FRASER, Mich. – Anthony Recchia knew a little something about the Metro Jets prior to signing with the team ahead of the 2017-18 season.
His older brother, Jason, skated on the Metro blue line from 2015-17, going to the national tournament both years only to come up short in the championship game each time.
Looks like the younger Recchia has bragging rights.
“After my last year of Midget hockey, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to keep playing or go to college full time but seeing my brother’s team go 47-0 (in 2016-17), I decided to skate with the Jets during the spring and loved it, so I stayed for the ‘17-18 season.
“Winning the national championship was a great experience, especially with that group of guys. After being runner-up two consecutive seasons, the team had a goal in mind at the start of the season and it paid off in the end. Everyone came into this season with the same mindset and hopefully, we can display that with a deep run this year.”
Jets associate head coach Jamie Lovell sees Recchia as a valuable component to the Jets’ MJDP Team this season.
“Anthony Recchia has been a solid player for the MJDP Team this year,” Lovell said. “We’ve been really happy with his progression from last season where he wasn’t getting in the lineup as much as he would have liked to now this season, playing a key role for us on the back end.
“He defends well and plays what we call an ‘undercover tough’ game. He doesn’t have to say much on the ice to opponents, he just goes about his role and lets his play do the talking. Opposing team’s forwards don’t like to play against ‘Recs,’ that’s for sure.”
After going through the memorable season of a year ago, Recchia feels he’s a better player now.
“Skating with the strong veteran ‘D’ core we had last year helped me pick up small habits and they worked with me after practice a couple times a week,” said Recchia, a 19-year-old Shelby Township native. “The experienced coaching staff makes it easy to buy-in and is always there to help you get better. Everyone on the team makes it easy to come to the rink every day.”
In assessing his future, Recchia is realizing – and accepting – that there is life after hockey.
“With a career in the medical field in mind, this will most likely my last year of junior hockey so I can start going to school full-time after taking a couple classes a semester during this current season and last season,” said Recchia.
