FRASER, Mich. – Metro Jets goaltender Michael Kambouris made the most of his first-ever start Saturday afternoon, making 23 saves as the MJDP defeated the Detroit Fighting Irish 6-1 at Fraser Hockeyland.
After Detroit’s Carter Schluckbier gave Detroit the early 1-0 lead at 5:42 of the first period, Kambouris (pictured) slammed the door the rest of the way and the MJDP netted six unanswered goals to grab the victory.
“I felt really good,” Kambouris said. “At the beginning of the game, I was pretty nervous, but after the first period, I just started buzzing and the boys started buzzing as well.”
In front of Kambouris, Tim Washburn struck for a goal and two assists and Austin Ieuter, Mitch Forton and captain Brayden Tayles all had a goal and an assist.
Alex Washburn and Hugo Fonovic added goals and Joey Mocnik chipped in with a pair of helpers in the win.
“Our guys took them a little lightly early based on the last game we beat them,” said Jets coach-GM Justin Quenneville. “Even though we sustained most of the pressure and had the lead after the first, it was important to address a few things in the locker room. We made some adjustments and scored a few more to open the game up. In the end, it was not our best performance, and we were inconsistent at managing pucks out of our zone, but we will take the two points and focus on the next two games coming up in Erie.”
Quenneville also said that Kambouris was a major bright spot for the MJDP.
“For his first start, I thought he did a great job and looked confident throughout the game,” Quenneville said. “He wasn’t tested a lot, but he did his job and got us some key whistles early on. Big first win for him and proud of him for how far he has developed his game.
“(Jets goaltending coach) Randy Wilson has done a great job with him and with all our goalies again this year.”
Detroit goalie Daniel McCarthy finished with 36 saves.
The MJDP next plays two games in Erie, Pa., at the ErieBank Sports Park against the New York Aviators next Tuesday at 8:05 p.m. and then Wednesday at 10:30 a.m.
In Pittsburgh Saturday night, Cristian Adragna’s goal at 16:51 of the third period snapped a 2-2 tie and the Jets held on to down the Pittsburgh Vengeance 3-2 from the Alpha Ice Complex.
“It was a planned draw that just turned into a broken play,” said Adragna. “Puck went up to my D-man and I came out and got a piece of it. I saw (Jason) Crossland had some space with the puck, so I just got my feet moving and he made a great play getting it up quick. I knew the ‘D’ was on me. I just had to protect the puck and saw the goalie coming out strong, so I just had to wait him out a little and bury the puck.”
Cody Mastay registered a goal and an assist in the win, Nick Ceccarini added a single goal to back Louis-Pierre Fortier’s 20 saves.
“It was a good character win for the guys tonight,” Jets associate coach Jamie Lovell said. “Pittsburgh played a tight defensive style tonight and were blocking shots and making us earn every inch of ice in the offensive zone. I think we controlled the play but still couldn’t find the back of the net to put the game away. Credit to their goalie (Noah Bonvissuto), who made some big saves and gave his team a chance to win. He is one of the best goalies in our division and league and he did his job tonight.
“Proud of our guys for staying with things and not getting frustrated and eventually, it paid off. Now we have to come back with an even better effort tomorrow. Hard to beat a team on back-to-back nights, but I know our guys will be up for the challenge and will be ready.”
For Pittsburgh, Nic Coppola and Sawyer Lownsdale scored, and Bonvissuto made 31 saves in suffering the loss in goal.
“We kept them hanging around too long and it was a hard-fought game, so I know they’re going to come out tomorrow with everything they got,” Adragna said. “We not only have to match that but be better and play some disciplined hockey and capitalize on our chances.”
The two teams rematch Sunday at 11:40 a.m.
Also Saturday night, the MHC dropped an 8-6 decision to the Midwest Blackbirds from the Midwest Training and Ice Center in Dyer, Ind.
Anders Florek and captain Brandon Plummer each tallied twice, while Connor Hilliker and Ronny Zamojski scored one apiece and Jackson Moleski tacked on two assists.
Tate Potteiger took the loss in goal for the MHC.
“It was a frustrating game,” Jets associate coach Dan Pszenyczny said. “We were back and forth for the first period and a half and then we got lazy with the puck, forcing things that weren’t there and not taking advantage of situations to score.
“We’ll make a couple small tweaks to the lineup tomorrow. We know we need to bring the effort and energy that we brought for the third period for the whole game.”
Shane Dotto and Derek Eaton each posted two goals and an assist for Midwest and Josh Venable had a goal and two helpers.
In goal, Jack Webster picked up the win.
Both teams play again Sunday at 12:30 p.m.
All USPHL games are streamed on HockeyTV.com.
