LOCKPORT, Ill. – All three Metro Jets teams took to the road this past weekend to play in the USPHL Chicago Showcase.

The five-day event was held Dec. 11-15 at the new Summit Sports & Ice Complex in Lockport, Ill.

METRO JETS
Dec. 12 – Jets 5, Minnesota Squatch 0
Dec. 13 – Jets 5, Minnesota Blue Ox 2
Dec. 13 – Jets 4, Wisconsin Rapids Riverkings 2
Dec. 14 – Jets 8, Chicago Crush 0

“We treated this weekend as a business trip,” Jets associate head coach Jamie Lovell said. “We wanted eight points and we accomplished that. We played a lot of hockey in a short period of time, so it was good to see our guys buy in to playing simple and letting our habits be the difference in these games.

“We got great goaltending when we needed it and offense was spread out throughout the lineup, which was great to see.”

MJDP
Dec. 12 – MJDP 3, Columbus Mavericks 1 (game postponed, makeup TBD)
Dec. 13 – Red River Spartans 8, MJDP 1
Dec. 13 – Toledo Cherokee 3, MJDP 0
Dec. 14 – Cincinnati Jr. Cyclones 2, MJDP 1

“The guys had a really tough schedule for the Chicago Showcase,” Jets associate coach Jake Howie said. “It’s fun to go to these events and see teams we don’t always get to play. And for the most part, I was really happy with how the guys played and thought we were better than some of the results. Obviously, we need to find a way to start generating more offensively and finish off plays to be rewarded.”

METRO JETS ELITE
Dec. 12 – Jets Elite 2, Red River Spartans 0
Dec. 13 – Jets Elite 3, Motor City Gamblers 2 (OT)
Dec. 13 – Decatur Blaze 5, Jets Elite 2
Dec. 14 – Chicago Crush 3, Jets Elite 1

“I thought overall it was a solid weekend,” said Jets associate coach Danny Vanderwiel. “We are getting to that point in the year where we just need to decide which version of us we want to be. When we want to, we are a tough team to play against, but I feel sometimes we let the opponent dictate the pace of the game.

“Excited for practice and games this weekend. I think the break will be good for the boys. Looking forward to the second half of the year and continuing to fine tune our game heading into playoffs.”

This coming week, all three teams are in action on home ice at Mount Clemens Ice Arena.

JETS
Dec. 19 vs. Battle Creek Kernels, 5 p.m.

MJDP
Dec. 18 vs. Chicago T-Rex, 2:30 p.m.
Dec. 19 vs. Chicago T-Rex, 2:30 p.m.

JETS ELITE
Dec. 18 vs. Chicago T-Rex, 12:15 p.m.
Dec. 19 vs. Chicago T-Rex, 12:15 p.m.

The teams then break for Christmas before returning to the ice Jan. 3 at the USPHL Tampa Showcase.

All USPHL games are available at BlackBearSports.tv.

Photos/Beverly Buchinger