FRASER, Mich. – Matt Vanderworp will be one of the youngest players on the Metro Jets next season, but that won’t be a hinderance one bit.

Vanderworp, a 2003 birth year from St. Clair Shores, Mich., recently signed with the Jets for the 2020-21 USPHL season.

“I signed with the Jets because of the long history of developing players to the best of their ability and moving them on to the highest level of hockey,” said Vanderworp, a defenseman who played high school hockey last year for St. Clair Shores Unified. “What appeals to me the most is how hard working and respectful the players are and how dedicated the coaches are to get their players’ names out there. 

“What I know about the team is how unselfish everyone is, willing to push not only themselves but their teammates as well.”

Vanderworp spent the 2018-19 season playing for the local travel team out of the Jets’ home rink at Fraser Hockeyland.

From the back end, what can Vanderworp bring to the Jets?

“The ability to create time and space under pressure,” Vanderworp said. “I think that is one of my biggest strengths.”

This past season with the Lakers, Vanderworp averaged a point per game with four goals and 19 assists for 23 points in 23 games.

Jets coach-GM Justin Quenneville feels Vanderworp is yet another player with raw potential who can only benefit from the advantages playing for the Jets will offer.

“We’ve seen Matt on the ice and in the gym with our guys,” said Quenneville. “He’s quiet, goes about his business, and wants to learn. We were very impressed with how quickly he has picked up small habits on the ice and the fact that he is coachable. He’s got good size, a good shot, and competes hard. We look forward to working with him and getting started."

The start of next season still more than two months away, Vanderworp has already set goals for himself and the Jets for 2020-21 and beyond.

“My short-term goals for hockey are to keep working hard and to keep developing my game to contribute to the Jets success,” he said. “My long-term goals are to play college or a high level of junior hockey. When it comes to school, my short-term goal is to graduate high school with a high GPA, and my long-term goal is to get into a good Division II or Division III college.”