MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich. – The Metro Jets earned two huge wins on home ice last weekend over the Nashville Spartans and Toledo Cherokee, while the MJDP and Metro Jets Elite teams went on the road and won all four against the Decatur Blaze.
The Jets downed Nashville Saturday afternoon and Toledo Sunday afternoon, both by 5-2 scores at Mount Clemens Ice Arena.
Yarne Vaerewyck, Ugo Lollier, Carson Beattie, Brock Hart and Alex Bedenko scored in the win over Nashville and Rostislav Efremov made 28 saves in goal.
“We were pretty good in the first period and our second period was probably one of the worst periods we’ve played all year,” said Jets associate head coach Jamie Lovell. “The guys regrouped and we challenged them in the third period and they certainly responded. We were very happy with that.”
Trent Van Gels and Sean Karaman scored for Nashville and Daniel Duzek finished with 34 saves between the pipes.
Against the Cherokee, Jack Waldo, Tyler Bautko, Michael Lucia and Carson Finney scored, Lollier had a goal and an assist, Mason Cole chipped in two assists, and Taylor White turned aside 22 shots in goal.
Jacob Ammar and Theodore Rowell scored for Toledo and Austin Nowak stopped 31 shots in net.
At the Decatur Civic Center, the MJDP defeated the Blaze 7-1 Saturday night and 3-0 Sunday afternoon.
In the opener, Austin Combs collected six assists, Josh Boze had two goals and two assists, Jacques Lavrack a goal and two assists, and Jake Taylor and Lucas Millmine a goal with a helper each. Robert Grasso and Oliver McClough also scored, and Andrew Parmentier made 17 saves in goal.
Boris Posinger scored Decatur’s goal and Lukas Janicina finished with 55 saves.
Wrapping up Sunday, Austin Muirhead pitched a 21-save shutout, while Combs tallied a goal and an assist and Lukas Nies and Millmine added goals.
Janicina made 47 saves for Decatur.
“Solid weekend of play from the guys and good trip bringing home four points,” Jets associate coach Jake Howie said. “It was really nice to see the power play get on track this weekend, scoring five times on the man-advantage. Hopefully, we can keep that confidence going down the stretch. It’s nice to keep this train moving into the showcase and look forward to a good trip.”
McKenna Baker’s goal 1:14 into overtime lifted the Jets Elite team to a 3-2 win Saturday. Baker also had an assist for a two-point game.
Hunter Folgmann and Jackson Hinkle also scored and Crew Petty turned in a 19-save effort in goal.
Dylan Kennedy and James Eggleston scored for Decatur and goaltender Morgan Heck made 59 saves.
Sunday, Tabor Hatch stopped all 25 shots he faced in an 8-0 win over Decatur.
Harry Dembowski and John Spiridonakos each collected two goals and an assist, Peter Spiridonakos and Ryan Lemker both had a goal and two assists, and Sean O’Connor and Robert Poliski also scored.
In goal for the Blaze, Heck kicked aside 70 shots.
“We did not come ready to play on Saturday night, but the boys figured a way to pull through and get the OT win,” Jets associate coach Tina Ciraulo said. “Going into the second game, we knew we needed to pull it together and come ready to play. And we did just that, the boys came out hard and didn’t stop. We kept it simple, played hard, and we were first on pucks. And keeping it simple and playing hard, helped us find the back of the net.”
Wrapping up recent action, the Jets Elite shut out the Fort Wayne Spacemen 5-0 on Wednesday at Mount Clemens.
Eliot Duerr made 32 saves and Peter Spiridonakos scored twice and added an assist, while Baker, Avery Byron and Landon Graham scored, and Caleb Simpson tacked on three assists. John Spiridonakos and Max Rastello chipped in two assists apiece.
Fort Wayne goalie Brendan Kusbel made 28 saves.
“We’re coming down to that final stretch, that playoff push, and trying to chase down a division championship with this group,” Howie said. “Two points, every single chance you have to get them, they’re big.”
This weekend, all three teams are playing at the USPHL Northern Cyclones Showcase in Hudson, N.H., at Cyclones Arena.
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All USPHL games are available on FloHockey.tv.
