MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich. – The Metro Jets, MJDP, and Metro Jets Elite teams were all in action during the final week of the 2023-24 USPHL regular season.
All three teams also earned first-round byes as regular-season division champions for the upcoming playoffs that start this weekend.
The MJDP defeated the Motor City Gamblers last Tuesday at Big Boy Arena in nearby Fraser before taking both from the Chicago Crush on home ice at Mount Clemens Ice Arena this past Friday and Saturday.
“I thought all weekend we played some of our best hockey of the season,” said Jets associate coach Jake Howie. “The entire lineup played with pace, moved the puck extremely well, and were extremely detailed in every facet of the game. It’s always great when a team can peak at the end of the season going into playoffs, and I’m really excited about how the group is playing heading into the postseason.
“An entire season’s work, culminating in a division championship, but the guys know that’s just step one and the most fun hockey of the year is about to begin.”
Against the Gamblers, Austin Muirhead made 38 saves in goal and Pierce Ashcroft scored twice in a 5-2 win.
Jacques Lavrack added a goal and an assist, while Austin Combs and Alek John scored and Josh Boze chipped in two assists.
Jaden Meeke and Jake Knieling scored for Motor City and Robert Allport finished with 39 saves between the pipes.
Then back home, the MJDP beat the Crush 6-1 and 5-2.
In the opener, Jack Rivera went for a goal and an assist, Robert Grasso popped two goals, and Lucas Millmine and Nicco Destefanis each had two assists.
Boze, Ashcroft and Joseph Martin also scored in the win, while goaltender Andrew Parmentier made 20 stops.
Spencer Kaule scored the lone Crush goal and Patrick Johansen turned aside 38 shots in goal.
Saturday, Boze tallied a goal and an assist, Jake Taylor had two assists, and Muirhead collected 27 saves.
Rivera, Jacob Lawrence, Jack Noonan and Lukas Nies also scored in the victory.
Peter White and Nick Zehelein scored for the Crush and Jack Sundhall made 36 saves.
The Elite team took two of three from the Crush, winning Friday 3-1, losing Saturday 5-1, and then winning 4-1 Sunday, all at Mount Clemens Ice Arena.
Friday, Peter Spiridonakos and McKenna Baker each had a goal and two assists and John Spiridonakos registered a goal and an assist.
Jets goalie Zach Robert made 34 saves in net.
Austin Kessel scored for Chicago and Kyle Tyszkiewicz stopped 29 shots.
In Saturday’s setback, Matt Hopersberger scored and Eliot Duerr made 34 saves between the pipes.
Wrapping up the weekend Sunday, Hunter Folgmann scored two goals, Hopersberger went for a goal with an assist, and Tyler Dix added a goal.
Tabor Hatch stopped 29 shots in goal and also turned aside Joe Coglianese’s penalty shot late in the third period.
Cole Darlas scored for the Crush and netminder Chris Stamos finished with 21 saves.
“We showed up Sunday and we knew going in that since we lost Saturday that it was going to be a challenge for us,” said Jets associate coach Tina Ciraulo. “The guys played hard and we ended up on top; I was proud of them. After we clinched the division Friday, we went into Saturday’s game light, thinking we got the division and we’re good, but the guys realized that we can’t play that way.
“We came ready to play Sunday.”
The Jets played just one game, falling 4-3 in overtime Saturday night to the Toledo Cherokee at the Team Toledo IceHouse.
Mason Cole recorded a goal and an assist, Jack Waldo tacked on two assists, and Rostislav Efremov made 36 saves.
Michael Lucia and Carson Beattie added goals for the Jets.
“It’s too bad to finish the end of the regular season in that fashion,” said Jets associate head coach Jamie Lovell. “We just were off the whole game. Yes, we made some good plays at times, but it was just too inconsistent, and frankly, not good enough to win a hockey game.”
Robbie Aranos scored the winner for Toledo 3:41 into overtime.
Cameron Reel had a goal and an assist, while Santino Multari and Seve Litz also scored for the Cherokee.
Jacob Ammar and Brett LoGelfo chipped in two assists each and Auston Nowak finished with 31 saves in goal.
The three teams are off this weekend and will play at home next weekend for each best-of-three series against opponents that will be determined this coming weekend.
All USPHL games are available on FloHockey.tv.
