FRASER, Mich. – Traditionally, the Metro Jets have built their teams in recent years with players from the Metro Detroit area.
And while that may still be the case going forward, the organization has started to branch out a bit into more areas of Michigan when it comes to finding junior hockey-ready players, specifically in the Grand Rapids area.
That’s where new Jets scout Ray Hyde comes into play.
“I became familiar with (Jets coach-GM) Justin (Quenneville), (assistant coach) Randy (Wilson) and the Jets organization while recruiting the junior level for Davenport’s college teams,” Hyde said. “I was very impressed with not only the talent level the team possessed but also in the professionalism that the program showed in all aspects – the coaching staff, facilities, resources for players, you name it.
“The more I spoke with players from the program and with Justin at different events, it became even more apparent that the Jets are a first-class organization that provides players great opportunities to develop on and off the ice, then take the next step in their hockey journey.”
A former goaltender in the Illinois high school ranks, the 30-year-old Hyde now lives in Caledonia with his wife of five years, Kelsey, with a baby girl set to be born next month.
Once his playing days wrapped up, Hyde served as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Cary Grove High School in Cary, Ill., and also worked as the head coach for the GRAHA 16U AA team from 2014-18 and as an assistant coach with MDHL West Michigan since 2019.
In the college ranks, Hyde was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Davenport University from 2018-20.
Hyde is also a scout for the MDHL West Michigan Fall Elite League.
“I have known Ray for some years now and no different than other hockey relationships, he worked closely with a former player of mine from the NAHL that was coaching on the west side of Michigan,” said Quenneville. “Not only was I impressed with how Ray conducted himself, but he was always professional and many of his philosophies lined up with ours. After many conversations, we felt Ray would be another asset to our stellar scouting staff and solidify that side of the state.
“We are fortunate to have a great circle of hockey people who work with the Jets, and he will fit in great moving forward. Ray will continue to work closely with myself and our coaches and scouts while maintaining presence on the west side of the state.”
Needless to say, fitting in with the Jets is the ideal situation for Hyde.
“As the summer progressed, and I saw an opportunity to become a part of this program, it was something that I didn’t want to let slip by and I’m very excited to help the program continue to achieve at the highest levels,” said Hyde. “I believe that the West Michigan market has a lot of untapped potential for local players and I can’t wait leverage my knowledge of high school and youth hockey here to provide players in this area an avenue into junior hockey with a program that has such a great foundation in team success and personal development.”
