FRASER, Mich. – Anthony Cinato was a 17-year-old rookie in 2017-18 when the Metro Jets won the national championship in thrilling overtime fashion.
And even after the Jets came up just short in repeating last season, Cinato is eager to play in the season’s last game once again.
“After losing in the national championship game, I have a hunger to come back and finish it off this year,” said Cinato, a 2000 birth year forward and Warren native. “Playing for ‘Q,’ (coach-GM Justin Quenneville), (associate head coach) Jamie (Lovell) and the Jets organization made it an easy decision to come back, and I’m excited to get it going.
“I think about winning that national championship a lot. It was so special to me. It was my first year of juniors and we won with a great group of players, coaches, trainers and owner, and it is something I will always remember for sure.”
Last season, Cinato, also a graduate of the Jr. Jets youth program, led the Jets in goals with 23 and finished tied for the team lead in points alongside Jhuwon Davis with 46. He also scored a goal in three games with the NCDC’s Boston Jr. Bruins.
Quenneville has seen Cinato quietly go from a raw rookie to a player with a huge offensive skill set.
“AC made huge strides last season, on and off the ice,” said Quenneville. “Ultimately, he was rewarded for it statistically and with his NCDC callup to the Jr. Bruins. But what impressed us the most what his approach to his development and invested interest in elevating his game overall. Getting AC back is a big piece to the puzzle here, but more importantly for him to continue to benefit from the environment and exposure. He does a lot of little things on the ice that made a big difference in the outcome of games and his vision on the ice continues to excel.”
“The Jets organization does it the right way from our owner Peter Cammick who supports us, while Q and Jamie’s coaching is the best in the nation at learning new things on and off the ice – that’s something I cherish a lot,” Cinato added. “I also want to thank all of our fans who come to every game and also to our locker room and game-day staff Matt Mackinder, Kenny Sidun, Stu Forbes, Dave Ross, Jackie Thorne, Paulie Sheridan and Austin Diz. They do a lot for us that doesn’t go unnoticed.”
On the eve of main camp this weekend at Fraser Hockeyland, Cinato wants to help lead the Jets to another long playoff run.
“Our team goal this year is to bond early with each other and ultimately to win the last game of the season,” said Cinato. “Personal goals this year are to take on a leadership role and apply my last two experiences with the Jets to new guys and returners. I want to play a 200-foot game to help give the team a chance to win every time we play.”
In addition, the Jets have also announced the re-signing of 2001 birth year forward Nick McDougall.
“For me, it was an easy decision to come back because I’m a young player and I developed significantly playing for the MJDP last year, getting my rookie-year jitters out of the way,” said McDougall, a Clinton Township product. “The organization is great, and its success speaks for itself making it to the national title game four years in a row now. There’s just simply not a better place to be.”
During the 2018-19 season, McDougall compiled 15 goals and 19 points in 43 games.
“The fact that Metro focuses on development first before anything else is what makes this organization so unique,” McDougall said. “No other organization invests in a development team like we do, which is why we are one of the most successful at this level as well, as well as sending guys to college.”
“We have known Nick since he was 12 years old and he’s always wanted to improve his game at a young age,” added Quenneville. “He really impressed us last year as an ’01 and was rewarded for that throughout the season. He plays the game with a little edge and continues to develop into a strong two-way forward. We are excited to continue to work with him and see where this takes him next.”
Looking ahead to the 2019-20 campaign, McDougall reiterated that being a Jet is all about getting better every day.
“My personal goal is to take my development one step at a time and help develop the players around me with a hard work ethic,” said McDougall. “For the team, I would like to see both teams to make it to the national round robin this year.
“I’m proud to be a part of this organization.”
