FRASER, Mich. – Winning a national championship gets the word out about an organization rather quickly.

That’s what happened last season for the Metro Jets and Joey Demarte.

Demarte, a rookie forward this season, said he played hockey with a couple players that played for the Jets and “heard nothing but good things.”

“The Jets are a great, local organization with a great coaching staff and I wanted to be part of it,” said the 19-year-old Anchor Bay native. “From a personal standpoint this season, I’m learning a lot and hope to learn more. As the season continues, I think we are getting better and better each game. The team is connecting on and off the ice, too.”

Metro coach-GM Justin Quenneville likes what he has seen so far from the power forward.

“Joey is a double threat with his size and skill,” said Quenneville. “Like every player transition to juniors, he had a few hurdles to overcome in the beginning and has continued to raise his game since. Like most, he probably thought he could walk in here and just produce, but time and time again, they don’t realize the difficulty at this level. He wants to learn and get better, and that has helped him find success here.

“If he continues to develop and buy in to playing the 200-foot game, he has a lot of potential ahead of him.”

Demarte won a regional Silver Sticks championship last season and hopes to taste a title next spring with the Jets.

“I want to make sure I improve each and every day at practice,” Demarte said. “Hopefully, I can help this team go as far as we can go. The Jets organization is one of the best. They prove each and every year that development is everything. The great attitude with the guys and coaches to show up every day and provide coaching and training make me proud to be a Jet.”

In the future, Demarte wants to stay on skates for the long haul.

“I want to play hockey at a competitive level for as long as I can,” said Demarte. “I also want to continue to play hockey in college and pursue a business degree at the same time.”