FRASER, Mich. – The Metro Jets continue to build for the upcoming 2020-21 season and today, announced the signing of Swedish forward Herman Ahokas.

A 2001 birth year, Ahokas has skated the past few seasons for HC Lidkoping, the same organization that produced current Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, the first overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft.

Ahokas is looking forward to making an impact next season with the Jets.

“I’ve always wanted to play in United States,” Ahokas said. “I saw the opportunity to go after my graduation, so I contacted my advisor, Daniel Ljung, and he has helped me with everything. When he showed me this opportunity, I knew it was a great chance.

“This is a great opportunity for me to develop and grow, both as a person and as a hockey player. This is a great team and the opportunities are endless.”

With the Jets, Ahokas will join forward Mathias Tellstrom (2015-17), goaltender Fredrik Meurling (2018-19) and defenseman Jesper Svadang (2019-20) as recent Swedes to play in Fraser.

“I noticed all of them when I checked the Metro Jets team history and have seen that they are great players,” said Ahokas. “I don’t know them personally, though.”

Jets coach-GM Justin Quenneville has high hopes for Ahokas once he comes over the pond later this summer.

“We are excited for Herman to join our team,” Quenneville said. “He comes with a decorated resume and recommended by people we work with closely. I really liked his skill set in tight and his natural abilities offensively. We look forward to helping his overall game and put him in positions to succeed.

“We know he will love it here like so many other Euros have over the years and look forward to his arrival.”

Last season with HC Lidkoping, Ahokas collected 14 goals and 24 points in 22 games.

“I think the strongest part of my game is my ability to find good scoring opportunities and score,” Ahokas said.

What does Ahokas want to accomplish next season in a Jets jersey?

“I hope we will be a contender for the national championship,” said Ahokas. “I also want to see myself taking steps to be a better hockey player.”

FRASER, Mich. – Patrick Hays is the perfect example of a player buying in to the Metro Jets’ development process.

He found out what that was all about last season as a rookie with the USPHL club and has signed to return to the Jets for the upcoming 2020-21 season.

“It was an easy decision to come back to Metro,” said Hays, a 2001 birth year forward from Centerville, Ohio. “I had an amazing experience last year. The coaching staff and my teammates made me want to be there and come to the rink every day. The Jets are such a prestigious organization because we have coaches who care about every single player’s development and have a national following.

“Last season, I felt my overall skill set improved, but I feel that my confidence grew the most. Next season, I want to continue to build on my skills in order to help me get to the next level.”

In 36 games last season, Hays compiled 10 goals and 18 points with the MJDP team.

“We are excited to have Patrick back in a Jets uniform,” said Metro coach-GM Justin Quenneville. “He had significant gains in many areas of his game. He played a big role down the stretch and was a key reason for our playoff success. He developed into a more versatile player as the season progressed and was relied on in key situations. I know he is pumped to get back to work, and once he gets here this summer, we know he will take full advantage of his opportunities.”

With the 2019-20 season ending prematurely and the 2020-21 campaign still some four months away, Hays is anxious to get rolling with a true offseason.

“Based on this last season, you never know when it’s going to be your last day at the rink,” Hays said. “With that said, I’m going to take more advantage of being at the rink than I already have.

“My plans for the summer are to eventually come back up to Detroit and train up there until the season starts with the team and at the M.A.T. Since the lockdown, I’ve been working out, spending time with family, and finishing up my senior year of high school.”

FRASER, Mich. – The Metro Jets haven’t had many players from Florida play for the team in recent memory, but Nick Twombley has his eye on making a name for himself with the Jets next season.

A native of Boca Raton, Fla., Twombley and his family moved to nearby Roseville, Mich., and the 2001 birth year forward skated the past four seasons for nearby De La Salle High School.

According to Twombley, the Jets were an option after high school and there was mutual interest from the Jets.

“I ended up signing with the Jets because I always knew about the program and was interested,” said Twombley. “I talked to my coach (Craig Staskowski) about them this past year, and I am pretty sure he talked to (Jets coach-GM) Justin Quenneville. I had a chance to talk Coach Q and felt like this was the best fit for me.”

“I’ve known about the program for a few years now, and how their player development is top tier. It’s shown with all the people they have advanced and committed throughout the years. The facilities they have (at Fraser Hockeyland) seem to be really nice and helpful for development. I’m looking forward to getting the whole package.”

Quenneville has seen Twombley progress through the high school ranks with the Pilots and now is anxious to see how that skill translates to junior hockey in the USPHL.

“We have had multiple conversations with Nick, and I was very impressed with him,” Quenneville said. “He is looking for an opportunity and an environment that will give him the best chance to reach his goals. He is talented player who did a lot of good things as a senior last year at De La Salle. Not only was he the leading scorer on a younger-than-average high school team, but he earned Team MVP and earned all honors off the ice.

“We look forward to working with him and are excited about his future as a Jet.”

According to Twombley, the Jets will quickly find out that he brings a team-first attitude to the rink each and every day.

“I feel I can bring whatever the team needs me to do,” Twombley said. “I do a little bit of everything, but my strengths are my playmaking and smarts. I’ve always been somebody who gets along with everyone in the locker room.”

Looking to the future, Twombley has aspirations to play college hockey and to graduate with a business degree.

FRASER, Mich. – Brent Wolf is a player that simply wants to keep developing his game on the ice.

He’ll get that chance next season with the Metro Jets after recently signing with the USPHL club.

A 2020 graduate of Howell High School where he played on the Highlanders’ varsity team the past three years, Wolf can play both center or the wing.

“A big part of me signing with the Jets was because of (assistant coach) Randy Wilson,” Wolf said. “He has skated with Howell hockey and has helped me and the team out a lot over the past few years. We’ve spent some time talking about the Jets and what a great opportunity it would be for me.

“The thing about the Jets is that they are a team that focuses on the process and working on getting better, stronger and taking it to the next level, and that means a lot to me. I have had a few friends that have signed and played with the Jets and have loved this experience.”

Wilson said he’s been tracking Wolf’s progress the past couple seasons and is convinced he’ll be an impact player for the Jets.

“I first saw Brent play in in 2018 and was impressed with his skill set,” said Wilson. “Shortly thereafter, I was introduced to him through his coach Rocky Johnson and was impressed with his demeanor. I continued to monitor Brent as a player and really focused on his play this year. Several times this past season, I had the pleasure to meet with him after games and find out that he definitely wanted to pursue junior hockey with the long-term goal to play college hockey.

“Witnessing him in both games and practices, I made the decision that he would be an excellent fit for our Metro Jets program. With a very good fundamental skill set and the coaching expertise that ‘Q’ (Jets coach-GM Justin Quenneville), (associate head coach) Jamie (Lovell) and (assistant coach) Dan (Pszenyczny) can provide, I have no doubt that Brent will flourish in his development.”

Quenneville can’t wait to get Wolf into Jets colors.

“We are excited about Brent signing,” he said. “He is eager to come here and develop and we look forward to working with him. Rocky Johnson is a friend of the program and has done a great job with his players at Howell.”

Jets goaltender Ethan Ryan also played for Howell, graduating in 2019.

As a senior at Howell in 2019-20, Wolf collected 10 goals and 26 points as the Highlanders advanced to the state tournament before the COVID-19 crisis canceled the event in mid-March.

“I feel I can bring to this team a player who does all the little things, like winning faceoffs, winning corner battles, things like that,” Wolf said. “I am unselfish with the puck, always hustling, as well as producing points. I feel I am a skilled player who creates plays and opportunities for us to win.”

Down the line, Wolf has simple goals in mind as he continues his hockey journey.

“Short-term goals of mine would be to improve my game so that I can become the best player I can be,” said Wolf. “My long-term goals would be to win a championship with the Jets and to play college hockey.”

FRASER, Mich. – The Metro Jets have had a history of finding impact import players in recent years.

Mathias Tellstrom (Sweden) made such an impact as a forward from 2015-17 that those seasons earned him a pro contract, Louis Boudon (France) was the league MVP in 2016-17 and just wrapped up his freshman season at NCAA Division I Lake Superior State, Fredrik Meurling (Sweden) was a star goalie in 2018-19 that took the Jets to the national championship game and this past season, Jesper Svadang (Sweden) was a steady force on the Jets’ blue line putting up 17 goals.

Next season, the Jets will have goaltender Louis-Pierre Fortier on the roster after the Montreal, Quebec, Canada native recently signed a USPHL contract to play for Metro during the 2020-21 season.

“My goal is to get to NCAA level, and I was searching for the best hockey organization that would allow me to reach an optimal athlete development,” said Fortier, a 2001 birth year. “I contacted (Jets coach-GM) Justin Quenneville and we exchanged a lot of messages. Coach Q speaks French and that did help me a lot in the steps leading to signing with the Metro Jets.”

Last season, Fortier played Junior AAA hockey back home and can’t wait to make the jump to the USPHL brand of hockey.

“It is natural for me to integrate a new group or team, and I am a person who listens to the coach’s directives so I can fit in the team easily and as fast as possible,” Fortier said. “Will it be an adjustment coming to the States? I don’t think so. My belief is that hockey stays the same wherever you are in the world. I had a great experience with junior hockey in Quebec last season.

“The Jets’ philosophy is to take you to the next level. The coaching staff has many contacts with the NCAA level and Tier II, so that is a great advantage and opportunity for any player that desires to play higher levels of the game. The facilities (Fraser Hockeyland) are top notch, and the coaching staff is highly talented.”

Quenneville has seen video of Fortier from 2019-20 and is anxious to see him in person come September.

“We have been in contact with LP from the start of this quarantine and really got a sense of what kind of person he is,” said Quenneville. “He is motivated to come here and take advantage of the platform. Fortunately, I am familiar with Quebec junior hockey and still have a lot of contacts back home. Not only is the Junior AAA league in Quebec highly skilled, but does a great job preparing players for opportunities in every direction. His experience at that level will help his transition here and we are excited to work with him.

“He’s a gifted goalie that competes for every inch. I believe he will garner lots of attention here and with our pipeline, we will do what we can to help him reach his goals.”

Fortier describes his game between the pipes as competitive and skilled.

“I build on the power and speed of my legs,” Fortier said. “I am comfortable in my net and that allows me to make key saves. As well, I must say that my agility in the net helps me a lot in covering every angle. I see everything: the game and the players, but most importantly, the puck.

“I will give the best I have and the best I am at each practice and at each game so the team will get all the opportunities needed to win. On a personal note, I hope to improve my consistency next season.”

Looking ahead to 2020-21 and even beyond, Fortier has every ambition to advance to the college game.

“I just want to help the Jets to win as many games as possible while having fun doing it,” said Fortier. “For the long term, I hope to play Tier II the following year and to have NCAA offers. On the school side, for sure I want to get a university degree and want to continue my studying seriously.

“Nothing is impossible.”

FRASER, Mich. – Nick Ceccarini knows the track record of the Metro Jets advancing players to college hockey.

He’s banking on joining that long and distinguished list of Jets players after this upcoming season, citing that as the major reason why he has re-signed for the 2020-21 campaign.

“As a player, I decided NCAA Division III college hockey was the best fit for me and Metro has, in my opinion, the best atmosphere and the right tools and guidance to help me get to where I need to be in preparation for my future,” said Ceccarini, an 18-year-old forward from Miller Place, N.Y. (on Long Island). “The Metro Jets give you all the tools you need to become the best hockey player you can be.

“It’s the best program that focuses on your goals as a player along with your future. Metro has the guidance from coaching that is like no other. The coaches and staff are willing to give as much effort into you as you are willing to put in to get better.”

Ceccarini is entering his third year in Fraser. He posted nine goals and 22 points in 43 games during the 2018-19 season and then doubled that output this past season with 21 goals and 44 points in 43 contests.

Jets coach-GM Justin Quenneville has seen Ceccarini put in the effort, which has resulted in greater production on the ice. He’s anxious to see what Ceccarini can do with a longer-than-normal offseason this year due to the COVID-19 crisis.

“Having Nick back this year is a big deal,” Quenneville said. “He noticeably improved his game in several areas and his output was direct reflection of it. He never let his smaller size get in the way of his opportunities. Whether it was signing an NCDC contract last offseason or getting called up to for a couple games, he continues to show that not only can he play at the higher levels but contribute in a myriad of ways. He plays hard on both sides of the puck, has great vision offensively, and creates options for his teammates all over the ice. Those are just some of the reasons so many players want to be his linemate.

“For our staff, he is a coach’s dream. He wants to be at the rink to work on his game, he wants to be pushed to get better, he handles adversity head on, and his attitude is infectious around the players. It’s a no-brainer that he will be one of our core leaders this year, and we couldn’t be more excited to continue to help generate college interest for a player that several programs already want.”

Ceccarini is ready to take what he has learned over the past two years and have a breakout season.

“My first two years at Metro, I felt I most improved on being a two-end player and a team player,” added Ceccarini. “I picked up new habits on the ice and dropped old ones while tweaking my game in the smaller areas that have definitely benefited the outcome of the player I am now.

“This season, I plan on focusing on getting physically stronger to prepare for college hockey and sharpen some skills that will pay off in the long run. I know with Metro’s background with colleges, as long as I keep my eye on the prize, I’ll be able to stick with it and bring out the best in me.”

His rookie season, the Jets played in the national championship game. This past season, Metro was in a position to make another run at nationals, but the COVID-19 outbreak wiped out those plans after just one game in Boston.

“With this past season being cut short, I’ve felt like that ring was in our hands and taken away from us so fast,” Ceccarini said. “I feel like myself, along with many other players, still feel like we deserved winning the national championship. This feeling gives off more determination towards making it to this upcoming year’s nationals and taking a ring home.”

And even with the lockdown in play in New York, Ceccarini isn’t taking the lazy approach when it comes to his hockey career.

“I’ve been focusing on staying in shape by doing workouts in my basement and running, along with eating the right foods,” said Ceccarini. “This summer, my goal is to get bigger and stronger on and off the ice to help prepare me for next season and for college.”

FRASER, Mich. – The Metro Jets continue to be the benchmark for college and NCAA commitments and today, added one more to the growing list from the 2019-20 season.

Nolan Turi, a forward who came to the Jets this past season after two seasons of Tier II junior hockey experience and a stint in Canada, has decided to play NCAA Division III hockey starting in the fall for Finlandia University.

Turi will join Jets teammate Cam Conover at Finlandia, an NCHA school located in Hancock, Mich.

“Finlandia came about around November just after we returned from China,” said Turi, a 20-year-old Canton, Mich., native. “Coach (Micah) Stipech came and watched one of our practices and both him and Coach (Joe) Burcar kept in contact with me very well throughout the season. I am hoping to bring some more size and speed to the team.

“Cam was one of my good buddies on the team and I can’t wait to spend four years with that beauty.”

Turi said he hasn’t decided on a major yet but is leaning toward a business curriculum.

This past season, Turi collected 15 goals and 55 points in 42 games for the Jets, good for third in team scoring.

“Playing for the Jets is an experience I will never forget,” Turi said. “I would play another year if I could. (Former Jets forward) Jhuwon Davis always told me, ‘You won’t regret it, Turi.’ And I surely didn’t. I wouldn’t be in this position today without the Metro Jets organization.

“Our season overall was very successful. We had a few hiccups early on, but our team managed to overcome situations and regroup in the second half of the season.”

Jets coach-GM Justin Quenneville knew Turi didn’t see a whole lot of exposure time at the Tier II level and knew with a solid season in Fraser that the college opportunities would present themselves.

“Nolan skated with us a couple times last year before going to Canada to play junior hockey,” Quenneville said. “It was evident he was not getting the best exposure and opportunities elsewhere. We wanted to focus on him building better habits and provide more college looks. By the midway point of the year, schools started taking serious notice. They liked his compete level, his strong skating and versatile game. He took advantage of the opportunities here, learned to be more a more complete 200-foot player and worked hard every day.

“Nolan had a lot of NCAA options, but in the end chose Finlandia. We think he will excel at the next level because of his drive and attention to detail. We wish Nolan the best of luck.”

Having bounced around the junior ranks until finding stability with the Jets, Turi is excited to head to college in the fall.

“I want to thank my mom, dad, siblings, grandparents, and the Isaacsons for the countless times where they’ve supported me and sacrificed so much to help me get to this point in my life,” said Turi. “Thanks to all of the Metro Jets boys that I call brothers. Couldn’t have done it without those boys.”

Before jaunting off to the Upper Peninsula later this summer, Turi – and the rest of society – must overcome the COVID-19 pandemic and new regulations in place.

“Since the lockdown has started, my best friends are lifting weights, roller blading and playing on my Xbox,” Turi said. “My plans for this summer are very simple. I am going to continue to train for the upcoming season, work at my job, and spend as much time with my friends as I can.”

FRASER, Mich. – Garrett Johnson was about to hang up the skates last fall after getting cut from a Tier II team.

After a round of golf and a phone call to Metro Jets coach-GM Justin Quenneville, he wound up skating on the back end with the Jets for his final season of junior hockey eligibility.

This week, the 1999 birth year from Grand Blanc, Mich., committed to play NCAA Division III hockey for Aurora University, an NCHA school located in Aurora, Ill., and joins the growing list of NCAA commitments from the Jets’ 2019-20 team.

He will be joining former Metro defenseman and rising Aurora senior Jason Recchia (2015-17) with the Spartans.

“After being released from Shreveport in September, I spent a few weeks at home putting consideration towards hanging up the skates and enrolling in college,” Johnson said. “One day while I was golfing with (future Jets teammate) Cam Conover, he kept telling me to give ‘Q’ a call, so I did. He brought me in and helped me keep my love for the game going and I’m grateful for that.”

During this past season, Johnson compiled four goals and 18 points in 37 games after spending the 2018-19 season playing juniors in Canada.

“I had a lot of fun this year – we had a great group,” said Johnson. “This year, I got a better understanding of how I can best make an impact on the ice by using my size and reach to get in the other team’s way. It didn’t end how I would have liked, but I had an unforgettable experience regardless.”

Quenneville said he is certainly pleased with how Johnson was able to round out his game this season to garner serious college offers.

“’Johnny’ was in a tough place at the beginning of the season,” said Quenneville. “After not getting any college attention in Canada last year and getting cut from the NAHL, he needed to be in an environment to get him back to his passion. Our staff focused on helping him build better habits. He likes to play physical and an aggressive style, but he needed to develop his strengths. Johnny is a tough player to play against and defends really well all over the ice. He had several college offers here and I am happy he chose Aurora. ‘Bloomy’ (Aurora head coach Jason Bloomingburg) has done a great job with that program and they will be getting a hungry player in Johnny.”

“We saw Johnny mature over the course of the season,” added Jets associate head coach Jamie Lovell. “He started to understand how to be successful as defenseman. He plays a simple game, makes a good first pass, uses his body well, and has a reach that makes it hard on opponents. Aurora will be very happy.”

Johnson noted that over the course of the season, he knew Aurora was one of the top schools that was recruiting him.

“I first met Coach Bloomingburg at Shreveport’s main camp last summer,” said Johnson. “It turns out he and Q knew each other from playing pro so when I ended up at Metro, we stayed in contact.

“I’m hoping to make an impact at Aurora by being disruptive to the opposition’s offense and off the ice by being the best teammate I can be.”

In the classroom, Johnson will be studying marketing.

His junior hockey journey now complete, Johnson is pumped to start his new adventure later this summer.

“I’d like to thank Q and Jamie for their commitment to helping me realize the habits I should be forming for pro hockey and life in general,” Johnson said. “The friends that I’ve made through the ups and downs up junior hockey made it the experience that it was. Lastly, I want to thank my parents for everything they’ve done from driving me to practices every day growing up to letting me live 35 hours away in Alberta my first year of juniors.”

With college still a few months away and the COVID-19 crisis keeping things at a standstill, Johnson said he is training as much as he can at home.

“This summer, I’m planning on training at the MAT, and I’m looking forward to seeing all the boys there when all the virus stuff dies down,” said Johnson. “Other than that, just living in the moment.”

FRASER, Mich. – The college and NCAA commitments keep coming for the Metro Jets.

Today, forward Cam Conover announced he will play for NCAA Division III Finlandia University next season.

Finlandia is located in Hancock, Mich., and the Lions play in the NCHA conference.

“Thanks to the Metro organization and Coach Q (Jets coach-GM Justin Quenneville) for the constant collegiate exposure,” said Conover, a forward who posted 31 points in 37 games for the Jets this past season. “I had been in contact with (Finlandia coaches) Joe Burcar and Micah Stipech since the first half of the season. Something that really stuck out to me in the Finlandia organization was their coaches and their honesty. The team plays a similar puck possession style to Metro, which I feel suits my game best.

“Along with a young core group that I will be able to build and work alongside, all of these assets really attracted me, and it just felt like a good fit from the start. With Finlandia being a younger team with a similar play style to the Jets, I saw it as a great opportunity to step in right away and be able to make an impact. My plan is to do this while pursuing a business degree.”

Conover, a 20-year-old from Fenton, Mich., played junior hockey in Canada in 2018-19 after graduating from Flint Powers Catholic High School in 2018.

Quenneville said getting Conover into the Jets’ lineup was something the team needed early on and now, his efforts have resulted in an NCAA commitment.

“Cam brought his size and versatility to our program,” Quenneville said. “He fit in immediately and garnered a lot of NCAA attention during the season. What impressed us the most was how much he took advantage of our program. He came in everyday wanting to get better and improve his habits all over the ice. I think Finlandia is a great fit for him and we wish him the best of luck.”

“We had several discussions with Cam this past summer about how we could help him this year,” added Jets associate head coach Jamie Lovell. “He was a character player who played hard on both sides of the puck. His size and abilities will help him step right in at the NCAA level next year and we look forward to pushing him this offseason to continue to get stronger.”

Joining the Jets was an opportunity that Conover said happened rather innocently last summer.

“I wound up in the Jets organization after interestingly playing alongside Coach Jamie in the Eastside Elite Hockey League last summer (run by former Jets defenseman Steven Oleksy),” said Conover. “We communicated throughout the summer and I got in contact with Coach Q. It’s an organization I wish I would’ve given a better look to a year earlier. I have nothing but good things to say about the program and would recommend to all players wishing to develop their game and have a chance to continue their career into college.”

And in reflecting on the season, Conover called it “a great development year.”

“I really got to know myself better as a player and by utilizing the practices, I believe I improved upon my habits and sharpened my game up as a player,” Conover said. “Along with my individual game, there is no other group of guys I would’ve rather played with. We had a tight group that was able to accomplish a lot.”

In committing to Finlandia, Conover said the decision was not only his, but one that goes across many levels.

“My family has been my support system throughout my whole hockey journey,” Conover said. “They have sacrificed so much and helped me strive to be my best all the time. Along with the assistance from them, I’d like to thank all of my coaches and teammates who have made an impact on me along the way. I am forever grateful for all who have helped in their own way.”

Now experiencing an atypical offseason, Conover is gearing up for the jump to Finlandia in the fall.

“This quarantine has me itching to get on the ice,” he said. “I’ve been doing as much as I can do by working out, playing roller hockey, working and enjoying time with family. I also want to leave some time to do things I enjoy, like fishing and golfing.”

FRASER, Mich. – Anthony Cinato’s journey with the Metro Jets began after an open tryout for the 2017-18 season.

The journey ended last month when the coronavirus outbreak shut down the USPHL National Tournament after a half-day of action in suburban Boston.

Now, Cinato will play college hockey in the fall as the Warren, Mich., native committed last week to play NCAA Division III hockey next season for New England College, a school located in Henniker, N.H., that competes in the New England Hockey Conference.

“Since the beginning of the year, I have been talking to the head coach there, Tom Carroll, quite a bit, staying in touch,” Cinato said. “After the season, we talked more and more about me being there next year.

“Getting into the school routine again I assume will be tough at first, but I have always been a really good student, so I hope that makes the transition a lot easier. I’m going to study business. They have some cool opportunities where you can get your bachelor’s degree in three years and master’s in your fourth year, so I’m looking to do something like that.”

At New England College, Cinato will join former Jets forwards Jhuwon Davis, Connor Inger, Trevor Momot and Justin Renzi and goaltender Andrew Kormos with the Pilgrims.

“I stay in touch with all of them quite a bit, and we’ll all work out again this summer once the lockdown is lifted,” said Cinato. “Inger has been a huge help with telling me things about NEC and him and I have been going to the Dakota High School field doing some workouts to stay in shape. Always good going into somewhere new knowing some people and especially with these boys, I’m excited.”

Earlier this offseason, Cinato had signed an NCDC tender agreement with the Twin City Thunder, one of two NCDC teams Cinato played for during the past two seasons, the Boston Jr. Bruins the other.

In 2019-20, Cinato posted a team-best 83 points on 28 goals and 55 assists in 44 games while also serving as one of the Jets’ alternate captains. He took over the all-time team lead in points with a penalty shot goal on Feb. 22 at home against the Columbus Mavericks.

Cinato said he knew at the start of the season that the mark was within reach.

“It was just a goal in the back of my head,” Cinato said. “I knew I was close but still not sure if I was capable of catching it. Our team was pretty special this year I had some really good linemates. Going into that last game, I knew we locked up first place (in the Great Lakes Division), so I know some of the boys were feeding me some extra chances.”

Jets coach-GM Justin Quenneville said Cinato came in raw as a 17-year-old and leaves as a well-polished veteran with a well-earned opportunity at a high-end NCAA institution.

“’AC’ is another one of those great stories,” Quenneville said. “We are fortunate here that our players can create and receive many offers and options for themselves, but first and foremost, they need to commit to that process. We have seen AC grow every season and really develop into a high-end player offensively. He got stronger, smarter and more consistent every season, hence why he had so many offers and options.

“In the end, he chose the NCAA path next season and NEC is one of the top programs in the country. It’s tough to walk away from an NCDC opportunity next season with a great club like Twin City, but this is what our players strive and work for. We are happy for AC and wish him the best of luck in college next year.”

In his rookie season of 2017-18, Cinato tallied 11 goals and 38 points in 42 games in helping the Jets to a national championship. Last season, the Jets again played in the national championship game and Cinato registered 23 goals and 46 points in 42 games. He also scored a goal for the Jr. Bruins.

Playing for the Jets has done wonders for Cinato’s overall development.

“The Jets are a first-class organization and I can’t thank them enough for the person and hockey player I am today,” said Cinato. “I thank our owner Pete Cammick for always supporting our team and Coach Q and Coach Jamie (Lovell) for giving me a chance to come play at Metro and making me a better person off the ice as well as on the ice.

“Metro has done so much for me and I can’t thank the coaching staff and the new brothers I gained every year enough. It truly was special, and I cherish the last three years from winning a national championship my rookie year to the coronavirus ruining my last.”

Now stuck at home heeding the state’s “stay home, stay safe” directive to curb the COVID-19 spread, Cinato said he is itching to get back on the ice.

“After the cancellation of USPHL Nationals, I just came home and had to dwell over it for a little bit,” said Cinato. “I’m just trying to eat right, stay healthy, and keep the same routine for the most part.”

Cinato also offered words of advice for returning Jets players and newcomers in the fall.

“My biggest advice for returners and newcomers would be to just buy in early and use all the tools they give you,” said Cinato. “You walk in and have all the tools to succeed and for a kid like me, I needed to find the gym and get stronger, and I really took advantage of that.

“Metro is forever a family atmosphere and a prestigious organization. I am grateful I got to play there.”