FRASER, Mich. – Newly-signed Metro Jets players Dylan Tegtmeyer and Cole Phillips are at opposite ends of the junior hockey journey.
Tegtmeyer is a 1999 birth year forward entering his final season of junior hockey eligibility, while Phillips, a defenseman, is three years younger and starting his rookie season this fall.
A Fort Wayne, Ind., native, Tegtmeyer played juniors last season for the Philadelphia Jr. Flyers EHL organization.
“I skated with the Jets in the spring and played in the showcase and just felt right at home with the guys and the coaching staff,” said Tegtmeyer (pictured). “I really loved just the atmosphere of the team and the coaching staff. They all have played at a high level and coached at a high level, so they all know what it takes to get to the level I want to try to get to in the future. I know that this team is a very respectable and successful organization and I’m just happy to be a part of it.”
A team player by nature, Tegtmeyer said he can be versatile as well.
“What I can bring to this team is a hard-working mentality and net-front presence,” Tegtmeyer said. “I’m not afraid to take on different roles for this team. This year, I want to get stronger, faster and more explosive and grow as a hockey player so I can play at the highest level of college hockey that I can.”
Jets coach-GM Justin Quenneville said he’ll also look to the veteran for leadership.
“Dylan skated during our spring development program and did very well,” said Quenneville. “We liked his size, his work ethic and more importantly, his positive attitude. He’s eager to take advantage of his last year of eligibility with a program that can help his development and exposure. He’s excited to report and we are excited to continue to work with him.”
Phillips is a Dearborn Heights native who played for the Victory Honda U16 team last season.
“My coach last year (Matt Mosley) told me about some of the junior teams around and he suggested that I contact the coach of the Metro Jets,” Phillips said. “I went out to a few practices and felt like this would be a good place to advance my development so when I was later offered a spot, I took it.
“What appeals to me most about the team is the staff. The coaches are very professional and honest, and I feel they can get me to the next level. They take my progression very serious and I really find that appealing.”
“Cole is young ‘D’ but wants to continue to develop and advance through the ranks,” added Quenneville. “We liked what we saw from him in the spring and he did very well for his age on the back end. With coaches like Jamie (Lovell) and Dan (Pszenyczny), who both played ‘D’ at high levels and have done a great job developing players positionally, Cole will benefit from this environment tremendously. His coach has done a great job at Victory Honda and we look forward to continue to work with him as well.”
Phillips noted that he feels he can be a hard-working, very good teammate to the team, along with having a solid defensive IQ and skill set.
“I also have the will to get better every day,” he said.
In the future, Phillips knows what he wants to keep doing, and that’s as much hockey as possible while also focusing on academics.
“My short-term goals are to get better every day at hockey and make it as far as I can to get myself in a better position for college,” said Phillips. “I also want to get smarter and better prepare myself for college. My long-term goals are to get a hockey scholarship to a good college and get a degree to set myself up for a career. I also want to make it as far as I can in hockey, whether that’s college or beyond college.”
