MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich. – The Metro Jets earned four points over this past weekend, getting wins over the MJDP Friday afternoon and the Toledo Cherokee Sunday afternoon.
The MJDP then rebounded with a shutout win on the road over the Columbus Mavericks Saturday night.
Starting off the week, the Metro Jets Elite team fell Wednesday afternoon to the Motor City Gamblers.
Jets associate head coach Jamie Lovell was pleased with the team knocking off Toledo 6-3 on home ice at Mount Clemens Ice Arena.
“We played really well in the first two periods, put a lot of pressure on their ‘D,’ our forwards were fast, and I think that really helped,” Lovell said. “It’s a rivalry game and we’re trying to develop a hate. We got a lot of new players, so we have to start getting them to learn to develop that hate for the opponent in this rivalry. I think we’re slowly starting to come around to that, and I think it showed here today.”
Alex Bedenko scored twice for the Jets, while Brock Hart had a goal and three assists to back Taylor White’s 18 saves in goal.
“I thought we came out a little slow in the first period and had a one-goal lead going into the second,” said Hart, a new Jets defenseman this season who joined the club with prior USPHL experience. “I think I’m fitting in well, getting along with all the guys. Coming into this season, I feel like I’m in the right place.”
Ugo Lollier added a goal and an assist, while Robert Vanderdonck and Yarne Vaerewyck also scored. Carson Redd and Tyler Husted chipped in a pair of assists apiece.
For Toledo, Wes Hatz scored twice, Will Poolton also scored, captain Jacob Ammar added two assists, and goalies Austin Nowak and Caleb Kril combined to make 36 saves.
Friday afternoon, Carson MacKenzie stopped all 19 shots he faced for his third shutout in four starts to begin the 2023-24 season as the Jets blanked the MJDP 6-0 at Mount Clemens Ice Arena.
Tyler Bautko had two goals and an assist, Lollier two goals of his own, and Emrik Froding tallied a goal plus a helper. Bedenko also potted a goal and Luke Gaffney tacked on two assists.
Andrew Parmentier finished with 53 saves for the MJDP team.
At the OhioHealth Chiller Easton in Columbus, Ohio, Saturday night, Austin Muirhead pitched a 26-save shutout as the MJDP took a 5-0 decision over the Mavericks.
“Really happy with the response the guys had today after a tough game (Friday),” said Jets associate coach Jake Howie. “Thought we played with a lot of pace and had really good puck support all over the ice, which led to a lot of quality scoring chances. Muirhead was really good in the net for us tonight and was able to backstop us when we did have some breakdowns.
“Any time you go on the road and pick up two points, it’s a good day.”
Jacob Lawrence and Royal St-Cyr each recorded a goal and an assist, while Oliver McClough, River Lewis and Lukas Nies also scored.
Columbus goalie Kyle Diehr turned aside 53 shots in taking the loss.
Kicking off the week Wednesday at Mount Clemens Ice Arena, the Gamblers defeated the Jets Elite squad by a 7-4 count.
Blake Botterill went for a hat trick and John Spiridonakos also scored for the Jets. Peter Spirodonakos added two assists and Zach Robert and Eliot Duerr combined on a 28-save outing in net.
For Motor City, Dustin Fretter had two goals and an assist, Dylan Statham contributed a goal and two helpers, and Trevor Touchton, Mark Bonnay, and Patrick Patton had a goal and an assist apiece as Braedyn Sullivan made 31 saves in goal.
Josh Koza also scored and Asher Taylor popped two assists for the Gamblers.
This week, the Jets Elite hosts the Decatur Blaze for two at Mount Clemens, Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. and Thursday at noon, before going to Fraser’s Big Boy Arena to play the Gamblers Saturday at 8:30 p.m. The Jets play a home-and-home with the Battle Creek Kernels, opening up at home Friday at 2 p.m. and wrapping Saturday at 7 p.m. from The Rink Battle Creek.
All USPHL games are available on FloHockey.tv.
