FRASER, Mich. – The Metro Jets’ list of offseason college commitments has grown by two more.
A pair of two-year Jets veterans in defenseman Sindo Martinez and forward-defenseman Brock Taylor are off to the college ranks this fall.
Martinez will stay local, heading to Rochester College, while Taylor is venturing out of state to Trine University, located in Angola, Ind.
Both were part of the team’s national championship in 2018 and were standout players with the MJDP team in 2018-19. They were also members of the Jets contingent that went to China last fall to play in the Bauer Junior World Cup, bringing home a bronze medal in the process.
“What appealed me the most was the affordability of the school with a competitive hockey team,” Martinez said. “I hope to play wherever they need me and do my job as a freshman to help the team in any way I can. I hold high expectations for myself in the classroom. It has been two years since I’ve taken any real academic classes, but I still want to maintain a GPA over a 3.5. It’s going to be a grind, but I hope to make a smooth transition back academically to receive an accounting degree.”
“Sindo will be a hard player to replace,” said Quenneville. “His character and work ethic are incredible. He did all the little things to get opportunities here and truly earned everything he got. Rochester will be getting a tenacious player who commits to playing the game the right way. Sindo took his time making a decision where to commit. He had several options, but in the end found his home. We wish him the best of luck moving forward.”
“Sindo came to work every day, bought into his own development and it showed on the ice,” added Jets associate head coach Jamie Lovell. “His approach to the game, his training, being a teammate is first-class all the way. I enjoyed working with him the last two years and wish him the best of luck in college.”
Martinez added that getting the opportunity to play college hockey started when he made the decision to play for the Jets.
“All the credit for the player I am right now goes to the Metro Jets organization,” said Martinez, a Clinton Township native. “Metro and the coaching staff have given me all the tools and guidance to be able to put in the work and get better. Couldn’t have done it without the support of both of my loving parents who sacrificed a lot of time and money so I was able to play junior hockey. I would also like to thank my family for all the love and support.
“What I will remember most about the last two seasons was getting the chance to go to China and play the greatest sport in the world.”
Taylor moved away from his Cadillac home to play for the Jets and will again be leaving home to play at Trine.
“Trine has an extremely credible business school and above that, the hockey is great,” Taylor said. “The coaches have been extremely welcoming and helpful with me in my decision. It’s a smaller school which is also something that was important for me personally, to have a tight-knit community, similar to the one I grew up in, so it will feel just like home.”
In the classroom, Taylor will be studying Business Administration and Marketing.
“It’s definitely going to be a change of pace, with adding a full academic load of classes on top of hockey, but I am excited to start setting myself up for a career in business,” said Taylor.
Like Martinez, Taylor said immersing himself in the Jets culture has led him to his current situation.
“Playing for Metro has given me the opportunity to develop into a smarter and more skilled player,” Taylor said. “The coaching staff provided amazing training on and off ice and the best guidance that allowed me to be pursued by colleges. I want to thank Coach Q, (Jets assistant coach) Randy Wilson, (Jets assistant coach) Jamie Lovell and (Cadillac High School coach) Randy Boike for believing in me, seeing my potential, helping me build my skills as a player, and helping me grow as a person.
“I am also thankful for my parents and family who have done everything possible to make sure I had anything I needed in order to help me succeed. My dad especially ensured that I was able to pursue any opportunity that can my way.”
“Brock will be missed here,” said Quenneville. “He was always positive and carried himself professionally. I wish we had a full team of Brocks. He does everything you ask of him, brings a lunch pail mentality to the rink and commits to the development process. He developed a lot of versatility to his game here, playing multiple positions and situations. Trine will be getting a top-notch player and an even better person.”
“Brock was a team-first guy and Trine will be getting a player who understands the game very well,” Lovell added. “It’s been a pleasure to see him grow as a player. As Jets, we are looking to recruit good people first and then make them into good hockey players. These two epitomize that philosophy as a program and we will miss them.”
In reflecting on his time in Fraser, Taylor said many memories come to mind.
“I will always remember the bond I made with my teammates who have become some of my closest friends that will last a lifetime,” said Taylor. “Representing the Jets and the USA in the China tournament was another amazing experience as well.”
