Jets' Williams working hard, getting rewarded

David Williams is one of those players that always seem to have a smile on his face and always seems to be enjoying his time at the rink.

And the fact he’s brought some offense with him to the Metro Jets since signing last month is another positive influence the 19-year-old from Bloomfield Hills brings to the Jets.

“’Willy’ is a good locker room guy and is another guy who can put the puck in the net,” Jets’ assistant coach Ryan Skop said. “He’s not very vocal, but since the day he’s come in, he’s been one of our hardest workers and has shown he’s a good guy for some of the younger guys to look up to.”

In just seven games since signing with Metro on Dec. 11, Williams has potted three goals (one shorthanded) and added an assist. Last season, he played midget hockey at Lakeland Arena and the Jets’ coaching staff quickly took notice.

“Williams is another guy who we were recruiting since the beginning of the year,” explained Skop. “We saw him a lot last year and were pretty high on him. In the fall, he decided to go to Western Michigan University, but when he decided to take a semester off, that’s when we picked him up.

“His greatest asset is his speed, which makes him good for us on the penalty kill. He’s also seeing some power-play time and getting some good minutes there. He can just do so many things and do them all well.”

LOOKING BACK, LOOKING AHEAD

Metro (5-26-0-1) played just a single game last weekend in suffering an 8-2 defeat to Flint last Saturday night.

Justin Vinson (Livonia) and newcomer Matt McCaig (Lincoln Park), with his first goal of the season, scored the Jets’ goals and Nickolas Ceccolini (Dexter) made 40 saves in net.

Even though it was another loss, one player continues to stand out on a daily basis for Metro in third-year defenseman Brett Grech (Hartland).

“’Grechy’ has been one of our most consistent players all season long,” Metro general manager Butch Wolfe said. “I have no doubts he’ll make a North American League team next season. He’s definitely ready for the next level of his hockey career and has the maturity to do just that.”

This weekend, the Jets host Grand Rapids on Saturday night and Chicago for a Sunday matinee. Metro has won both meetings with Grand Rapids this season, including a dramatic come-from-behind 8-7 shootout win Dec. 13. Patrick Gallagher (Plymouth) scored four goals in that game, including two in the final 90 seconds, and the since-traded Mike Garvie notched the game-winner in the shootout.

The Jets also topped Grand Rapids at home, 9-6, back on Oct. 18 behind a Brandon Nault (Madison Heights) first-period hat trick on goals scored at even strength, on the power play and shorthanded.

Chicago is 3-0 against the Jets this year, outscoring Metro 24-8 in the process.

Game time Saturday night is 7:40 p.m. and 1:20 p.m. Sunday.

JET FUEL

Former Jets forward James Kakos (West Bloomfield), who played eight games with two assists earlier this season, was signed by Motor City on Tuesday.

Another Metro alum, defenseman Jarret Samp, was officially added to the United States roster for the World University Games to be held next month in China. Samp, a native of Troy, is a senior captain at Oakland University and played for the Jets during the 2004-2005 season. He was originally named an alternate for the team last August.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Jason Price, a forward on the Jets’ 2001 CSHL championship team and the 2002 Junior B national championship team, is currently in his second season with the Richmond (Va.) Renegades of the Southern Professional Hockey League.

Price, a 23-year-old from Farmington Hills, played three years with the NAHL’s Texarkana Bandits from 2003-2006 and has spent the past three years in the SPHL with Richmond and the Columbus (Ga.) Cottonmouths after a six-game stint in 2006 with the now-defunct Port Huron Flags of the United Hockey League (now the renamed International Hockey League).

Photo by Walt Dmoch