MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich. – Five games on home ice last week resulted in four wins for the Metro Jets, MJDP and Metro Jets Elite teams.
The Jets Elite swept the Chicago T-Rex, the MJDP split with the T-Rex, and the Jets beat their in-state rival Battle Creek Kernels to send all teams into the Christmas break.
The Jets Elite opened the stretch with an 8-2 win Thursday afternoon.
Jarrett LaGrow scored two goals, Cameron Maxwell and Tyler Dix each posted a goal and an assist, and goaltender Jesse Lee made 16 saves.
Dimitry Aksenov, Ronnie Lubbers, Jayson Shores and Noah Chambers all scored one goal each and Sam Hanson, Ethan Laurain and Grady Smith all collected two assists.
For the T-Rex, Ethan Adams and Junior VanderVelpen scored and Param Chawla finished with 60 saves in goal.
Wrapping up Friday, Smith had two goals and an assist and Aidan RaCosta tallied a goal and a pair of assists in an 11-1 win over Chicago.
Dix, LaGrow, Lubbers, Maxwell, Gavin Otto and Max Lee all added a goal and an assist, Shores and Graysen LaPrise scored one each, and Hanson, Aksenov and Jonah Clark all posted two assists.
Goaltenders Aiden Binkley and Jesse Lee combined to make 17 saves.
Derek Witmer scored the lone T-Rex goal and goalies Jonah Driscoll and Dylan Dwyer made 53 saves.
“Happy to get the job done and get all four points available,” said Jets associate coach Danny Vanderwiel. “I’d like to think we are heading in the right direction going into break. Excited to get down to Tampa and get back to work after the holiday.”
The MJDP started out by doubling up the T-Rex by a 12-6 count Thursday afternoon.
Caleb Curto and Lucas Benavides scored two goals apiece and Gianluca Virelli chipped in two goals and an assist in the victory.
Ryan Jacobson notched a goal and two assists, Blake Brackett, Caleb Simpson, Landon Graham, Clovis Gamelin and Aidan Rebone put up a goal and an assist each, and Vince Pica, Ben McClaine, Alex Fournier and Liam Smith all collected a pair of assists.
In goal, Cam Cyrus finished with 22 saves.
For the T-Rex, Damion Busch scored three goals, Sam Harper had a goal and three assists, Ilia Moskvin notched a goal and two assists, Konstantin Yurkevich added a goal and an assist, and Austin Senay and Chase Kral combined on a 40-save effort between the pipes.
Friday afternoon, Curto scored and Arnaud Paradis made 21 saves in a 4-1 setback.
Mikita Amelka scored two goals for Chicago, while Matsvei Hlyzin and Teegan Gardner each had a goal and an assist to back Kiryl Zamana’s 37 saves in goal.
“In Thursday’s game, we had an offensive surge and were able to finish off our chances,” Jets associate coach Jake Howie said. “Oddly enough, I thought we actually played a better game Friday than we did Thursday, but we just didn’t finish off our chances. We did an awesome job tilting the ice and generating but credit to their guy in net.”
Finishing out 2025, the Jets defeated the Kernels by a 5-2 score Friday night.
AJ Zaccagni compiled a goal and an assist and Ryder Novock, Joel Paterson, Aidan Charron and Ayden Hartzell added goals as Evan Peacock finished with 12 saves in net.
Simon Racinsky and Arkadiusz Sobesto scored for Battle Creek and goalie Galvin Reagan stopped 53 shots between the pipes.
All three Jets teams are idle next weekend and return to the ice for the USPHL Tampa Showcase Jan. 3-5 at AdventHealth Center Ice in Wesley Chapel, Fla.
JETS
Jan. 3 vs. Florida Eels, 1:30 p.m.
Jan. 4 vs. Coral Springs Jr. Cats, 12:30 p.m.
Jan. 4 vs. Tampa Bay Juniors, 7 p.m.
Jan. 5 vs. Carolina Jr. Hurricanes, 11 a.m.
MJDP
Jan. 3 vs. Hershey Cubs, 4:15 p.m.
Jan. 4 vs. Jersey Hitmen, 11:30 a.m.
Jan. 4 vs. Typhoon Hockey Club, 6:30 p.m.
Jan. 5 vs. Charleston Colonials, 11:30 a.m.
JETS ELITE
Jan. 3 vs. Florida Jr. Blades, 8:15 a.m.
Jan. 3 vs. Typhoon Hockey Club, 4:30 p.m.
Jan. 4 vs. Tampa Bay Juniors, 9:30 a.m.
Jan. 5 vs. Florida Eels, 9:30 a.m.
All USPHL games are available at BlackBearSports.tv.
Photos/Sara Vasseur
