MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich. – The MJDP will join the Metro Jets next week at the USPHL National Championship Tournament following a 7-1 win over the Motor City Gamblers in the deciding Game 3 of their second-round playoff series Monday afternoon at Mount Clemens Ice Arena.
After losing Game 1 in overtime Friday night on home ice, the MJDP team rallied to win Saturday afternoon at Mount Clemens before bringing out the offense Monday.
Taylor White made 23 saves in goal, Jacques Lavrack went for a goal and three assists and Nolan Bruxvoort scored twice in Monday’s clincher. Josh Boze and Jack Rivera added a goal and an assist each and Aidan Shannon and Ethan Smith also scored. Royal St-Cyr and Bennett Sheppard chipped in two assists each.
For Motor City, Will Boyer scored and Robert Allport and Larkin Dolan combined to stop 33 shots.
“The theme going into this series was all about character,” Jets associate head coach Jamie Lovell said. “We knew this was going to be a tough series with a lot of adversity and we told our guys that the character of a player is defined by how they respond in moments of adversity. We were 15 seconds away from winning Game 1, so to lose that game in the manner in which we did, you know, some teams may not be able to bounce back from that. It speaks to our character as a group. The team knew that it was just one loss, whether 2-1 in OT or 10-1. We forgot about it and moved our focus to Game 2 immediately.”
In the opener Friday night, Shannon scored at 15:11 of the third period to snap a scoreless tie, but Aidan Canady scored at 19:45 of the third period before Jayden Tkaczuk won it 2-1 for the Gamblers 7:59 into overtime.
White finished with 33 saves and Allport made 41.
Saturday afternoon, Bruxvoort had a goal and an assist and Sheppard notched two assists in a 3-1 win. Smith and Lucas Millmine also scored to back White’s 27 saves.
Tkaczuk opened the scoring for Motor City before the MJDP scored three unanswered. Allport collected 30 saves.
“Not taking anything away from Motor City,” Lovell said. “They have some really talented players that have carried the mail for them all season, and particularly against us, but we knew our depth would ultimately come through. We rolled four lines, six ‘D’ and kept our composure throughout each game when we needed it most. It finally all came to a head today with that offensive outburst, getting contributions from everyone, but we can’t talk enough about the contribution we got from Taylor White in net in all three games. He proved again why he’s been one of top goaltenders in the league this season.
“We are proud of this group and will enjoy the victory today, but it’s back to work tomorrow to prepare for next week in Utica, N.Y.”
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