- On the NA3HL Showcase this weekend and early next week in Troy.

I’m at a point now where I just want to keep winning and make the playoffs. The end goal is to win the Silver Cup and we can do that. The wins start in Troy and will be tough to get, but if we play how we are capable of, we should be just fine.

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Jets win third straight, beat Mountain Cats Wednesday night

FRASER, MI - Josh Beleski's goal at 11:16 of the third period snapped a 4-4 tie and the Metro Jets went on to defeat the Michigan Mountain Cats 6-4 Wednesday night at the Great Lakes Sports City.

Kyle Shreve scored two goals, while Jets' captain Matt Stirling added a goal and two assists to back Riley Corbin's 31 saves in goal.

Andrew Palushaj chipped in a goal and an assist, Doug Andrews put home an empty-netter with 30 seconds left in the third period and defenseman Thomas Evans finished plus-3 on the night.

For the Mountain Cats, Austin Sartorius had a goal and two assists and goaltender Spencer Craig stopped 33 shots.

The Jets (16-21-2-0) now get set to play in the NA3HL Showcase at the Troy Sports Center. Metro plays the Breezy Point North Stars on Sunday at 5 p.m., the Queen City Steam next Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. and then concludes with the Minnesota Flying Aces next Wednesday at 9 a.m.

Jets' rookie MacKay wants to finish season on high note

WATERFORD, MI – Admittedly, Zack MacKay hasn’t had the season he envisioned when he signed with the Metro Jets last summer.

Suffering an injury in the season-opening game against Battle Creek, the 19-year-old forward from Brighton said that set him back a bit, but he has continued to improve and round out his overall game to the point where it’s obvious why the Jets tabbed him in the second round of last summer’s NA3HL draft.

“I had come to one of the open tryouts and immediately, one of the assistant coaches came up to me and asked where I planned on playing and which teams I had talked to,” said MacKay. “I told him the only place I had gone to try out was for the Michigan Warriors in the NAHL and that another NA3HL team was interested in me. After the first skate, (Metro head coach) Jason (Cirone) called me out of the locker room and told me he wanted me and said he was going to try and draft me in the first round. I told him I'd love to play for him and had no interest in the other team.

“I didn't know much of anything about the team or the league, but one of my coaches last year (with the Detroit Falcons 18U AAA team in the NAPHL) had told me about Jason and the Jets and said it'd be in my best interest to go skate with them and see how it was. Last year was my first time playing AAA. I had played high school before that (pictured, with Brighton High School) and it was a lot faster and better competition. It helped me prepare for juniors just with the speed of the game play.”

MacKay planned on being among the team leaders in scoring this year, but it hasn’t panned out. He said the injury played a major role.

”I feel the role I carry is that of leadership and playing physical, as well as playing strong defensively,” MacKay said. “With my injury in the first game of the season, I had lost a lot of what I trained for in the summer – shooting, stickhandling and overall conditioning. I truly don't think I’ve had a good season at all. The injury set me back way too much and since then, I haven’t been able to get back to where I was.”

As a team, the Jets have played with a young roster all season and are currently mired in fifth place in the East Division – out of the playoffs at this point. That said, no one is throwing in the towel on this season.

“The mood is constant throughout the team where everyone is sick of the results we have been getting,” MacKay said. “I think our captain, Matt Stirling, is best at keeping everyone loose. We're not trying to be loose about the situation, but it’s hard to keep a positive attitude when everyone does their job, works hard, but we just can’t get a break.

“We need to take it one game at a time, while keeping the whole picture in mind. Yeah, we need to focus on the next game at hand, but we also need to remember that each game is crucial for us to get a playoff spot. Everyone has been showing more heart lately, so I'd have to assume everyone else is thinking the same way.”

And going one day at a time is the same philosophy MacKay takes when it comes to his individual career.

“My long-term goal is to play college hockey, but as the season has progressed, I think it's been changing to just playing in the NAHL or BCHL or any higher tier,” said MacKay. “It's changed because of the situation the team is in now and how we need to take it one game at a time. For me, it’s the same idea – one level of hockey at a time.”

JET STREAKS

Forward Ryan Chapie (broken collarbone, out for season) and goaltender Austin Julvezan were released just prior to the NA3HL roster freeze on Feb. 10 and forward Anthony Saleh was traded to the Elliot Lake Bobcats of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League.

The Jets also signed Farmington High School forward Cooper McLean to a tender for next season.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? 

Cameron Bazin, a forward who played two seasons with the Jets from 2010-12, is currently in his freshman season at Olivet College where he is a member of the school’s lacrosse team.

Bazin, a 20-year-old from Troy, tallied 10 goals and 20 assists for 30 points in 68 games with the Jets.

The Olivet lacrosse season starts Feb. 23.

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

NA3HL tabs Andrews 3rd Star of the Week

The North American 3 Hockey League today announced the Three Stars of the Week presented by Combat Hockey for the week ending February 10, 2013.

The three stars of the week is an award given each week of the regular season to the top performing players in the NA3HL as nominated by their head coaches.

3rd Star: Doug Andrews, forward, Metro Jets

It was a week, or game, to remember for Metro forward Doug Andrews, 20, who helped the Jets win two of their three games this past week to keep their playoff chances alive.

The native of Macomb, Mich., who is closing in on 100 points for the NA3HL career, had a career game in Metro’s 9-2 win in Quad City on Sunday. Andrews set an NA3HL season-high with five goals and eight points in a single game. He also was plus-5. The five goals also included the game-winning goal, which came at the end of the first period.

Of the nine goals scored in the game, Andrews recorded a point in eight of them.

 “Doug had been in a little funk, but the most important thing was he has never stopped working hard,” said Jets' head coach Jason Cirone. “He finally put it all together and everything he touched seem to go in or produce offense.”

1st Star was Flint goalie Andres Franke and 2nd Star was Flint forward Nick Gnagni.

Sunday, February 10, 2013

Andrews scores five as Jets sweep Quad City on the road

DAVENPORT, Iowa - Doug Andrews figured in on eight of the Metro Jets' goals Sunday afternoon in a 9-2 win over the Quad City Jr. Flames, completing a weekend sweep at the Rivers Edge.

Andrews (pictured) scored five goals and tacked on three assists to go along with a plus-5 rating and goaltender Riley Corbin picked up his second straight win with a 35-save outing.

Michael Lawrence had a goal and three assists and Kyle Shreve and Andrew Palushaj each went for a goal and an assist in the victory.

Chris Mayer chipped in three assists and Derek Britton also scored.

For Quad City, Jason Hoehn scored once with an assist in the loss.

The Jets (15-21-2-0) stay on the road this week with a game at the Great Lakes Sports City in Fraser Wednesday night against the Michigan Mountain Cats, who the Jets leap-frogged for fifth place in the East Division this weekend. Game time Wednesday is set for 6:45 p.m.

Saturday, February 9, 2013

Corbin pitches 31-save shutout as Jets upend Quad City

DAVENPORT, Iowa - Metro Jets' goaltender Riley Corbin stopped all 31 shots he faced as the Jets defeated the Quad City Jr. Flames 5-0 Saturday night at the Rivers Edge.

Mike Gambino scored two goals for the Jets in his first game back from a hand injury, while defenseman Derek Britton made his return to the lineup since a December shoulder injury and contributed a pair of assists while going plus-3 on the night.

Metro captain Matt Stirling had a goal and an assist in the win and Brad Hepler and Chris Mayer also scored.

Devon D'Angelo and Andrew Palushaj added two assists apiece for the Jets (14-21-2-0).

For the Jr. Flames, Robby Vukelich made 45 saves between the pipes.

The two teams finish their weekend series Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. EST.

Friday, February 8, 2013

Jets edged Thursday night in Flint

FLINT, MI - Zach Hill figured in on all three of Flint's goals as the Jr. Generals skated to a 3-2 win over the Metro Jets on Thursday night at Iceland Arena.

Hill scored the tying goal and the go-ahead goal in the second period and also assisted on Jacob Howie's goal early in the first period.

For the Jets, captain Matt Stirling scored in the dying seconds of the first period and Kyle Shreve, fresh off signing a tender with the NAHL's Springfield Jr. Blues on Wednesday, tallied 73 seconds into the middle period.

Jets' goaltender Riley Corbin took the loss, but finished with 37 saves. Anders Franke stopped 16 for Flint.

Metro (13-21-2-0) now hits the road to play the Quad City Jr. Flames Saturday night and Sunday afternoon.

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Metro forward Shreve signs tender with NAHL's Jr. Blues

WATERFORD, MI - Kyle Shreve has played for three different teams this season at three different levels, but somewhere along the way, he made an impact and earned an opportunity to move up (again) to the North American Hockey League next year.

Shreve, an 18-year-old forward from Wixom, signed a tender agreement on Wednesday with the Springfield (Ill.) Jr. Blues of the NAHL.

A tender is a contract of sorts that a player signs announcing his intentions to play for that particular NAHL team and that NAHL team only. Once a player signs a tender with an NAHL team, his playing rights belong to that team within the NAHL and he may not be recruited by any other NAHL team.

Starting the 2012-13 season with the NAHL’s Michigan Warriors, Shreve then came to the Metro Jets of the North American 3 Hockey League before playing for the Belle Tire Midget Major AAA team and eventually finding his way back to the Jets.

“From what I hear, the Springfield organization is a great organization that runs things the right way and is loyal to its players,” Shreve said. “This is a great opportunity and I hope I fit in well and can contribute immediately.”

This year with the Jets, Shreve has posted five goals and eight points in 11 games. He said three of his coaches this year have contributed immensely to his development.

“(Belle Tire coach) Chris Coury, (Jets’ head coach) Jason Cirone and (Jets’ assistant coach) Randy Wilson have all been very important in giving me this opportunity, especially Randy,” said Shreve. “It’s always great as a player when you have three coaches that have a lot of connections in the hockey world pulling for you and I’m very thankful for that.

“I think that there is a lot to work on before next season. I think the biggest part is adjusting to the size of the players and the speed of the game so I think that working on my speed and strength are key.”

Cirone feels Shreve will have no problem making an impact with the Jr. Blues.

“Kyle is a power forward who works extremely hard,” said Cirone. “He loves to hit and doesn’t mind getting hit. I think he’s a perfect fit for what Springfield is trying to build.”

With about five weeks left in the NA3HL season, the Jets are aiming to make a run and qualify for the league playoffs. Shreve knows what needs to be done to extend the Jets’ season.

“I think we know what we need to do,” said Shreve. “We’re working hard every day at practice and Coach Cirone makes sure we are prepared every day for our next game. “I don’t think anybody is happy with our record, but at the same time, I think this is a great group of guys and we come to work hard every practice and game."

The easy part is talking about it – now we need to put it together and show why we belong in the playoffs.”

 JET STREAKS

Josh Cliff, a 19-year-old goalie from Northville, was added to the roster this week.

The Jets also dealt 19-year-old defenseman Josh Hosking to the Three Rivers Vengeance for a first-round pick in the 2013 NA3HL draft and future considerations. The Oxford native recorded 11 points in 23 games with the Jets.

The Jets-Flint Jr. Generals game that was postponed back on Jan. 31 has been rescheduled for Tuesday, March 5 at 9 p.m. at Iceland Arena in Flint.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? 

Forward Mike Moroso, who finished third in team scoring in 2010-11 with 20 goals and 36 points, is wrapping up his freshman season with the Adrian College ACHA Division I team this year.

A 21-year-old Macomb native, Moroso skated last season with the NAHL’s Port Huron Fighting Falcons, tallying 14 goals and 38 points in 56 games and also playing in the league’s Top Prospects Tournament.

This year with the Bulldogs, Moroso is averaging close to a point per game with 10 goals and 22 points in 23 games.

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Captain's Corner - Trades, positives to season, Super Bowl

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 splitting with the Michigan Mountain Cats last weekend.

Overall, we played well this past weekend. We got back in the win column on Friday and played better than the score reflected on Saturday. Even though we played well, we needed to win both the games and failed to do so. The points we gave up were costly and only put us in a bigger hole.

-- On if he sees any more player movement before the trade deadline.

I think we are pretty much set with the team we have. I think we have a good group of guys that when on our game can play well, but when we are not, it can be frustrating.

-- On what players have been positives lately.

(Riley) Corbin came up big for us on Friday and has played well lately. Other guys like (Josh) Hosking and (Myles) Burrough played good this past weekend as well. (Kyle) Shreve has also made a good transition to this league and has fit in nicely.

-- On how he spent Super Bowl Sunday.

The boys went over to TJ’s (Krajewski) house for his birthday/Mike Lawrence’s birthday/Super Bowl party and we all had a good time. It is always good hanging with the boys and it was a good way to recover for the three-game week ahead of us.

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Jets' rookie Mayer a New Mexico transplant, fitting in with team

WATERFORD, MI – Chris Mayer wanted a change.

He wanted better hockey.

So his family uprooted from Santa Fe, N.M., a little more than three years ago and moved to West Bloomfield, where Mayer currently lives while playing for the Metro Jets.

Mayer, one of two out-of-state natives on the roster along with Las Vegas' Thomas Evans, landed in Michigan in the summer of 2009, just prior to his freshman year at Orchard Lake St. Mary’s High School, where he played the past three years before winding up with the Jets this season.

Last year, Mayer was teammates with current Jets’ goalie Austin Julvezan as OLSM advanced all the way to the Division I high school state semifinals before going out to Brighton High School in a double-overtime thriller.

“I felt like I needed a change from high school hockey and since I heard a lot of good things about (Jets’ head coach) Jason Cirone, that helped a lot with the choice,” said Mayer. “I was also influenced to try out by Tom Evans, who is my best friend. I really didn't know that much about the team, but I knew that the league does a good job of developing its players.”

When Mayer initially moved to Michigan, the adjustments to the hockey landscape and the geographical landscape were equally tough at the start.

“Besides the want for better hockey, my mom grew up in Ferndale and pretty much her whole family lives here, plus my parents wanted me to go to St. Mary's,” explained Mayer. “The hockey atmosphere from Santa Fe to Michigan is 100 percent different. There are only seven teams in the whole state of New Mexico and at first, it was a little overwhelming at how much hockey there is in Michigan, but I feel I made the adjustment fairly quickly.”

This season with Metro, Mayer has one assist in 30 games, but believes his game is more than goals and assists.

“I believe my role on the team is to be a high-energy guy and to always be that hard-working guy,” said Mayer. “I think playing at St. Mary’s helped me prepare mentally and physically for junior hockey. My short-term goals are to play in the NAHL next year and I have always wanted to play Division I college hockey, so that is my long-term goal.”

And as the Jets make one final push to gain an NA3HL playoff berth, though just a rookie, Mayer knows what needs to be done and what’s at stake each time the team hits the ice.

“We know that we have to be serious if we want to improve our record, but we do that while also trying to keep a positive attitude,” said Mayer. “The veterans know how to maintain order in the room and are very good about keeping our heads on right.

“Personally, I think if we really focus on winning as many games as possible the rest of the way, we will be able to do it. The team feels the same way, too.”

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? 

Defenseman Ian Cosgrove, who played for the Jets during the 2006-07 season, is currently in his senior season at Fredonia State University, a Division III school in Fredonia, N.Y.

After graduating from the Jets, the Rochester native played two seasons in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League with the Soo Thunderbirds before going to Fredonia, where he has been on the dean’s list the majority of his time at the school.

During his season in Waterford, Cosgrove, who turns 24 in June, recorded three goals and eight points in 13 games.

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Craig, Mountain Cats blank Jets Saturday night

FRASER, MI - Spencer Craig stopped all 36 shots he faced as the Michigan Mountain Cats earned a split with the Metro Jets with a 4-0 win Saturday night at the Great Lakes Sports City.

Guy Soulliere scored twice for the Mountain Cats.

 Trevor Kalinowski made 29 saves in the Metro net.

The Jets (13-20-2-0) next travel to Flint to play the Jr. Generals next Thursday at Iceland Arena. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m.

Friday, February 1, 2013

Three-point games from Stirling, Hepler lead Jets past Cats

FRASER, MI - The Metro Jets used four different goal-scorers to defeat the Michigan Mountain Cats 4-2 Friday night at the Great Lakes Sports City.

Jets' captain Matt Stirling and Brad Hepler each tallied a goal and two assists to back Riley Corbin's 29 saves in goal.

Andrew Palushaj added a goal and a helper to go along with an insurance goal from Doug Andrews.

Metro (13-19-2-0) plays the Mountain Cats again Saturday night in Fraser. Game time is scheduled for 6:45 p.m.