HUDSON, N.H. – The Metro Jets, MJDP and Metro Jets Elite teams all traveled to the USPHL Northern Cyclones Showcase last weekend at Cyclones Arena, coming back better teams with an eye on postseason play.
The Jets went 4-0, defeating Gatineau Universel 4-3, the PAL Jr. Islanders 11-4, the Northern Cyclones, last season’s national champions, 1-0 in overtime, and then the Utica Jr. Comets 4-1. With the win over the Cyclones, the Jets secured first place in the Great Lakes Division, winning the regular-season division title for the ninth time in 10 seasons.
“I have said it before, but this is why we come to these showcases, to give our guys the best environment and chance to showcase their talents against the top competition,” said Jets associate head coach Jamie Lovell. “Our guys are confident right now. Our staff is very proud of how we handled ourselves throughout the entire four games of this event, but especially during the games with Gatineau and Northern Cyclones. Those two games had a playoff-like atmosphere. They were tight checking and we faced adversity in both. Gatineau was well structured and made us earn our goals, and in the Cyclones game, we had multiple goals called back against us, but we knew we deserved the two points based on our play and found a way to overcome and eventually take the game in OT. These are the types of teams we will be facing and the games we will be in come playoff time, so it’s good to get those experiences now to help prepare us for the coming weeks ahead.
“Clinching our division is nice, but it was just one step in the process. Back to work to prepare for the playoff season ahead.”
The MJDP downed Gatineau 2-1 in a shootout while suffering a 4-3 overtime loss to the Jr. Islanders, a 5-2 setback to Utica, and a 3-0 loss to the Islanders Hockey Club.
“I thought we played really hard all three days and were able to secure some much-needed points as we come down the stretch,” Jets associate coach Jake Howie said. “I think it’s always good when we can travel and see some teams we don’t get to see on a regular basis, and I love that we can get some really good, hard-played games in to gear up for the playoffs. Low-scoring defensive battles are a part of playoff hockey, and we’re getting an early taste of it. Still some things to clean up to make us the best possible team we can be at the correct time of the year, and we’re going to use these last couple weeks to really hammer those details into our game.”
The Jets Elite fell 4-1 to Somang Prep, 4-1 to College Universel, 6-2 to the CSJV Black Vees, and 3-2 to the Islanders Hockey Club.
“We knew going into the showcase these were going to be tough games,” said Jets associate coach Tina Ciraulo. “We did struggle a bit to put full games together. This time of the year, we can’t pick and choose when we want to play. By the fourth game, we started playing like ourselves. Just couldn’t get the win. It was a little bit of a learning experience for our guys this weekend and coming together more as a team. I feel the boys learned a lot this weekend and are ready for the next six games coming up here to finish out the season.”
This week, the Jets play a home-and-home with the Columbus Maverickk, starting Friday at Mount Clemens Ice Arena at 2 p.m. and wrapping Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. from the OhioHealth Chiller North. The MJDP is back on the road, playing two against the Chicago Cougars, 12:40 p.m. Central on Thursday and 1:50 p.m. Friday, from the Edge Ice Arena. The Jets Elite team is also in Chicago, playing the Cougars Wednesday at 2:20 p.m. Central, Thursday at 9:30 a.m. and Friday at 10:40 a.m.
All USPHL games are available at FloHockey.tv.
