Jets draw Flint to open NA3HL playoffs Thursday night

WATERFORD, Mich. – The North American 3 Hockey League playoffs begin this week for the Metro Jets, but there was a time just a few short weeks ago that playing in the post-season seemed like a pipe dream.

Battling the Toledo Cherokee for the fourth and final playoff spot in the East Division, the Jets had to sit and watch two weekends ago as the Cherokee lost three straight to Cleveland and Flint, setting up a two-game showdown last weekend.

With wins both nights, the Jets advance to play Flint, one of the top teams in all of the NA3HL, in the first round of the playoffs.

Friday night in Toledo, the two teams were tied late in the third period. With a loss or a tie, the Jets would have been eliminated.

Metro coach Justin Quenneville elected to pull goaltender Kam Limburg in the final minute and the move paid off as Brad Hepler scored to lift the Jets to a 3-2 win.

“It’s been our mentality here from Christmas on that this isn’t a regular season for us down the stretch – these are our playoffs,” Quenneville said. “We have had to play playoff hockey, so everyday we took that approach coming to the rink and how we prepared and it kept building as the season went on and realistically, took the same approach each day about how this was do or die for us each game. The players all bought in and I’m proud of them. They deserve this.”

Then Saturday night at Lakeland Arena, the Jets (22-24-2) were on a mission and dominated Toledo in a 5-0 win that officially clinched the final playoff berth.

Both Metro and Toledo finished the season with 46 points, but the Jets held the tiebreaker with more wins (22) than Toledo (20).

Limburg earned the win Saturday night with 16 saves for the shutout and looks to start Game 1 versus Flint.

“Yeah, not a bad time to get his first shutout of the season,” quipped Quenneville. “My policy all season has been if you win, you’re in. It’s made us more competitive in that area of our depth chart, so Kam deserves that opportunity and you talk about the right time for the first shutout of the year in the most important game, so I’m proud of him, but obviously, we need him to keep playing the same way and bring us the same effort.”

The first round against Flint is a best-of-three series starting Thursday night in Flint at Iceland Arenas (pictured) at 8 p.m., continuing Saturday afternoon at Lakeland at 3 p.m. and, if necessary, Sunday afternoon in Flint at 2 p.m.

Jets’ captain Zack MacKay said his team has confidence going into Flint.

“We’re ready for Flint – we’ve been playing playoff hockey the past six games or so,” MacKay said. “We’re going to be prepared. We’ve had good games there (Iceland) and the last game there, it was 1-1 until the third period and we’ve played some close games there.”

Flint, which won the East outright and posted a 42-4-2 record (second in all of the NA3HL to North Iowa), won all eight meetings this season against the Jets.

"Everyone starts at zeroes in the playoffs," Quenneville said. "We're excited about the opportunity to play them. We know it is going to be difficult, but that's how it should be. We are no longer playing for points or standings, just wins, plain and simple.

“Flint is a skilled and experienced team. They are well-coached and have had a lot of success during the season for a reason. We are excited about the matchup, but the key for us will be to stay focused and disciplined more than anything.”

All playoff games will be on www.fasthockey.com. 

Captain's Corner - Toledo, NA3HL playoffs, Kam Limburg

Each week for the rest of the 2013-14 season, Metro Jets’ captain Zack MacKay will give his thoughts on topics surrounding the team as it makes its way through the North American 3 Hockey League season, the 25th for the Jets as a junior franchise. 

-- On what Saturday's win over Toledo to make the playoffs meant to him.

It meant a lot – could have meant the end to my junior career. Stuff like that really makes you motivated to play and everybody brought it. If we play like this against Flint, there’s no way we’re not going to win.

-- On vibes he had before and during the game.

I actually thought we had a really bad warmup, but (for the game), we brought it and that’s all that really matters. As long as we’re playing the game we’re supposed to, it doesn’t really matter how we warmed up.

-- On his thoughts after the Jets scored first and Kam Limburg's shutout.

I got a little worried, actually. We’re usually not too good with first-goal leads, but we brought it. Limburg has been playing great lately. I drove with him (Friday night) and (Saturday’s game) was nothing out of the ordinary for him. He usually brings it.

Jets blank Toledo Saturday, clinch NA3HL playoff berth

WATERFORD, Mich. - The Metro Jets have been in playoff mode the better part of the last two weeks and it paid off Saturday night as the Jets clinched the fourth and final playoff spot in the East Division with a 5-0 shutout of the Toledo Cherokee at Lakeland Arena.

The Jets and Cherokee tied with 46 points, but Metro gains the playoff spot by virtue of more wins (22) than Toledo (20).

"Top to bottom, I feel like that was our best 60-minute effort of the year," said Jets' coach Justin Quenneville. "Like I tell the guys everyday, we have to look at this season as a progressive chart moving upward and not only did they work hard, but they bought in, kept it simple and were rewarded for their decisions."

Cooper McLean scored twice with an assist for the Jets, while Brad Hepler, Kyle Shreve and Cody Jones all tallied a goal and an assist in the win.

Jets' goaltender Kam Limburg stopped all 16 shots between the pipes.

"Not a bad time to get his first shutout of the season," quipped Quenneville.

Aaron Callan made 26 saves for the Cherokee.

The Jets (22-24-2) move on to play the Flint Jr. Generals in the first round of the playoffs. A schedule will be released early next week.

 "Everyone starts at zeroes in the playoffs," Quenneville said. "We're excited about the opportunity to play them - you want to play against the best and you want to beat the best."

Flint won all eight meetings this season against the Jets.

Jets beat Toledo in dramatic fashion, maintain hope for playoffs

TOLEDO, Ohio - Brad Hepler scored in the final with the goalie pulled and the score tied to lift the Metro Jets to a thrilling 3-2 win over the Toledo Cherokee Friday night at the Team Toledo Ice House.

The stakes get even bigger as the winner of Saturday night's regular-season finale at Lakeland Arena in Waterford between Metro and Toledo gets the final playoff berth in the East Division.

Cooper McLean scored in the first period and Cam Bruff tallied his first of the season in the second for the Jets, while Kam Limburg stopped 29 shots between the pipes.

Both teams have played 47 games and Toledo has 46 points to Metro's 44, but if the Jets win, they would get the tie-breaker based on more overall wins during the regular season. Toledo is 20-21-6 and the Jets are 21-24-2.

 Game time Saturday night is set for 7:50 p.m.

Captain's Corner - Toledo this weekend, NA3HL playoffs, pressure

Each week for the rest of the 2013-14 season, Metro Jets’ captain Zack MacKay will give his thoughts on topics surrounding the team as it makes its way through the North American 3 Hockey League season, the 25th for the Jets as a junior franchise. 

-- On checking Toledo's three games last weekend and seeing the Cherokee lose all three.

Last weekend was very stressful, but we were all thankful the cards fell into place and allowed us a chance to really put everything out on the ice this weekend and make our playoff push.

-- On what the message has been this week around the team.

The message of the week was just that we all know what's at stake and we know what needs to be done. We can't let them (Toledo) even take us to overtime or else it's all over. If we can come out with a regulation win on Friday, there's no doubt we won't make playoffs.

-- On the pressure of this weekend.

These two games are huge and I don't think I've ever played games that had more at stake than Friday. My last season of my junior career is at the hands of two games, whether it continues or not is up to me and the rest of the Jets and I think it will.

Dempsey enjoying rookie season with Jets, exposure from NA3HL

WATERFORD, Mich. – Matt Dempsey is the perfect example of what the North American Hockey League’s advancement model is all about.

Playing last season in the North American Prospects Hockey League for the Detroit Falcons, the Chesterfield, Mich., native joined the Metro Jets of the North American 3 Hockey League this year and hopes to complete the trifecta next year in the NAHL.

For now, though, the 18-year-old forward is focused on fine-tuning his skill set with the Jets.

“Last year in the NAPHL, the thing that prepared me most for juniors was the pace and the physicality of that league,” Dempsey said. “I knew the NA3 was good. I had watched the games at some of the showcases and was impressed by the level of play.

“I feel that I have become faster overall this season and I’ve also become smarter and more patient with the puck. I’ve had opportunities this year to play on a line with good players (Josh Beleski and Alex Holm mostly) that I have learned a lot from.”

This season, Dempsey has potted six goals and 14 assists for 20 points in 45 games and praised the Metro coaching staff of head coach Justin Quenneville and assistants Tom Krajewski and Randy Wilson.

“The coaching staff has been great,” said Dempsey. “Overall, they have provided me a lot of direction and tweaked my game so that I continue to improve personally and so that we grow as a team.”

Going into this weekend’s home-and-home series with the Toledo Cherokee with the fourth and final East Division playoff spot on the line, Dempsey’s outlook is succinct.

”The team is very focused,” Dempsey said. “We all know what we need to do in order to get the big wins this weekend.”

LOOKING BACK, LOOKING AHEAD 

After sitting idle last weekend, the Jets saw Toledo lose all three games (one to Cleveland, two to Flint) to set up the two-game showdown this weekend.

If the Jets win both games against Toledo in regulation time, they get fourth place in the NA3HL East and the last playoff berth by virtue of more victories than the Cherokee.

Game time is 7 p.m. Friday night in Toledo and then 7:50 p.m. Saturday night at Lakeland Arena.

JET STREAKS 

Four players – defensemen Brad Hepler and Adam Lockner and forwards Holm and Kyle Downey – have played in all 46 games this season for the Jets.

Every Jets’ player has recorded at least one point this season, save for forward Cam Bruff, defenseman Anthony Catalina and goaltenders Kam Limburg and Davide Mantovani. Goalie Trevor Kalinowski has two assists this year.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Wylie Rogers, a goaltender on the Jets’ 2002 Silver Cup-winning Junior B national championship team, has hung up the skates and is now in his second season as a volunteer assistant coach at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks.

Rogers, a 28-year-old Fairbanks native, played four years at the school from 2004-08 before playing three years with the Central Hockey League’s Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees and one year in the Netherlands.

In addition to the Jets, where he went 22-5-0 with a 1.90 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage, Rogers also played junior hockey with the Fairbanks Ice Dogs (then with the America West Hockey League), Victoria Salsa of the British Columbia Hockey League and seven games with the U.S. National Team Development Program.

Second-year Jets' defenseman Krajewski improving overall game

WATERFORD, Mich. – T.J. Krajewski is literally immersed in hockey 24/7.

A second-year defenseman with the Metro Jets, Krajewski works each day to progress his game and make strides, all while taking instruction from the Jets’ coaching staff.

One of the Jets’ assistant coaches is Krajewski’s father, Tom, a longtime youth hockey coach in Michigan.

According to the younger Krajewski, playing for his dad has never been a problem and in fact, is quite a privilege.

“It has been fairly easy,” said the 19-year-old from Macomb, Mich. “He doesn't really say much to me on the bench, but when he does, it's usually helpful and he explains what I could have done. He is just ‘Coach’ to me all the time – I rarely call him dad. When the boys come over, he is still just Coach. He is friends with everyone on the team and everybody loves him.”

Last year as a rookie with the Jets, Krajewski tallied two goals and 11 points in 35 games and this year, has recorded four goals and 12 points over 39 games.

Last offseason, Krajewski attempted to crack a North American Hockey League lineup, but when that fell through, it was a win-win situation to come back and skate in Waterford.

“I feel like I have gotten a lot faster in the last two seasons and have been able to make decisions faster on the ice,” Krajewski said. “Coach Q (Jets’ head coach Justin Quenneville) has his own gym (Michigan Athletic Training in Fraser) that me and fellow teammates Davide Mantovani and Carter Reid work out at three times a week. (Quenneville) has helped me out with my first three steps, which are now more explosive. Q is also a great coach that wants to see everyone move up to the NAHL. He really has helped me with my defensive and offensive abilities.”

Krajewski also talked of the numerous opportunities to get noticed by playing in the NA3HL.

“There are always some scouts at our games every time we play,” explained Krajewski. “When we went to the showcase in Chicago (last November), there were scouts everywhere and even though we struggled in the showcase a bit, there were still scouts at our games and Q always tries to sell us to the scouts that come.”

Those scouts will also have a say where Krajewski plays for the 2014-15 season, but for now, the priorities lie in getting Metro into the post-season.

”My short-term goals as of right now are to make playoffs and play for the Silver Cup,” said Krajewski. “Long-term is to play college hockey and move on from there.”

JET STREAKS 

The Jets have won 10 games at Lakeland Arena and 10 games on the road this season.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? 

Jack McCoy played with the Jets during the team’s early years and has worked his way up to be an on-ice official at the American Hockey League level.

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