FRASER, Mich. – Conner Graham played last season for the Metro Jets and improved his game as a steady, two-way forward.
Goaltender Ethan Ryan followed the Jets from Howell High School and hoped he’d get the opportunity to don the Metro colors in 2019-20.
This week, Graham re-signed with the Jets, while Ryan will begin his rookie season in the fall.
Graham, a 2000 birth year out of Lake Orion, he had a decision to make after last season.
“At first, I was in between going to college or playing another year with Metro,” said Graham, who posted 10 goals and 24 points in 43 games in 2018-19. “As it came down to it, I decided I wanted to play another year with Metro to hopefully get better offers from colleges and also to play junior hockey again.”
Graham said there is a great deal of appeal to being a Jet.
“I think the coaching plays a big part in it and being able to put a team together each year that is going to compete and be on top is pretty prestigious,” Graham said. “Also, the attitude around the locker room is always great. Everyone shows up ready to work and wanting to better themselves. Just a great environment.”
Jets coach-GM Justin Quenneville says there is a lot to like about Graham’s game.
“Conner has high-end abilities and showed flashes of that during the season last year,” said Quenneville. “He was deserving of his call-up to the NCDC (with the Connecticut Jr. Rangers) and I know he is eager to raise the bar again this year. We had depth already at the center position last year, but he stepped right in and did a great job handling that pressure early in the season to give us another threat. We look forward to working with him again this year and to help him achieve his goals.”
With less than a month until the season opener in Lansing, Graham has his season goals set.
“I am hoping to better the small things in my game,” said Graham. “As a team, we want to win the league again and win a national championship.”
Ryan is a 2001 birth year and has earned his way into battling for a goalie spot this season.
“(Jets assistant coach and goalie coach) Randy Wilson is friends with my head coach at Howell (Rocky Johnson),” Ryan said. “He came out to one of our practices and he started working with me and gave me an offer. Randy is a big reason I want to be here. He’s a great goalie coach and I have been working with him all spring and summer and I know he’ll help my game out a ton. I know the Jets are very successful and have a history of winning and they have a great record of moving guys to the next level.”
Last season with the Highlanders, Ryan went 13-11-2 with a 2.90 GAA, a .916 save percentage and a pair of shutouts.
“Ethan is one of those goalies that possesses not only a good technical skill set but also a high ‘battle’ mentality in game situations where he never gives up on a play, even when down and out,” said Wilson. “He has a high compete level in both games and in practice as well. I have no doubt that w/his skill, work ethic and determination that Ethan will flourish in our Jets program and eventually progress his game to the college level.”
Ryan said he’s chomping at the bit for the season to start.
“My goal is simply to get better and play,” Ryan said. “It’ll be a lot of work, but I’m up for the challenge. We just want to have a lot of fun. I have met some of the guys already and it seems like a great group.”
