LEWIS CENTER, Ohio – For the second time in three years, the Metro Jets are the USPHL Premier regular-season champions.

The Jets cemented their spot atop the standings with a resounding 9-2 win over the Columbus Mavericks Friday night at the OhioHealth Chiller North, finishing the regular season 38-4-1.

“It was a great game,” said Jets associate coach Dan Pszenyczny. “We came out focused and with a purpose. We took control of the game from the start and played 60 minutes of smart hockey.”

Ryan Messing (pictured front) collected two goals and two assists, while Nick Ceccarini went for two goals and an assist, Matt Cole a goal and two assists and Nathan Vazquez three helpers in the win.

Metro played the last two periods without defenseman Joey Johnson, who was checked into the boards late in the first period and taken to a local medical facility. All tests were negative.

“The boys responded well after Johnny’s injury,” said Ceccarini. “We all used what happened as fuel to stay fired up and on top for the remainder of the game.”

Alec Lindecker added a goal and an assist for the Jets, and Anders Grongstad and Joey Carpenter scored to back Louis-Pierre Fortier’s (pictured below) 26 saves in goal.

Philippe Angervil and Egor Taran scored for Columbus, while starting goalie Tyler Dorion was chased at 12:39 of the first period after the Jets’ fourth goal. Dorion and Alex Toth combined to make 45 saves.

Next up for the Jets is the USPHL postseason, where they’ll enter as the top overall seed.

“We ended the regular season off very strong with a couple of big wins,” Ceccarini said. “The boys and myself are going to keep our energy going and bring it into the playoffs.”

The playoff schedule will be announced next week.