FRASER, Mich. – For three Metro Jets players skating with the MJDP Team this season, development is everything.
Forwards Jake Schmid, Trevor Naiman and Andrew Shore have all improved since late August and are earning their spots in the lineup to play games.
Schmid and Shore were on the Jets roster in 2017-18, while Naiman is a rookie this season.
“These are some of our younger guys this season, and we are glad they were able to benefit from our development program,” said Jets coach-GM Justin Quenneville. “Jake is a hard-working kid with a team-first attitude, Andrew has been in the Jets program for several years now and shown obvious progress, and Trevor has come a long way since the beginning of the year.
“All three are showing progress and continuing to develop by taking advantage of their opportunities here.”
An 18-year-old Armada native, Schmid is enjoying every second wearing Jets colors.
“I came to the Jets’ Spring Development Program (in 2017) and I continued working with the team over the summer,” said Schmid. “There was an opportunity for me to attend training camp and the coaches noticed how hard I worked. For what I lacked in raw talent, I made up for in hard work, effort and being coachable. The players made me feel welcome and a part of the team since Day 1.
“The players are like family. We look out for one another. We have each other’s back. The coaching staff is willing to work with you to improve your overall game. We have a great gym on site to work out and train in. There is plenty of ice time to work on your skills, including optional skates in addition to practices during the week. The Jets have a well-known history of moving players to the next level in junior and college, and who doesn’t want that?”
Going forward, Schmid said he wants to keep improving his skills to be a better all-around player with hopes to one day playing college hockey while studying business with an eye on becoming a diesel mechanic and owning his own company.
Naiman is an 18-year-old Chesterfield product and has embraced his role this season on the MJDP squad.
“My 16U Jr. Jets coaches talked very highly about the Jets program so after that season, I decided to come to the Jets to better myself as a player,” Naiman said. “The Jets organization provides great coaching and training for players to better themselves every day as well as giving us great scouting opportunities.”
Looking ahead in the short term and long term, Naiman has very attainable goals set for himself.
“I hope to continue to develop and advance myself as a player in the Jets organization,” said Naiman. “I just want to make myself a better player every day and continue to enhance my skills every day. My long-term goals are to play this level of hockey and beyond, and the Jets have all the tools to help me achieve that.”
Shore is a former Jr. Jets player, having skated with the 16U team in 2016-17. Moving up to the junior level seemed like the logical next step.
“During the 2016-17 season, I was trying to figure out where I wanted to play for the next year,” said Shore, a 17-year-old out of Clinton Township. “I heard about the junior team and decided to go out for the Jets Spring Development Program and see what it was like. I really enjoyed everything the Jets had to offer and come fall of the ‘17-18 season, I have been on the team ever since.”
Immersing himself in the Jets’ culture has been the most beneficial to Shore.
“The Jets organization has a lot of things to offer, but what I like about it the most is the atmosphere that I come into every day at the rink,” Shore said. “Everyone from players and coaches to people working at the rink just make you feel like family.
“As for the rest of this season, I hope to accomplish as much as possible by giving my best effort to contribute to the team as a whole. I have not quite decided as to what I would like to do outside of high school yet but as far as hockey goes, I’m going to try my best and see where it takes me, and there is no better place to find that out than with the Jets organization.”
