MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich. – The MJDP and Metro Jets Elite teams opened the USPHL playoffs this past weekend on home ice at Mount Clemens Ice Arena, and both earned best-of-three series victories to move on to the second round this coming weekend on the road.
The Jets were idle after finishing first overall in the Great Lakes Premier Division and earning a first-round bye.
Last weekend, the Jets Elite swept the Decatur Blaze in two straight games, while the MJDP came back from a 1-0 deficit in its series with the Motor City Gamblers to win the next two and advance.
The Jets Elite defeated the Blaze 10-1 on Sunday and then 6-1 on Monday.
In the opener, Owen Coulter and Jarrett LaGrow each posted two goals and an assist and Tyler Dix recorded two goals to back Brendan Dreisbach’s 13 saves in goal.
Landon Graham added a goal and two assists, Cory Anderson added a goal and two assists, and Ronnie Lubbers added a goal and an assist.
Sam Hanson and Dominic Collins chipped in two assists apiece.
For the Blaze, Tyler Mason scored and goalies Giovanni Bottalico and Charles Landers combined on a 55-save outing.
On Monday in the clinching game, Anderson scored twice and Daniell Luska had a goal and an assist to go along with 18 saves from goaltender Cam Cyrus.
LaGrow, Lubbers and Justin Ward added goals and Collins and Graham collected two assists each.
Landers made 51 saves for the Blaze and Jaylon Stros notched the lone goal.
For the MJDP, Motor City won the opener 5-2, then the MJDP roared back with 6-2 and 2-0 victories.
Sunday, Gianluca Virelli and Raphaël Belley-Pelletier scored and Eliot Duerr made 32 saves in goal.
Kohen Dixson scored twice for Motor City, Braeden Goers had a goal and an assist, and Tadd Siglow and Ignacy Drozd scored one each.
Ethan Gray tacked on three assists, Isaac Bunk added two helpers, and goaltender Tyler Houle finished with 32 saves of his own.
Then Monday, Chris Otero, Matt Hopersberger and Noah Bodurka scored two goals apiece and McKenna Baker, Max Rastello and Marshall Maracle each put up two assists as Will Belitski made 18 saves between the pipes.
Goers registered a goal and assist for the Gamblers, Ronald Oyer also scored, and Houle stopped 33 shots.
In the deciding Game 3 on Tuesday, Belitski pitched a 24-save shutout, Belley-Pelletier recorded a goal and an assist, and Otero also scored.
Gamblers goalie Luka Straser made 40 saves.
Next up are the division semifinals:
JETS vs. CINCINNATI JR. CYCLONES at Mount Clemens Ice Arena
Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, 7 p.m.
Sunday, 2 p.m. (if needed)
MJDP vs. CHICAGO CRUSH
Sunday, 8:10 p.m., West Meadows Ice Arena
Monday, 1:10 p.m., Orbit Ice Arena
Tuesday, 6:30 p.m., West Meadows Ice Arena (if needed)
JETS ELITE vs. FORT WAYNE SPACEMEN at SportONE/Parkview Icehouse
Saturday, 4:30 p.m.
Sunday, 12:30 p.m.
Monday, 10:30 a.m. (if needed)
All USPHL games are available on FloHockey.tv.
