Metro's Wickersham ready for next step

If ever there was a player the Metro Jets don’t want to have back for a second season, it would be Jon Wickersham.

And that’s not a bad thing.

Advancing players to the next level, whatever that may be, is something the Jets have succeeded in over the years and the team hopes the 19-year-old Wickersham can be the latest name to be added to their long list of alumni who have moved up the hockey ladder.

"Game in and game out, Wickersham has been one of our most consistent players, if not the most consistent,” Metro GM Butch Wolfe said. “He's on the ice in every situation and can do it all – score, defend, clear the puck, make good passes, even the little things."

Wickersham hasn’t missed a game all year and goes into this weekend third in team scoring with 10 goals and 13 assists for 23 points. Being an alternate captain also showed that Wickersham, a 6-foot-1, 185-pound forward from Macomb was capable of taking the team on his shoulders if need be.

"From the first day Jon came to camp, we knew he was captain material,” Wolfe said. “He's not real vocal, but he definitely leads by example. When it came time to choose our captains, Jon was one of the three names that kept coming up and he did a great job this year keeping the guys focused and ready to go each game."

Wolfe feels Wickersham will have several North American Hockey League teams pining for his services next season and whichever team he lands with will be getting a fine hockey player and an even better person.

"I think wherever Jon plays next season, that team will be getting a solid player,” said Wolfe. “He is ready for the NAHL, in my opinion, and I really believe he'd make a fine addition to any of the teams in that league.

“I don't think he has anything left to prove at the CSHL level."

LOOKING BACK, LOOKING AHEAD

The Jets went on their final road trip of the season last weekend and were swept by the first place and regular season champion St. Louis Jr. Blues.

Saturday night, Tyler Schofield scored his first goal of the season and added an assist, while Steve Lockwood had two goals in a 12-3 loss.

Jon Elliott and Wickersham chipped in two assists apiece and Ian Mercer made 43 saves between the pipes.

Sunday afternoon, Elliott scored the lone Metro tally in a 4-1 loss. Mercer finished with 35 stops.

Metro wraps up the regular season this weekend with two at Lakeland Arena against the Pittsburgh Jr. Penguins. Game time Saturday night is 7:50 p.m., while Sunday’s game is a 1:20 p.m. matinee.

JET FUEL

Action photos of all Jets players are now available to view and purchase on team photographer Andy Grossman’s website.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Matt Ewert, a tough defenseman on the 2000-2001 Jets team, is no longer playing organized hockey, but is definitely staying busy these days.

Ewert, who just recently got engaged, owns a successful landscaping business in the Chicago area.

Photo by Andy Grossman