Michigan Junior Hockey

Muskegon makes trade with Buccaneers

2012-02-02T09:37:00.002-05:00

The Muskegon Lumberjacks announced today they have acquired University of Minnesota blueline recruit Mike Brodzinski and a first-round selection in the 2012 USHL Entry Draft from the Des Moines Buccaneers in exchange for defenseman Nick Seeler.

The Lumberjacks will also receive future considerations from the Buccaneers in the deal, which adds assets as well as alleviates a potential logjam on the blueline.

“This is a great trade for both teams,” said Lumberjacks head coach Jim McKenzie. “With eight healthy defensemen, this opens up a spot and also helps us into the future. Brodzinski and the first-round pick we received should both be big for us.”

Brodzinski (pictured), who verbally committed to Minnesota last fall, was Des Moines’ first-round selection (seventh overall) in last summer’s USHL Futures Draft. The junior defenseman at Blaine (Minn.) High School has a team-leading 23 points this season and has maintained a point-per-game pace over the last two years. Brodzinski led Blaine in playoff scoring last spring as a sophomore.

The 5-foot-11 blueline prospect also competed in last summer’s Under-17 Five Nations Tournament in Ann Arbor. As part of the U.S. Select Team that won gold, Brodzinski displayed “a very athletic frame and…a great shot from the point,” according to unitedstatesofhockey.com. He will be eligible for the NHL Entry Draft in 2013.

Seeler totaled 15 points (two goals) in 32 games for the Lumberjacks in his first USHL season. He has committed to the University of Nebraska-Omaha and was a 2011 fifth-round pick of the Minnesota Wild.

“Nick is a great young man and he’ll be a great player in college, and in the professional ranks down the road,” McKenzie said. “We want to thank Nick for his hard work and great attitude and we wish him well with his new team.”

Also as part of the deal, Des Moines acquired Muskegon affiliate list players Garrett Cockerill and Matej Paulovic, neither of whom has played a USHL game this season. Cockerill skated in two games for last year’s Lumberjacks.

Hargett providing energy for Jets

2012-02-02T00:45:00.000-05:00

Travis Hargett is one year older and one year wiser.

After playing for the Metro Jets as a 16-year-old rookie last season, the Clarkston native returned this season and has applied what he took away from his first year into a consistent second season in Waterford.

“This season, I definitely feel that I'm picking up where I left off and that I needed no adjustment compared to last year,” said Hargett. “I feel that my on-ice awareness and knowing where I need to be has improved the most. At the beginning of last year, I felt helpless in a way until I caught up to speed. I also feel my skill set has improved this year.”

Hargett has four goals and 14 points in 30 games this year, compared to just seven points in 40 games all of last year.

“I feel that I've always been the presence on the ice that skates hard and shoots the puck as hard as I can when I get the chance,” explained Hargett. “I also want to be the guy who makes a hit so someone can pick up the puck and then I can drive to the net for a rebound.”

And for someone who doesn’t turn 18 until May, Hargett is a veteran on the team, but not one of the older players.

“I’m still the youngest forward on the team and I'm not the person to order people around, but my role is an energy line guy that makes plays,” Hargett said. “I came back this year because I love the game and because I know I can develop here to get to the next level.”

As for moving on, the Jets have seen several players over the last couple weeks make commitments for next season. Hargett wants to see his name added to that list and knows it won’t be easy,

”I think the No. 1 thing that I need to improve on to get to the next level is my skating,” admitted Hargett. “If you can’t skate well, you can’t play well.

”My goals for the future are to excel as best as I can and to go as far as I can in the future.”

LOOKING BACK, LOOKING AHEAD

The Jets split on the road last weekend with the Cleveland Jr. Lumberjacks, who entered the weekend second in the East Division.

Saturday night, Metro blew a two-goal lead in the third period, but came back to beat the Jr. Lumberjacks 4-3 after a nine-round shootout.

Justin Shureb scored the deciding goal in the shootout for the Jets.

In regulation, Steve Klisz scored twice with an assist, Matt Stemkoski had a goal and a helper, Mike MacKinnon two assists and Dillon Kelley made 36 saves in goal.

Klisz and Stemkoski scored two goals apiece, but it wasn't enough as the Jets fell to Cleveland 7-4 Sunday afternoon.

Stemkoski added a pair of assists for a four-point game and Kelley made 26 saves between the pipes for Metro.

The Jets (20-14-0-1) play just one game this weekend, welcoming Cleveland to Lakeland Arena on Saturday night for an 8 p.m. puck drop.

JET STREAKS

Two former Jets were in the news recently playing at higher levels.

Goalie Devin Williams, who started this season in Waterford, earned his first Ontario Hockey League win last Saturday night in his first start for the Erie Otters. Williams made 36 saves in Erie’s 7-4 win in Sudbury.

Williams, a 16-year-old from Saginaw, went 9-9-0 with a 3.88 goals-against average and a .896 save percentage with the Jets.

In the North American Hockey League, forward Mike Moroso was named to the NAHL Top Prospects Tournament and will play for Team North later this month at the Troy Sports Center.

Moroso leads the Port Huron Fighting Falcons in scoring this season with 34 points (13 goals, 21 assists) through 43 games.

Last season, the 20-year-old Macomb native was second on the Jets with 20 goals and was third overall in team scoring with 36 points.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Dave Hague, a defenseman who played for the Jets during the 1998-99 season, has been the head coach at Oxford High School for the past nine seasons.

After playing for the Jets, the 32-year-old Lake Orion native skated a season in the North American Hockey League for the St. Louis Sting, putting up five assists in 26 games in 1999-2000.

Hague had several colleges after him, but concussion issues forced him to retire at the age of 20.

Photo/Andy Grossman/Detailed Images

Jets' Hellebuyck to join brother in Odessa

2012-01-26T17:44:00.000-05:00

Chris Hellebuyck will at least know one person in Odessa, Tex.

The Metro Jets’ forward is moving up to the North American Hockey League with the Odessa Jackalopes, a team his younger brother, Connor, plays for as the squad’s No. 1 goaltender.

Hellebuyck leaves the Jets as the team’s third-leading scorer with 21 goals and 40 points, also tied for the team lead in goals with Steve Klisz. He tallied 11 multi-point games, including a four-point outing on Sept. 9 against Flint.

“Hellebuyck is the perfect example of what hard work can do for a player,” said Metro coach Jason Cirone. “He plays in every situation and the rest of the guys follow his lead. He’s a leader on the ice and in the locker room and that’s a credit to him.”

Playing alongside Connor is something Chris hasn’t done since both played at Walled Lake Northern when Connor was a junior and Chris a senior. The duo also played on the same Mite team years back.

“My brother had a big part in my opportunity with Odessa by letting them know about me, but I think they also had noticed that I was having a good season so it all fit together well,” said Hellebuyck, a 19-year-old Commerce Township native. “It was nice having options, but I the situation with Odessa made me pretty excited. Connor has told me a lot of great stuff about their program and the chance to play with him again will be awesome.”

Cirone said he was consistently fielding calls from NAHL teams about Hellebuyck over the course of the season.

“There were several other teams that wanted Chris, but they just weren’t the right situation,” Cirone said. “I know (Odessa coach) Paul Gillis is a heck of a coach and does things the right way and I know the fans in Odessa are crazy about their hockey. I saw that first-hand when I would go in there a few years back when I played (in the Central Hockey League) for Rio Grande Valley. I think it will be an excellent situation for Chris.”

Drafted twice by the Jets (in 2010 and again in 2011), Hellebuyck said he couldn’t have made the jump to the NAHL without his stint in Waterford.

”I learned a lot from Jason this season, including a lot of the little things that I'll be able to take with me to the next level,” explained Hellebuyck. “It was great to have a coach like him and I have added a lot of the small things to my game so far. There will be a lot that I will miss leaving Metro, but I think the hardest part of leaving will be parting with my current teammates and coaches.

“It's a great program and I owe a lot to everyone involved.”

Photo/Andy Grossman/Detailed Images

Jets send Mohr to NAHL's Wildcats

2012-01-25T21:49:00.002-05:00

Zach Mohr is the latest Metro Jets player to earn a promotion to the North American Hockey League as he was traded to the Wichita Falls Wildcats late last week and played in both games for the Wildcats over the weekend.

Mohr actually started the year in the NAHL with the Port Huron Fighting Falcons before joining the Jets in early November. Mohr tallied eight goals and eights assists for 16 points in 14 games with Metro. He went without a point last weekend as the Wildcats swept Corpus Christi in a battle of Texas-based teams.

“It’s a great feeling to get another shot at the NAHL,” said Mohr, a 19-year-old forward from Novi. “I’m going to try and make the best of it. My expectations are to come down here and try to contribute to the team every shift I get.”

Jets coach Jason Cirone, who has seen several players over the past 10 days make commitments for next year, knows Mohr will have a good showing in Wichita Falls.

“Zach was a really good player for us and I think he really fit in did everything we asked of him,” said Cirone. “I thought from the beginning when he came here that he was an NAHL-caliber player and in a good way, I hope he doesn’t come back here. He worked hard and earned this opportunity.”

Mohr said in the two-plus months he was in Waterford, he learned what it will take to keep his hockey progression moving upward.

“Jason is a great coach and it's obvious to everyone that he knows his stuff and moves players to the next level,” said Mohr. “The thing I learned from Jason was to trust my shot and keep my feet going at all times.

“’I’ll miss the guys the most. Every day I was there, it was fun and to me, that's what it’s all about.”

No sophomore slump for Jets' Bazin

2012-01-23T19:27:00.000-05:00

Cameron Bazin wasn’t quite ready to hang up the skates.

After playing last season with the Metro Jets, once the season ended and the summer arrived, Bazin had his mind set on giving up the game and going to school full-time starting in the fall.

But like most athletes will say, it’s not always easy to give up all you’ve ever known. That was certainly the case with Bazin.

“I knew a lot of the guys on the team this year (new and old) and I kept in touch with some of them, so I felt that it wouldn't be that big of an adjustment to come back and join the team,” said Bazin, a 19-year-old from Troy. “We have a very solid group of guys on the team and so far, this year has been awesome, especially since we're winning games.”

Joining the team in early November, Bazin has since tallied 13 points in 18 games. He had just 10 points in 36 games during the 2010-11 season.

”The first couple games I played in, I had to get some rust out of my system,” Bazin said. “I knew that I could perform much better points-wise) than I was playing. I didn't let it frustrate me, though, and I just kept working hard. Lately, I have just been pretty much scoring everything and I have to give a lot of credit to the other guys that I'm on the ice with. We have been winning games and everyone is helping out, whether it's scoring goals, assisting them or just making good plays all around the ice.”

Bazin is also not one to toot his own horn as he definitely has a team-first attitude.

“One player can’t win you hockey games,” said Bazin. “It takes a whole team and we have a great team here this year. I'll do whatever I can to make sure everyone is rolling and that we never lay an egg out there. Whether it's by killing penalties, scoring goals, winning faceoffs or hitting, I'll hopefully find a way for us to win games and gain momentum.

”Being an older guy I think gives me more of an edge to know how we have to practice and then translate that hard work to our games. I try to always work hard and set an example for younger and older guys. I like to say I bring solid energy to the team and think that helps with everyone picking up their play and being on top of their game.”

One of Bazin’s teammates this season, fellow forward Mike MacKinnon, is also a Troy native and the two have been close friends for quite some time.

”I have known MacKinnon since middle school and have played on several teams with him, including at Troy Athens High School for two years,” explained Bazin. “He is a great player and great asset to our team. I talked with him at beginning of the year and he played a part in talking me into coming back and playing this year. I was not playing anywhere prior to signing with the Jets, although I constantly got on the ice every opportunity that I got.”

Sitting at 19 wins this season and starting to jockey for playoff positioning, Bazin has all the confidence in the world that the Jets will continue to see more notches in the win column.

“I feel we are going to finish with a real solid second half of the season and I think we can make a very strong push for the No. 1 seed in our division,” beamed Bazin. “With the squad we have this year, I think that we are one of the top teams in the whole league and that we can compete with any team in the league. I would be highly disappointed if all we did was make the playoffs and then lost. We should be pushing for that top spot in the division by time the season starts winding down and if I was 21 and in Vegas, I would be betting on the Jets to win the division.

“It's nice to be on the squad that is changing the Metro Jets name and making them contenders yet again.”

JET STREAKS

Defenseman Trevor Hillman (Beverly Hills) was released prior to last weekend. He was the Jets’ top pick from last summer’s NA3HL draft and is expected to return next year to Waterford.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Austin Brown, a defenseman who played for Metro during the 2005-06 season, is now a senior at Division III St. Scholastica College in Duluth, Minn.

This year, the 24-year-old Lathrup Village native is the top-scoring blueliner for the Saints with 18 points through 19 games and also leads the NCHA in defensemen scoring and with 15 power-play points.

After leaving the Jets, Brown played for the Alaska Avalanche (NAHL), Hawkesbury Hawks (CJHL) and Woodstock Slammers (MJAHL).

Tomorrow in Muskegon - the USHL's best!

2012-01-23T17:20:00.001-05:00

Davison native Kalisz chooses UConn

2012-01-21T00:01:00.001-05:00

The St. Louis Bandits have announced that forward Joe Kalisz has committed to play NCAA Division I hockey for the University of Connecticut for the 2012-13 season.

Kalisz, 20, is a third-year forward from Davison who currently leads the Bandits is scoring this season with 43 points (20 goals, 23 assists) in 36 games. In 102 career NAHL games, Kalisz has 97 career points and is just three points shy of reaching the 100-point barrier for his career. So far this season, he has twice been named as one of the NAHL’s 3 stars of the week and it the offensive catalyst that St. Louis looks to be successful.

The Bandits are currently in second place in the NAHL's Midwest Division.

“I am very excited about the commitment and the opportunity to play for UConn because I feel I can come in and have a chance to make an impact right away,” said Kalisz. “I think they are an up-and-coming program and have a great coaching staff led by Bruce Marshall, so I think it is a great fit for me.”

The UConn men’s hockey team had a resurgent season in 2010-11. The Huskies took a 7-27-3 record in 2010 and turned it into a 15-18-4 mark in 2011. Connecticut doubled its win total from the previous year and finished sixth in the Atlantic Hockey Association final standings with a 13-12-2 record in conference. This season, the Huskies are currently fourth in the AHA standings with a 9-6-1 record.

“I think UConn is a first-class program and I think it is a great fit for Joe,” said St. Louis head coach Jeff Brown. “Joe is a player with a lot of character and somebody who will be able to chip-in right away. I think they are getting a heck of a hockey player and one that is a leader in the locker room.”

The 6-foot, 200-pound Kalisz says he believes that he will be a more complete player in college thanks to his years spent in the NAHL.

“I think playing junior hockey in the NAHL teaches you work ethic," Kalisz said. "You learn right away that if you don’t work at getting better every day, then it isn’t going to pay off. I think that’s something that Coach Brown preaches to us as players. We want to be successful on the ice as a team, but we also know that we are here for a bigger reason and that is to develop, grow, improve and move onto the next level. You grow up fast in this league and understand the daily grind of playing junior hockey at a high level.”

Under Brown, the Bandits have moved dozens of players onto the next level in just a few seasons at the helm.

“It is the reason we are here, to move these players onto the next level," Brown said. "We all love to win, but the bigger picture for us and the Bandits program is to prepare and develop players for the next stage in their hockey careers.”

“I think having a coach like Coach Brown here in St. Louis was invaluable,” said Kalisz. “He has been in the NHL and knows what it takes. He teaches us the game, but more importantly, the little things that may set us apart from others."

Now that he has committed, Kalisz says that the No. 1 focus remains on getting St. Louis back to the Robertson Cup, a place that St. Louis made four straight appearances from 2007-10.

“I think we have the pieces in place and the talent, but it is going to take team unity for us to be successful," Kalisz said. "We have to do the little things that Coach Brown talks about every day - blocking shots, making good passes, being in the right place, get pucks to the net, playing good defensive hockey and most of all, paying the price.”

Photo/NAHL

Jr. K-Wings add defenseman Brooks

2012-01-20T17:41:00.004-05:00

The Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings have announced the addition of defenseman Alex Brooks.

Brooks, a Grandville native, comes to Kalamazoo having three years of NAHL experience under his belt. He has played for the Wichita Falls Wildcats, Janesville Jets (pictured) and most recently, the Aberdeen Wings.

This season with the Wings, Brooks played in 35 games and posted 17 points on three goals and 14 assists. Brooks’ 138 career games of NAHL experience tie Chris Leone and Drew Graves for longest tenured NAHL players on Kalamazoo.

Brooks was also named to the NAHL Top Prospects team last season.

“Alex possesses strong skating skills and shows a lot of poise handling the puck," said Kalamazoo coach Marc Fakler.

Brooks will likely makes his Kalamazoo debut this weekend as the Jr. K-Wings face off against the Michigan Warriors and Traverse City North Stars on Saturday and Sunday, respectively, at the Borgess Health Rink at Wings West.

Photo/NAHL

McKenzie taking charge in Muskegon

2012-01-19T19:36:00.003-05:00

New Muskegon Lumberjacks head coach Jim McKenzie played 15 seasons in the NHL, so a midseason coaching change is not a foreign concept to him.

Rather, the 42-year-old native of Saskatchewan knows that a switch like this is common in a results-oriented business like sports, and he’s ready for the challenge of taking over a team midstream.

“My focus is on getting these guys ready to play,” said McKenzie, who won a Stanley Cup in 2003 with the New Jersey Devils. “I’ve tried not to change too much right away, because a lot of what they were doing was working. They’ve had some success this season and I want to help them build on that.”

The past few days have been eventful for McKenzie, as he was officially named to the position Friday morning and arrived in Muskegon over the weekend. He observed practice Monday before getting into instruction Tuesday.

“The starting point for us has to be defending our own net,” he said. “We start from our end and if everybody supports each other, we will have success from that. It’s about working together and taking care of business in some of the tough areas on the ice.”

McKenzie has not been afraid to lean on a reliable support group in assistant coaches Dave Noel-Bernier and Steve Palmer, as well as newly-appointed senior advisor Ron Mason.

“It’s been great to have [Noel-Bernier and Palmer] to throw ideas around and help me get familiar with the players quickly,” McKenzie said. “And Ron is just awesome. He’s a phenomenal sounding board and can attack an issue from so many different ways. The amount of hockey he knows is incredible.”

McKenzie’s experience at the game’s highest level gives him instant credibility in the Lumberjacks dressing room, especially among players who seek to make a career of the sport they love to play.

“Nothing comes easy in this game,” said the Jacks’ new bench boss. “The guys like Sidney Crosby, Pavel Datsyuk, Zach Parise and Jonathan Toews put in the work year round to get where they are. You have to learn to overcome obstacles if you want to succeed.”

Morganroth the latest Jet to play at OU

2012-01-19T09:00:00.000-05:00

And the upward player movements continue for the Metro Jets.

Forward Branden Morganroth is the latest to make plans for next year as the 20-year-old Highland native will play for the ACHA Division I team at Oakland University starting with the 2012-13 season.

Morganroth was actually supposed to play for the Grizzlies this season, but an academic snafu set him back a year. Even so, he’s overcome that obstacle, is having a solid year in Waterford and is looking forward to playing at OU this fall.

“They committed to me last June, but then in August, I got a letter that said I was not allowed to attend OU because in high school, I took online classes because of traveling for hockey and that those online classes didn't transfer over to OU,” said Morganroth. “I had no idea, so that's why I had to go back and play juniors again and make up those two classes at Oakland Community College.”

Morganroth has four goals and 10 points this season for the Jets, including a current four-game point streak heading into this weekend’s two-game series in Pittsburgh.

Jets coach Jason Cirone said that Morganroth came to camp with the team on a recommendation after he had only heard of Morganroth and had never seen him play.

“Branden has been a delight this season and he’s been through a lot,” said Cirone. “He’s gone from forward to defense and now back to forward, but not once has he complained. I’ve even had to sit him a couple games due to the fact we are so deep up front, but again, no complaints. He never asks why and has always put the team first. Those are the types of players you want to see succeed, not only in hockey, but in life.

“He’s played all five positions for us, and played them all extremely well, and would probably play goal if I asked him to.”

To be able to play at Oakland will be a homecoming of sorts as OU’s assistant coach, Nick Tomczyk, was an assistant coach when Morganroth played Midget hockey for the Oakland Jr. Grizzlies.

“Tomczyk contacted me asking if I would be interested in playing for their school and of course I couldn’t say no,” said Morganroth. “Oakland is the university I have wanted to go to since I was in high schoolI wanted to be able to go to school and play for an elite university close to home because in previous years, I lived out of state in Wyoming and also in Kalamazoo where not many friends or family could ever watch me play.

“Oakland is a first-class program. It’s run flawlessly by the coaches and their staff members and it definitely compares to any NCAA D-I program. As for the team, it’s an awesome squad; they’re very talented and know how to win. They have been a winning team and ranked at the top nationally every year with national titles (2004, 2006 at the D-II level and 2007 at D-I level) to their credit. I couldn’t be more excited to begin my season there next fall and help them to pursue another national title.”

Morganroth said he has narrowed his academic major down to architectural engineering or something in the medical field. OU just enrolled its inaugural class in its new medical school last August.

Looking at the present, Morganroth is aiming to help get the Jets into the NA3HL playoffs for the first time in five years and to improve on his game to get it ready for the college slate.

“Jason and the Jets organization has helped me to focus on my defensive play and helped me to develop more skill to my all around game,” said Morganroth. “I have also learned to never give up until it is over and to go as hard as I can throughout practice and games to become better and better each time I step onto the ice.”

Oakland currently has five former Jets on its D-I roster in defenseman Mike Corder (2009-11) and Jacob DeSano (2007-09) and forwards Art Dore (2007-08), David Merkle (2009-10) and Adam Novack (2007-09). Both Corder and Novack are former Metro captains.

Kalamazoo tenders Jets' d-man Shier

2012-01-18T14:30:00.002-05:00

The Metro Jets announced today that second-year defenseman Will Shier has signed a tender agreement with the Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings of the North American Hockey League for the 2012-13 season.

Shier’s agreement follows Josh Beleski signing with the Jamestown Ironmen earlier this week and is the third Jets’ player to commit to an NAHL team this season after defenseman Adam Reid inked with the New Mexico Mustangs last month.

A tender is a contract of sorts a player signs announcing his intentions to play for that particular NAHL team and that NAHL team only. Once a player signs a tender with an NAHL team, his playing rights belong to that team within the NAHL and he may not be recruited by any other NAHL team. Each team is granted eight tenders - plus or minus any trades - which become active on Nov. 1. Tendered players are not eligible for the NAHL draft.

“The head coach of Kalamazoo, Marc Fakler, approached me after my second game of the NA3HL Showcase in Chicago (in December),” explained Shier, a 19-year-old from Sterling Heights. “He told me he had been watching me closely and he thought my game has improved greatly since the pre-draft camp last summer and that a step up to the NAHL next season would be good for me.”

Fakler then invited Shier to Kalamazoo the following week to show him the rink and the city and to meet the team staff.

“I thought the facility (Wings Stadium) was amazing and the staff was great, so when I was offered the tender, I gladly accepted,” said Shier, the Jets' top-scoring defenseman with 14 points in 30 games. “I have been watching the team and I think their record speaks for itself. Being a first-year team and doing as well as they are shows that Kalamazoo is a top-notch organization with excellent coaching. I definitely want to be a part of that next season.”

Metro coach Jason Cirone said when the Jets acquired Shier last season from the Yellowstone Quake of the Northern Pacific Hockey League, he saw potential for Shier to be a big-time player with the Jets.

“When we got Will, I noticed a few things he needed to work on and to his credit, he’s done everything I’ve asked and has evolved into a dominant defenseman in this league,” said Cirone. “I just tweaked a few things, but Will is the one who went out and did all the work. He gets all the credit for what he’s accomplished. He plays more than 30 minutes a game for us and I see him making a major impact next season with Kalamazoo.”

Earlier this season, Shier earned a call-up to the NAHL’s Port Huron Fighting Falcons and took notice of what goes into being an NAHL-caliber player.

”After playing a few NAHL games, I now know what the league is all about and what is expected of its players,” Shier said. “I have been working hard to improve every aspect of my game and will continue to push myself to get ready for next season. With the help of Coach Cirone, I am confident I can step in and make Kalamazoo's lineup next season.

”It was an easy decision to come back this year and play for the Jets again. I knew this would be the best place for me to work on my game and also be seen by scouts. Jason is constantly helping me fine-tune my game and I credit him with getting my game to where it needed to be to receive this opportunity. The NAHL produces some of the top junior players and through hard work, I believe I can join that group of players.”

Photo/Andy Grossman/Detailed Images

Jets' Beleski signs tender with Jamestown

2012-01-17T23:42:00.000-05:00

The Metro Jets announced today that forward Josh Beleski has signed a tender agreement with the Jamestown Ironmen of the North American Hockey League.

A tender is a contract of sorts a player signs announcing his intentions to play for that particular NAHL team and that NAHL team only. Once a player signs a tender with an NAHL team, his playing rights belong to that team within the NAHL and he may not be recruited by any other NAHL team. Each team is granted eight tenders - plus or minus any trades - which become active on Nov. 1. Tendered players are not eligible for the NAHL draft.

Beleski signed his tender immediately after the Jets’ 8-2 win over the Michigan Mountain Cats on Sunday afternoon at Lakeland Arena.

“Jamestown’s chief scout, Dwayne Smith, who I’ve known a long time, had been in touch with me asking how Josh had been playing,” explained Metro coach Jason Cirone. “I told him he’d been improving and that he was a player I could see playing at the North American Hockey League level next season. Josh picked a heck of a game to score a hat trick on Sunday with Dwayne in the stands and he approached Josh after the game with the tender and he signed it on the spot.”

“Being offered a tender after the game was a little unexpected,” said Beleski, an 18-year-old from Southgate. “I saw Dwayne Smith in the stands watching what turned out for me to be a highlight game. To be honest, there was a lot of information to absorb in a short period of time and it is still sinking in, but making the decision to sign did not take long. It is a great opportunity for me and I was not going to pass it up.”

This season, Beleski is seventh in Jets scoring with 12 goals and 11 assists for 23 points.

Beleski was actually drafted by the Jets in 2010 and made the team, but chose to go back and play his senior year of high school for Southgate Anderson High School. This season, he looked at what the Jets could offer and decided to take the opportunity.

“I thought Josh could have played in this league last year,” said Cirone. “He made the decision to go play high school and we didn’t push him. We respected his decision, but we stayed in touch and showed patience. This year, I think he’s dedicated himself to being a junior hockey player and I don’t expect him back with us next year. He’s worked extremely hard and I’m extremely proud.”

And while a tender doesn’t guarantee Beleski a spot on the Western New York-based Ironmen next season, he’s planning to fine-tune some aspects of his game the rest of this season and into the spring and summer months.

“There are definitely things I need to improve on to become a better, well-rounded hockey player, but if I had to choose one, it would be my game away from the puck,” said Beleski. “Jamestown is definitely a stepping stone and one I look forward to taking. It has been a goal of mine to play college hockey and I know with hard work and determination good things will happen.”

Beleski also said playing this season in Waterford has been rewarding and he credits Cirone for helping to boost his game to the point where the NAHL has taken notice.

”Playing juniors has been a great experience and Jason is a great coach,” beamed Beleski. “With his knowledge and commitment, he has taught me a lot this year. My confidence is the highest it has been in a long time and I feel with hard work that I can achieve greater things.”

Beleski is the second Metro player to sign an NAHL tender after defenseman Adam Reid tendered with the New Mexico Mustangs in late December.

Saad to wear the 'C' for Saginaw

2012-01-17T23:15:00.003-05:00

The Saginaw Spirit announced today that forward Brandon Saad has been named team captain and defenseman Brandon Archibald an assistant captain for the remainder of the 2011-12 season.

This move was necessitated by the Spirit’s recent transactions with Barrie and Ottawa with former captain Ryan O’Connor going to the Colts and one-time assistant John McFarland going to Ottawa.

Saad, a signed prospect of the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks, has recorded 12 goals and has added 18 assists in 19 games so far this season. The Gibsonia, Pa., native also suited up with Team USA at the recently-completed World Junior Hockey Championship, posting 1-5-6 numbers in the tournament for the American squad.

Archibald came to the Spirit in a midseason deal in the 2010-11 season with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds and has a goal and 10 assists on the season. The Port Huron native is a fourth-round pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets from the 2010 NHL Draft.

The two will join fellow assistant captains Josh Shalla and Brad Walch as letter-wearing members of the Spirit for the balance of the season.

“We as a coaching staff feel that having Saad as captain and Archibald as an alternate captain will bring an element of character and strength to our leadership group," said Saginaw coach Greg Gilbert. "Both players are solid individuals both on and off the ice and epitomize how we want our team to play and represent our organization.”

Saad photo/CHL Images

Patrick relieved of duties in Muskegon

2012-01-13T14:47:00.003-05:00

The Muskegon Lumberjacks today announced changes to their hockey operations staff, which includes naming NHL veteran Jim McKenzie (pictured) as the head coach of the team for the remainder of the 2011-12 season.

Kevin Patrick was relieved of his duties this morning.

“It was a difficult decision to make as Kevin helped build our organization when the Lumberjacks first became a part of the USHL,” said Lumberjacks owner/CEO Josh Mervis, who will assume the club’s general manager responsibilities. “The team was not having the results we needed and it was time to move in a new direction.”

The Lumberjacks have also added legendary coach Ron Mason as a senior advisor.

Mason is the all-time winningest coach in NCAA history with 924 career victories he earned at three different schools – Lake Superior State University, Bowling Green State University and a 23-year stint at Michigan State University. At MSU Mason’s teams made 21 appearances in the NCAA tournament and won a national title in 1986.

“We owe it to our fans and players to have the best product possible both on and off the ice, and the addition of Jim and Ron will give us the leadership we need to help the Lumberjacks achieve our ultimate goals,” Mervis said.

Lumberjacks assistant coaches Dave Noel-Bernier and Steve Palmer will remain on the staff. McKenzie will join the team Sunday, while Noel-Bernier will serve as head coach this weekend, as the Lumberjacks (9-14-2, 20 points) host Des Moines and Green Bay tonight and tomorrow at L.C. Walker Arena.

McKenzie played over 900 games at the NHL level over a 15-year career, collecting 100 points (48 G, 52 A) and 1,739 penalty minutes in 880 regular season games. The rugged left winger also appeared in 51 playoff games and was a member of the 2003 Stanley Cup champion New Jersey Devils.

McKenzie was selected by the Hartford Whalers in the fourth round (73rd overall) of the 1989 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut with the Whalers during the 1989-90 season and went on to play for eight other organizations during his NHL career. He retired after spending the 2003-04 season with the Nashville Predators.

Following his playing career, McKenzie has stayed close to the game of hockey, most recently holding a position with the National Hockey League Players Association.

McKenzie photo courtesy Nashville Predators

North Stars add Fredrickson from USHL

2012-01-12T19:07:00.004-05:00

The Traverse City North Stars added a combustible element to the lineup on Wednesday, acquiring forward Lance Fredrickson from the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the United States Hockey League for future considerations.

Fredrickson is set to join the club at practice on Thursday as the Stars prep for a Sunday visit to Kalamazoo.

Fredrickson, a 6-foot-1, 175-pounder, played in 16 games this season for the Lumberjacks, with a goal and 43 penalty minutes. The Spring Lake product had four points and 31 minutes in the box over 16 games last season for Muskegon.

He amassed 19 goals and 26 assists in 76 league games over a three-year midget career with Victory Honda and Compuware.

Fredrickson has already committed to play his college hockey for Miami of the CCHA.

“He brings a ton of fire and toughness to our group of forwards,” Stars GM Anthony Palumbo said. “He’s got good touch, but he also wins battles, and he’s hard to play against. We need to be a team that’s harder to play against. He’s excited to be here and we’re excited to have him. Hopefully, this is another important piece of the puzzle.”

Kalamazoo acquires Raffaele from NOJHL

2012-01-10T22:31:00.004-05:00

The Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings have announced the addition of Brock Raffaele from the Soo Eagles of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League.

Raffaele, a Cadillac native and a draft pick of Kalamazoo in last summer's NAHL Draft, was the leading scorer on the Eagles and eighth in the entire NOJHL. In 31 games, Raffaele registered 61 points (30 goals, 31 assists). He has scored four or more points in four games, while leading the Eagles to a 23-5-3 record.

Raffaele is not completely unfamiliar with the Jr. K-Wings organization, as he is not only a draft pick of Kalamazoo, but also a former linemate of Robbie Payne.

Kalamazoo head coach Marc Fakler is looking forward to Raffaele making his debut this weekend, thinking his addition will help the team immediately.

“He’s a skilled center with good playmaking abilities” Fakler said. “He’s got a great hockey sense.”

Saginaw picks up Webermin from Windsor

2012-01-10T19:31:00.002-05:00

The Saginaw Spirit have announced that the team has acquired 17-year-old defenseman Grant Webermin from Windsor in the team’s final transaction prior to the closing of the OHL’s trade deadline earlier today.

In return, the Spirit send Windsor two draft picks - London’s third-round pick in the 2013 OHL Priority Selection and Ottawa’s fourth-round selection in 2014.

Webermin was the Spitfires' first-round choice in the 2010 OHL draft, taken 20th overall from the Detroit Honeybaked system, and is eligible for the 2012 NHL Draft.

The Novi native appeared in 32 games for the Spitifires this season, posting three goals and three assists. Overall in 87 games, Webermin has three goals and has added ten assists.

Photo/OHL Images

Oleksiak dealt from Saginaw to Niagara

2012-01-09T21:03:00.002-05:00

The Saginaw Spirit have completed a trade with the Niagara IceDogs, sending defenseman Jamie Oleksiak to the Eastern Conference club.

Also included in the package is the Spirit’s sixth-round pick in 2014 (conditional).

In return, the Spirit receive defenseman Frank Schumacher, who returns to his original OHL team, and the rights to 17-year-old goaltender Alex Sakellaropoulos and 17-year-old center Cristoval Nieves.

Both Sakellaropoulos and Nieves are eligible for the 2012 NHL Draft, with Nieves highly-ranked in many mock rankings.

The Spirit also add to the team’s draft grid with this transaction, obtaining Niagara’s third-round pick in the 2012 OHL Priority Selection, along with Oshawa’s third-round selection in 2012, Barrie’s second-round pick in 2013, Windsor’s eighth-round pick in 2013 and another second-round pick, Sarnia’s in 2015.

Schumacher has split his 2011-12 season with both Sudbury and Niagara, recording two assists in 22 games. Sakellaropoulos has appeared in seven games this season for the USHL’s Chicago Steel and is winless in three decisions with a goals-against average of 3.75. Nieves is currently playing at the Kent School in Connecticut and participated for Team USA at the 2011 Ivan Hlinka Tournament this past August.

Oleksiak becomes the fourth member of the Spirit to move on to a team in the Eastern Conference with tomorrow’s OHL trade deadline approaching. The Toronto native will be joining four Canadian teammates from the recently completed World Junior Hockey Championship in fellow bronze medalists Ryan Strome and Mark Visentin and brothers Freddie and Dougie Hamilton.

Hamre named Warriors associate coach

2012-01-07T18:20:00.004-05:00

The Michigan Warriors announced today that John Hamre has been named associate head coach.

Hamre, a Roseville, Minn., native who joined the Warriors staff prior to the start of the season, has previously coached at the NCAA Division I, international and professional levels and worked with Warriors coach-GM Moe Mantha with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program.

Hamre also holds a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota’s College of Education.

“John Hamre has shown complete dedication to the Warriors organization and has worked diligently to help our players develop," said Mantha. "We are proud to have him associated with our organization."

Spirit completes trade with Ottawa

2012-01-06T12:44:00.004-05:00

The Saginaw Spirit announced today they have made a trade with the Ottawa 67’s, sending forward John McFarland to Ottawa for forward David Perklin and Ottawa’s fourth round-pick in the 2014 OHL Priority Selection.

Perklin was the 67’s first-round pick in the 2011 OHL Priority Selection, taken 17th overall. So far this season in 31 games the Mississauga, Ont., native has yet to record a point. Last season with the Toronto Marlboros, Perklin recorded 19 goals and added 26 assists.

McFarland was obtained by the Spirit in a trade with the Sudbury Wolves in December 2010 and in 73 games with Saginaw, the Florida Panthers prospect recorded 39 goals and 30 assists. This season, McFarland had 20 goals and 21 assists in 36 games.

Photo/CHL Images

Four 'Jacks named to prospects game

2012-01-05T23:51:00.003-05:00

The Muskegon Lumberjacks are proud to host the inaugural USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game presented by CCM, and four of their own players will take the ice along with the rest of the league’s best.

Jordan Masters, Mark Yanis, Matt DeBlouw and Adam Chlapik will all represent the Lumberjacks franchise Tuesday, Jan. 24 at 7:15 p.m., as the USHL’s top NHL draft-eligible players will share the L.C. Walker Arena ice sheet in the league’s premier showcase.

“Ultimately we’re about developing high end players and getting them to the NHL, with college as a stepping stone,” Lumberjacks coach-GM Kevin Patrick said. “We’re very excited to have four young men that wear our jersey recognized in this way.”

Fourteen USHL teams will send at least one player to Muskegon, but only the Waterloo Black Hawks, with five representatives, will have more prospects than the Jacks at this influential event. The selection process for the players was completed in cooperation with USHL general managers, NHL scouts and decision makers, and NHL Central Scouting.

“Seeing this many of our players chosen tells me that we as an organization are doing a great job developing players toward their NHL careers,” said Lumberjacks owner/CEO Josh Mervis. The four Lumberjacks chosen to participate were all ranked on NHL Central Scouting’s “Players to Watch List” last fall.

Masters, a native of Rochester, N.Y., is in his second year with the Lumberjacks. A hard-charging winger, the 5-foot-10 Masters had 11 points (four goals) last season and has nearly matched that total this winter already; he has accumulated 10 points in just over a third of the season. He has committed to play for the University of New Hampshire in the competitive Hockey East conference.

Yanis, a 6-foot-3 defenseman from Grosse Pointe Woods, is also one point shy of surpassing last season’s offensive production, but much of his value lies in his physical play. The Penn State recruit has accumulated 200 penalty minutes in 75 USHL games, and he is durable despite his rugged nature; like Masters, Yanis has only missed one contest this season.

Michigan native DeBlouw has quickly risen up draft lists in recent months, largely on the strength of his skating ability. The fleet-footed forward from Chesterfield bounced back from serious injury last year to lead Muskegon in playoff scoring and has emerged as a top-line stalwart for coach Patrick this season, contributing 10 points thus far in 20 games played. He will attend Michigan State University.

Chlapik, a 6-foot forward whom the Lumberjacks plucked from the Tri-City Storm in a November trade, has been highly regarded by NHL scouts since coming over from his native Czech Republic three years ago. Now in his second USHL season, the gifted Chlapik was ranked as the seventh-best prospect in the league by the Red Line Report this summer.

Saginaw adds Locke, Windsor from Colts

2012-01-02T13:38:00.004-05:00

The Saginaw Spirit announced today they have finalized a trade with the Barrie Colts involving four players and three draft picks.

The Spirit have acquired center Eric Locke and goaltender Clint Windsor, both 1993 birth years, in the exchange along with three second-round draft picks. The Colts receive defenseman Ryan O’Connor and left wing Anthony Camara in the transaction.

O’Connor returns to the franchise that originally drafted him sixth overall in the 2008 Priority Selection.

Locke has spent time with both the Colts and the Windsor Spitfires, where he began his OHL career and carries career numbers of 33 goals and 34 assists for 67 points in 86 games. The Toronto native has seven goals and six assists so far this season and has been limited to 21 games due to a knee injury earlier this year. Locke was the eighth top point-producing rookie in the OHL last season.

Windsor has spent his entire OHL career with the Colts and this season the Hamilton, Ont., native has recorded a record of 6-4-1-0 with a goals-against average of 3.79.

O’Connor appeared in 136 games as a member of the Spirit, recording 24 goals and adding 64 assists for 88 points, and was named the successor to Jordan Szwarz as team captain earlier this season. The Hamilton native was obtained by the Spirit along with Michael Sgarbossa in November 2009 in a transaction that saw Barrie acquire defensemen T.J. Brodie and Nick Crawford.

Camara was chosen by the Spirit as the team’s first-round pick in the 2009 OHL Priority Selection and was the Boston Bruins' third-round pick in this past June’s NHL Entry Draft. In 164 games, the Toronto native posted 21 goals and 27 assists and accumulated 304 penalty minutes as a member of the Spirit.

Beleski making an impact in Waterford

2011-12-29T17:51:00.001-05:00

Josh Beleski had a choice to make last season – come play for the Metro Jets or stay in his hometown of Southgate and play his senior year for the Anderson High School team.

He chose high school and Jets coach Jason Cirone was fine with that decision.

“We drafted him and felt he was ready to make the jump to juniors last season,” Cirone said. “He made a personal decision and wanted to go play high school hockey and we respected that. This year, he’s shown he wants to be here and really been a consistent, steady force for us.”

This year, the 18-year-old Beleski is seventh in team scoring with seven goals (three on the power play) and eight assists for 15 points in 22 games.

“Josh is a guy I can count on in every situation and I know he’s going to do his job,” said Cirone. “He’s been doing it defensively by blocking shots on the penalty kill and also playing on the power play. In certain situations, you usually have kids who can only do certain things, but I think Josh does a lot of things very well and that’s why he plays in all situations.”

Cirone said Beleski has all the makings to be on a North American Hockey League roster next season.

“If he keeps working hard, I think North American League teams will start to take notice,” Cirone said. “Josh is dedicated to improving his game and I think he can definitely play at the next level. It all depends on how much he wants it and from how he’s played so far this season, I can see him playing up there next year.”

LOOKING BACK, LOOKING AHEAD

The Jets are on holiday break, but will get back to practice later this week.

In their last game before the break on Dec. 18, the Flint Jr. Generals topped the Jets 7-6 in a shootout at Iceland Arena in Flint.

Metro’s next game action is at home against Flint on Saturday, Jan. 7 and then the following afternoon in Battle Creek.

JET STREAKS

With a slew of healthy forwards and Tim Perks ready to make his season debut after suffering a shoulder injury before the season, moves may be on the horizon for the Jets.

“We’re very forward-heavy and we need to do something,” said Cirone. “We’ll probably be moving some bodies in the next few weeks.”

The NA3HL trade deadline is the first week in February.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

The Kalamazoo Wings signed Dustin Cloutier, a forward who played for the Jets in 2003-04, last week to an ECHL contract.

Cloutier, a 25-year-old Berkley native, joins the K-Wings after starting this season in the Southern Professional Hockey League with the Augusta RiverHawks where he posted 33 points (10 goals, 23 assists) in 20 games.

Before turning pro, Cloutier was a four-year standout at Division I Bentley College (2007-11).

Jets' Reid tenders with NAHL's Mustangs

2011-12-23T16:39:00.001-05:00

Metro Jets defenseman Adam Reid has excelled in his first season in the North American 3 Hockey League and the New Mexico Mustangs of the North American Hockey League have taken notice.

This past week, the Mustangs offered a tender to Reid for the 2012-13 season and the 19-year-old happily accepted.

A tender is a contract of sorts a player signs announcing his intentions to play for that particular NAHL team and that NAHL team only. Once a player signs a tender with an NAHL team, his playing rights belong to that team within the NAHL and he may not be recruited by any other NAHL team. Each team is granted eight tenders - plus or minus any trades - which become active on Nov. 1. Tendered players are not eligible for the NAHL draft.

“The tender opportunity came up at the showcase in Chicago the first week of December,” explained Reid, a Kalamazoo native who lived the past 14 years in Georgetown, Tex. “After our first game against Quad City, (Jets coach Jason) Cirone said that New Mexico was inquiring about me and that they'd be watching me again in our game the next day. After the second game, their scout and assistant coach Nick Shackford approached me with the offer.”

“I’m very proud of Adam,” said Cirone. “We’re in the business of developing and advancing our players and I think this speaks volumes in Adam’s case. He only played four games of midget hockey last year dealing with a concussion, but came in this year and has been one of our most consistent defensemen.”

Reid has also done his homework on the Mustangs, a second-year NAHL franchise coached by Jason Kersner.

“I know the Mustangs are a solid organization with good ownership and management,” said Reid. “I also know they started out a little rough this season, but have been turning it around lately with all their roster changes. They're only a few points out of the playoffs right now and expect to make it. Cirone also knows their coaches pretty well and has respect for them, and I have a lot of trust in his judgment.”

While the tender doesn’t guarantee Reid a spot in Rio Rancho next fall, he’s going to do all he can to add his name to the growing list of Jets’ advancements.

”To prepare to make the team next year, I want to gain a little more weight and become faster and stronger,” Reid said. “I also have several tactical things that Shackford and Cirone have said I need to improve on.

”Cirone and the Jets get a lot of credit for helping me with this opportunity. Having just missed the (NAHL’s) Port Huron (Fighting Falcons) cut last summer, I think I was a little too confident coming into this league, but Cirone brought me back to reality and showed me all of my deficiencies and how to fix them. He has been a tremendous help.”

This season, Reid has four assists and 27 penalty minutes in 24 games for Metro.

The Jets (15-11-0-1) are off until Saturday, Jan. 7 when they host the Flint Jr. Generals at Lakeland Arena.

USA Hockey names World Junior team

2011-12-22T14:32:00.002-05:00

USA Hockey today announced the 22 members of the U.S. National Junior Team that will compete at the 2012 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship Dec. 26, 2011-Jan. 5, 2012, in Edmonton and Calgary, Alta.

Among those on the U.S. roster are seven returning players from the bronze medal-winning 2011 U.S. National Junior Team, including goaltender Jack Campbell (Port Huron, Mich./Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds); defensemen Derek Forbort (Duluth, Minn./Univ. of North Dakota) and Jon Merrill (Brighton, Mich./Univ. of Michigan); and forwards Nick Bjugstad (Blaine, Minn./Univ. of Minnesota), Charlie Coyle (East Weymouth, Mass./Boston Univ.), Emerson Etem (Long Beach, Calif./Medicine Hat Tigers) and Jason Zucker (Las Vegas, Nev./Univ. of Denver).

Both Campbell (pictured) and Zucker were also members of the gold medal-winning 2010 U.S. National Junior Team.

"Every year this decision seems to get harder," said Jim Johannson, general manager of the 2012 U.S. National Junior Team and also the assistant executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey. "The number of talented players from which we get to form a team says a lot about hockey's growth in the United States as a whole."

"Having been behind the bench when we won the gold medal two years ago, I can't wait to get started again," said Dean Blais, head coach of the U.S. National Junior Team. "This is an incredible group of players whose speed and tenacity should help us succeed in Edmonton and Calgary."

The U.S. will look to earn its third straight medal after capturing the bronze medal at the 2011 IIHF World Junior Championship in Buffalo, N.Y., and the gold medal at the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championship in Saskatoon, Sask.

NOTES: The U.S. National Junior Team is currently in the midst of a pre-tournament camp taking place in Alberta, Canada. Team USA has already taken part in two pre-tournament games, and will play its final pre-tournament contest tomorrow (Dec. 23) against Slovakia in Three Hills, Alta. ... The U.S. roster includes 15 first- or second-round NHL Entry Draft picks, including eight first-rounders ... NHL Network U.S. will televise all Team USA games in the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship and 15 games total in the event. For the complete broadcast schedule, click here... Dean Blais, head men's ice hockey coach at the University of Nebraska Omaha, is serving as head coach of the 2012 U.S. National Junior Team. He is assisted by Scott Sandelin, head men's ice hockey coach at the University of Minnesota Duluth; Tom Ward, head ice hockey coach of the Shattuck-St. Mary's School's boys' prep team; and Joe Exter, assistant men's ice hockey coach at Ohio State University ... Jim Johannson, USA Hockey's assistant executive director of hockey operations, is serving as the general manager of Team USA for the third consecutive year. Tim Taylor (Guilford, Conn.), former U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team head coach and longtime Yale University men's ice hockey team head coach, is also serving his third straight year as Team USA's director of player personnel ... The U.S. National Junior Team blog will include daily updates with game recaps, photos and multimedia content. The blog can be found here... Use the hashtag #USAWJC to join the conversation on Twitter.

Baker loving time with hometown Jets

2011-12-21T23:55:00.003-05:00

John Baker is experiencing a homecoming of sorts this season with the Metro Jets.

As a Waterford native, Baker has come home for his last season of junior hockey and said the opportunity to play for the team he followed growing up was a chance he couldn’t turn down.

Last season, Baker played out west for the Yellowstone Quake of the Northern Pacific Hockey League and then started this season with the Leamington Flyers of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League before coming to the Jets, the team that selected him in June’s NA3HL draft.

“I feel lucky to be able to play for the Jets,” said the 20-year-old defenseman. “Junior hockey is a great experience and what better place to play than in your hometown. I think the team has really turned its name around since (Jason) Cirone has been coaching. I remember seeing the Jets grow up winning nationals (in 2002) and see them go through some ups and downs. I'm glad I'm playing here and I feel like this year is the year to restore the team and have a nice winning season and make a big playoff run.

“There's no doubt in my mind that our team can't compete with every team in our league. I feel like we have played well, but nobody has seen us play our best yet. I feel like the second half is going to be really exciting to see how talented the team can be and how dangerous we can be if we’re all going.”

On and off the ice, Baker said it’s been fun to re-connect with players he played with or against in high school and has been “the time of my life.”

“Our team chemistry is different than any other team I've ever been on,” Baker said. “I think it helps us a lot playing with local guys. I've played with a majority of the team growing up and honestly our team chemistry is unreal. Playing with guys like (Chris) Hellebuyck, who I played high school hockey with, I feel like we just connect. Playing a year of juniors last season with (Will) Shier, (Branden) Morganroth and (Mike) MacKinnon (with Yellowstone) has made us more than just teammates. We’re all pretty much best friends on the team and there's nobody we don't not get along with. We can all have fun and joke around.”

As for his role with Metro, Baker plays the vast majority back on the blue line, but can play forward if need be.

“I try my best to do whatever I can to keep us in a game and battle in the corners and get under the other team’s skin,” explained Baker. “I think as a defenseman, I am our most offensive defenseman of the group and can contribute, but it’s all coach’s call if he wants me to play a few shifts on forward and bring some energy with a couple big hits; I like to do that, too.”

Baker isn’t sure if this will be his last season of competitive hockey, but if it is, he’ll have no hard feelings and will also have his hockey apparel company to fall back on.

When looking ahead, Baker is as realistic as he can be.

“If I can play more hockey next year, I will for sure be playing, but if not, then I'm just planning on working,” Baker said. “I’m hoping the rest of the season goes well and I keep progressing. I still think we can play better and I think I can still improve even though it’s my last year. I'm not going to have any regrets at the end of this year and with the amount of 91s and 92s, I know we can make it far this season with the talent and heart our team has.”

LOOKING BACK, LOOKING AHEAD

The Jets suffered a regulation loss and a shootout loss over the weekend.

Metro took a 2-1 lead into the third period Friday night, but the Toledo Cherokee scored twice in the final period to come away with a 3-2 win at the Team Toledo Ice House.

Doug Andrews and Zach Mohr scored in the second period for Metro, who saw its three-game winning streak come to an end.

“We should have won this game,” said Cirone. “I think for two periods, we outplayed them, but then we fell asleep. You can’t win a game in this league, or hold onto a lead when you take just two shots in the first 18 minutes. It was a great win for Toledo; they took a lot of shots and worked hard and we paid for it.”

In net, Devin Williams finished with 32 saves.

Sunday afternoon in Flint, the Jets jumped out to a 2-0 lead, only to see the Jr. Generals score the next six.

No matter, the Jets scored the next four to tie the game at 6-all.

After the five-minute overtime didn't solve anything, the game went to a shootout where Flint escaped with a 7-6 win at Iceland Arena.

"Flintis a good hockey team and I believe we're a good hockey team," said Cirone. "We usually have a cleaner game against them, but sooner or later, you have defensive breakdowns and both teams have a lot of guys that can score goals. That's what (Sunday) was - a lot of breakdowns and a lot of goals."

MacKinnon and Josh Beleski staked the Jets to a 2-0 lead in the first period, but Cody Damon answered with two of his own to send the game into the first intermission tied at 2-2.

In the second, Hayden Hanson, Anthony Terzo, Luke Dmytro and James Odom made it 6-2 Flint.

Metro starting goalie Dillon Kelley was pulled after Terzo's goal for Williams, but went back in after Dmytro's goal.

Cameron Bazin made it 6-3 at 19:34and then as time expired, Hellebuyck scored to bring the Jets to within a pair.

"I thought overall that Cam was our catalyst and he's the one that really got it started by scoring the goal and drawing a penalty at the same time," said Cirone. "With him making that play happen and then with our power play stepping up at the end of the period, I thought our kids did a great job responding."

Beleski and Matt Stirling scored the only goals in the third period, making it a 6-6 game.

Flint came close to winning the game late in the third and in the overtime as co-captain Warren Carter hit the crossbar twice behind Kelley.

In the shootout, Flint goalie Ben Myers stopped Steve Klisz, Andrews and MacKinnon. Hellebuyck was the only player to score.

Jr. Generals co-captain Andrew Lay, Richard Jansson and Carter solved Kelley, whose only save came on Eddie Osowski's attempt.

Kelley finished with 34 saves, while Williams had three.

Myers earned the win with a 26-save outing.

The Jets (15-11-0-1) now break for the holidays and return to action on Jan. 7 at Lakeland Arena against Flint. Metro finishes the first half of the season with as many wins as it had all of last season and in third place in the NA3HL's East Division, 10 points behind second-place Flint.

"I'm actually welcoming the break," said Cirone. "We have a lot of first-year juniors that are finding out that junior hockey is a grind and I think this is going to be refreshing to them. I think it'll give them time to reflect and get a little bit of rest and get ready for the second half."

JET STREAKS

Forward Matt Stemkoski saw time on defense against Flint and fared well.

“Stemmer is a very versatile player for us,” said Cirone. “He played defense the first period, then forward the second and back on D in the third. There were no complaints from him and that shows the type of leader he is. He just wants to do what it takes to help this team win.”

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Goaltender Colin Greeley was in net for four of the Jets’ seven wins in 2008-09 and for the past two seasons, the 19-year-old Howell native has played for Leamington.

Greeley was drafted by the Ontario Hockey League’s Saginaw Spirit in 2008.

Thus far this season for the Flyers, Greeley is 10-5-1-0 with a 2.74 goals-against average and a .903 save percentage.

Lubanski commits to play for Holy Cross

2011-12-17T14:30:00.004-05:00

The Kenai River Brown Bears are pleased to announce that forward and captain Brett Lubanski has announced his commitment to Holy Cross, where he will continue his hockey career playing for the Crusaders.

Holy Cross is a member of the NCAA Division I Atlantic Hockey Association.

Lubanski (5-foot-11/185 lbs.) is in his third year in the NAHL, all with the Brown Bears. He currently leads the Brown Bears in scoring with 32 points in 26 games and also is currently tied for fifth this season in the NAHL with 23 assists.

Last season, Lubanski tied for 3rd in the NAHL with 48 assists.

A native of Farmington Hills, Lubanski said he is thrilled with the commitment to Holy Cross.

“It is a dream come true for me personally," Lubanski said. "My goal when I came to the NAHL was to obtain a Division I scholarship, so I am very happy I was able to accomplish that. I also think that the Brown Bears organization has really become one of the better ones in the league and I am proud to have had a hand in that.”

Lubanski, 20, played in the 2011 NAHL Top Prospects Tournament in Ann Arbor this past February and like so many players who play in the event, Lubanski said he felt like interest from colleges really started to pick up then.

“It was a great and fun event for me and all the guys and I knew the interest was there from several Division I schools,” said Lubanski. “However, after the Showcase in September is when Holy Cross really came to the forefront of schools I wanted to attend."

Lubanski is on track to eclipse his 63-point season last year, thanks in large part to playing on a Kenai River team that he considers a true Robertson Cup contender.

“I think we are a team of competitors this year and there isn’t a lot of quit in that locker room," Lubanski said. "We are going to show up every night and give a 100 percent effort and leave it all on this ice. As a captain, it gives you 100 percent confidence in your teammates and makes you feel good that going into the playoffs that we have a very good chance to represent our division at the Robertson Cup.”

Kenai River head coach Oliver David said he takes pride with a player like Lubanski committing to an NCAA Division I school.

“He has always been a player that has done things the right way and he comes to the rink every day and competes,” said David. “He plays with a lot of confidence and he has been a great leader for this team during his three seasons. During my three years here, he is who I built the team around, he is the cornerstone of what we are all about, and he has been one of the biggest reasons that this program has improved each season, so it gives all of us a great sense of pride to see him be able to take the next step in his life and hockey career.”

Lubanski said he hopes what he learned playing in the NAHL will help him be an impact player right away at Holy Cross.

“The NAHL is a league of maturity," said Lubanski. "The more experience you gain in the league, the better off you are going to be at the next level. I think players going onto the NCAA from the NAHL are prepared better because they have learned how to live away from home and understand what it’s like playing hockey every day during a season that lasts 8-9 months.

"I think Holy Cross has a great coaching staff and a very prestigious academic and athletic tradition, so it was a very easy and gratifying choice to make.”

Photo/NAHL

Toman makes Slovakian WJC team

2011-12-16T23:43:00.000-05:00

Michal Toman isn’t going home for the holidays – he’s going to Alberta.

The Traverse City North Stars forward was selected to represent his native Slovakia at the World Junior Championships pre-tournament camp, which opens today near Calgary.

Thirty-five players were invited to the camp by the Slovakian Ice Hockey Association, which will gear up a WJC tune-up against Finland on Dec. 21.

“Obviously, it’s a tremendous honor,” said Toman, who leads the North Stars with 10 assists through 20 contests. “To be asked to be a part of your country’s national team is something that means a lot to all the players.”

After a second friendly against the U.S. national team is slated for Dec. 23, with the tourney kicking off on Dec. 26 and wrapping up on Jan. 5. The Slovaks’ camp roster includes six returning players from a team that placed eighth at the 2011 World Junior Championships in Buffalo, N.Y., and six players who have already been drafted by an NHL team.

“I know a lot of the guys – three of them I worked out with all summer,” Toman added. “It’s a very skilled group of players with the talent to compete with the top teams in the world. It should be an exciting tournament.”

Traverse City head coach Chad Fournier will be missing one of his top playmakers while Toman is on international hiatus, but recognizes the rarified air of the WJC.

“It’s a tremendous opportunity for Michal,” Fournier said. “These are the best junior players in the world, there will be a ton of scouts, and guys are playing for national pride. It’s the best of the best against the best of the best, and what a great experience for him.”

The Slovaks drew a Group A assignment, and will face Latvia, Russia, Sweden, and Switzerland in pool play. Group B is comprised of Team USA, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, and Finland. Russia is the defending champion.

Whalers sign Compuware d-man Jones

2011-12-15T18:27:00.005-05:00

The Plymouth Whalers have a long history of signing players from within the Compuware youth hockey program.

Today, the Whalers added another player to the list as Plymouth coach-GM Mike Vellucci announced the signing of 16-year-old defenseman Mitch Jones.

Jones, who was playing this season for the Compuware Under-18 team in the High Performance Hockey League,wa s originally selected by the Whalers in the 11th round (213th overall) of the 2011 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection.

Jones played last season for the Detroit Honeybaked U-16s, where he scored two goals for five assists for seven points in 33 games. He played from 2007-09 with Belle Tire, scoring 24 goals with 11 assists for 35 points in 59 games.

Jones and his parents, Brad and Mary, attended the Whalers rookie orientation last spring.

Mitch's father, Brad, played hockey at the University of Michigan from 1983-87 and was selected in the eighth round (156th overall) in the 1984 National Hockey League Entry Draft by the Winnipeg Jets. He also played in the NHL with Los Angeles and Philadelphia.

Jones will wear No. 6 and is expected to make his Plymouth debut this weekend when the Whalers play in Oshawa on Friday and in Belleville on Saturday.

Plymouth's next home game is Weds. Dec. 28 at 2 p.m. against the top-rated London Knights in the annual Kid's Day game.

TOM WILSON SELECTED FOR 2012 HOME HARDWARE CHL/NHL TOP PROSPECTS GAME: Plymouth right wing Tom Wilson has been selected to play in the 2012 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game, which will be held Feb. 1, 2012 in Kelowna, B.C.

“The Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game showcases 40 of the league’s top prospects eligible for the 2012 NHL Entry Draft,” said CHL president David Branch. “Congratulations to all 40 players selected for this event representing the next wave of talent to the NHL, with the opportunity to showcase their skills before hundreds of NHL scouts in attendance and for fans in Kelowna and CHL fans watching live across Canada on Sportsnet and TVA Sports.”

Photo from left - Vellucci, Jones and assistant GM Brian Sommariva. Photo/Mary Jones.

Wedgewood, Oleksiak to play for Canada

2011-12-14T14:51:00.002-05:00

Plymouth Whalers goalie Scott Wedgewood and Saginaw Spirit defenseman Jamie Oleksiak have made Team Canada for the upcoming World Junior Hockey Championship in Edmonton and Calgary that starts Dec. 26.

FULL RELEASE FROM HOCKEY CANADA:

CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), announced Thursday the 22 players that will make up Canada’s National Junior Team at the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship.

The announcement comes at the conclusion of Canada’s National Junior Team Sport Chek Selection Camp, which ran from Dec. 10-14, 2011 at the WinSport Canada Athletic & Ice Complex in Calgary. A total of 43 players attended camp.

Four members of this year’s roster – Brett Connolly (Prince George, B.C./Tampa Bay, NHL), Quinton Howden (Oak Bank, Man./Moose Jaw, WHL), Jaden Schwartz (Wilcox, Sask./Colorado College, CCHA) and Mark Visentin (Waterdown, Ont./Niagara, OHL) - helped Canada earn the silver medal at the 2011 IIHF World Junior Championship in Buffalo, N.Y.

“On behalf of Hockey Canada, I want to congratulate the players named to the final roster today, along with their club teams, parents and minor hockey coaches that have helped them reach this level,” said Brad Pascall, Hockey Canada’s vice-president of hockey operations/national teams. “Canada is lucky to have many great young players, and these players should be very proud of their achievement today.”

Canada’s National Junior Team will practice once in Calgary, at the WinSport Canada Athletic & Ice Complex in Calgary, on Dec. 15 at 11 a.m. before moving to Banff, where it will be based through Dec. 22.

Canada will play three pre-competition games in Alberta prior to the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship, Dec. 26, 2011 to Jan. 5, 2012 in Calgary and Edmonton.

Canada will play its first game of the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship on Boxing Day, Dec. 26 against Finland, a game that will be broadcast LIVE by TSN/RDS and on The FAN Radio Network (check local listings). While the event is officially sold out, tickets are available through a ticket exchange program at www.HockeyCanada.ca/2012juniors.

Canada has medalled at thirteen consecutive IIHF World Junior Championships, including gold medal performances in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009, silver medals in 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2010 and 2011 and bronze medals in 2000 and 2001.

CANADA ROSTER

Watson out, Gilbert new Saginaw coach

2011-12-10T23:10:00.004-05:00

The Saginaw Spirit announced today that head coach and GM Todd Watson has been relieved of his duties.

The Spirit are also announcing the appointment of Greg Gilbert as the team’s sixth coach in franchise history.

Gilbert was at the helm during two of the best seasons in the history of the Mississauga/Niagara IceDogs franchise, leading them to an appearance in the OHL final in the 2003-04 season where they were defeated by the Guelph Storm, and the following season when the IceDogs won the OHL’s Central Division title and finished first overall in the Eastern Conference in the regular season.

Gilbert has also served as an assistant and head coach of the Calgary Flames for parts of four seasons and has also worked as the head coach of three teams in the American Hockey League.

Spirit assistant GM and head scout Jim Paliafito has been elevated to the team’s GM position.

Watson (pictured) assumed the Spirit’s coaching duties prior to the 2007-08 season and compiled a regular season record of 154-115-20-13. In the playoffs, the Spirit’s record under Watson was 12-18.

“We recognize the many on-ice accomplishments that Todd has achieved while here in Saginaw as head coach and as GM," said Saginaw president Craig Goslin. "Todd has left our on-ice program better than he found it. We wish him all the best in his career."

On the ice, Gilbert suited up for three seasons with the OHA/OHL’s Toronto Marlboros before embarking on a 15-year NHL career where he was on the roster for three Stanley Cup champion teams, twice with the New York Islanders during their run of four straight Cup victories in the early 1980’s and the 1994 edition of the New York Rangers.

Gilbert appeared in 837 career games in the NHL recording 150 goals and 228 assists.

“After playing 15 seasons in the NHL and possessing a strong coaching resume that includes three seasons as a head coach in the NHL, seven seasons as a head coach in the AHL and three seasons as a coach in the OHL, we feel that Greg Gilbert will offer a strong developmental environment for our players and push our franchise to the next level," commented Goslin. "Once our fans get to know him, they will realize that Saginaw has hired one of the best coaches in the 60-team CHL. I am excited for our players and I am excited for our fans."

Gilbert is appreciative of his new coaching assignment.

“I am very honored and thankful for this opportunity that Dick Garber and Craig Goslin have given me," said Gilbert. "I am looking forward to getting to Saginaw and getting the club going in the right direction.”

Reid getting noticed in Waterford

2011-12-10T00:27:00.002-05:00

When Adam Reid is on his game, he gets noticed for one of two reasons.

Either the Metro Jets defenseman from Georgetown, Tex., is physical against the opposing team or he plays a steady game that he doesn’t get noticed at all.

In other words, when Reid is on his game, he can be as good as any blueliner in the North American 3 Hockey League.

“Adam is starting to realize that when he’s physical, that’s when he’s at his best,” Jets head coach Jason Cirone said. “I think he played his best stretch of games this week (at the NA3HL Showcase Tournament in Darien, Ill.). He only played four games last year dealing with a concussion, so for him to get up to speed at this level is a slow progress, but he’s progressing and improving everyday.”

Reid skated for the Russell Stover Midget Major AAA team last season in Kansas City only to see his season derailed early on. Now getting another opportunity has made Reid grateful for the time he has spent so far with the Jets.

“Before this season, I didn't really know much about the NA3HL other than its existence and affiliation with the NAHL,” said Reid. “Looking back, I suppose it was a shot in the dark joining this league because I really didn't know what I was getting into. I just wanted to play hockey. But now, in retrospect, I am really happy I joined.”

This past summer, the 19-year-old Reid went to the Port Huron Fighting Falcons’ tryout camp at Hazel Park Ice Arena and while he thought he impressed enough to earn a spot with the NAHL team, it wasn’t meant to be.

“Since I was sidelined for essentially the entirety of last season, I didn't have exposure and was trying to make the most of some NAHL opportunities,” Reid said. “After the camp, (Port Huron coach) Bill Warren called me and said I didn't make their roster, but he had some positive feedback and mentioned Jason's name. A couple days later, I got a call from Jason asking me to play for him.”

“What I liked most about Adam at the Port Huron camp was that he wasn’t the biggest or the toughest on the ice, but he didn’t back down from anything,” added Cirone. “When Bill called and asked if I had room for him, I jumped at the chance.”

In Texas, where Reid lived from 1997-2010 after his father took a job with Dell Computers, he played for the Austin Roadrunners, a AA program.

“We would mostly travel to places like Dallas, Houston and Oklahoma City,” explained Reid. “My early hockey influences were guys like Nicklas Lidstrom and Steve Yzerman. I remember watching them win the back-to-back Stanley Cups when I was just five or six.”

One of two Texas natives on the Metro roster this season (forward Tim Wlodkowski is the other), Reid said this season’s homecoming of sorts is “a very comfortable environment.”

”I didn’t know Timmy prior to this season,” said Reid. “He's from Katy, a suburb of the Houston area, which I am familiar with, but I was living north of Austin at the time. It does help having a fellow Texan on the team, but most of my extended family is up here.”

Aside from Texas, Reid and his family also lived in Singapore from 2005-08. No worries, though, Reid found a local rink. Lucky for him, he also had his skates with him.

“I played hockey there in a beer league with other expatriates,” said Reid.

In 20 games so far this year, Reid has two assists, but is hoping his stay-at-home game will get him noticed by NAHL teams.

“I think my strengths on the ice are my size and skating ability,” said Reid. “I am very confident in my skating, but I have learned that my mind is by far my biggest asset if I use it correctly. My biggest short-term goal is to dress in a game in the NAHL this season should the opportunity present itself. I also want to be someone that my teammates can trust both on and off the ice. My long-term goal is to just see what my limits are. I would love to play college hockey in some form, but ultimately, I want to see how far I can take this.

“If it isn't in the cards for me, then I want to be able to look back and know I did everything I could.”

LOOKING BACK, LOOKING AHEAD

The Jets played four games in as many days this week at the showcase in the Chicago suburbs, going 2-2 along the way.

Metro lost to the Quad City Jr. Flames, 8-4, on Sunday, topped the Peoria Mustangs, 2-1, on Monday, was edged by the Minnesota Flying Aces, 4-3, on Tuesday and then defeated the North Iowa Bulls, 4-3, in a shootout on Wednesday.

Chris Hellebuyck scored twice for the Jets, while captain Tommy Kilgore had a goal and an assist against Quad City. Steve Klisz notched the other goal for Metro.

“I think we had more chances than Quad City, but we couldn’t finish and they scored on their chances,” said Cirone. “We had 38 shots on goal, so offense isn’t our problem, never has been at all this season. I thought our defense maybe could have made better decisions with the puck and our goaltending could have been better.”

Dillon Kelley made 31 saves in goal for the Jets.

Zach Mohr scored both goals, including the game-winner with just over five minutes remaining in the third period, to pace the Metro attack against Peoria. Devin Williams picked up the win in goal making 24 saves.

“That was a good bounce-back win for us,” said Cirone. “I thought Devin played really well, too.”

Even in defeat against the Flying Aces, Cirone found a way to put a positive spin on the contest.

“I thought this game was the best of the four,” Cirone said. “Like in the Quad City game, we out-chanced them and outworked them, but we couldn’t finish. I think we had two breakaways and hit two posts. With a little luck and if our guys started to bear down a little bit, I think we win that game.”

John Baker, Mike MacKinnon and Matt Stemkoski tallied for the Jets. Williams posted another 24-win outing in goal.

Wrapping up the event, Hellebuyck scored three goals, including the deciding goal in Metro’s first shootout of the season.

Travis Hargett recorded the Jets’ other goal and Kelley finished with 33 saves. Kelley also stopped three of the four Bulls’ shooters in the shootout.

“Dillon Kelley won that game for us,” said Cirone. “We weren’t prepared at all and maybe that was with the fact we were playing our fourth game. We weren’t mentally ready and that carried over into the warmup.”

With five goals during the week, Hellebuyck now has a team-best 16 on the season.

“I don’t want to say that Chris stepped up because he’s played that way all season and is a guy I’ve come to rely on all season long,” said Cirone. “I think you can also put Doug Andrews in that category with the way he’s been. I don’t think these guys stepped up this week, but they for sure didn’t step down.”

The showcase gave Cirone a chance to meet with scouts and to renew acquaintances with people from the hockey world.

“We saw a lot of different faces this week,” Cirone said. “We also got to play teams we don’t play during the season. We get tired of playing Flint and Cleveland as much as we do, so seeing new teams was a plus for us this week.”

The Jets (13-10-0-0) host the Queen City Steam at Lakeland Arena this weekend. Game time is 7:40 p.m. Saturday night and 11:50 a.m. on Sunday.

“Queen City always plays hard,” said Cirone. “We’ll need to be ready.”

JET STREAKS

Connor Hellebuyck, younger brother of Chris Hellebuyck and one of the Jets’ tenders last offseason, is playing for the NAHL’s Odessa Jackalopes this season and recently committed to the University of Massachusetts-Lowell for next year.

Hellebuyck, 18, has distinguished himself as one of the NAHL’s best players this season, as he currently leads all NAHL goaltenders in save percentage (.939), ranks eleventh in goals-against average (2.29) and ranks third in saves (728), fourth in minutes played (1232:33) and is 8-9-4 in 21 starts.

“It’s a dream come true,” said Hellebuyck. “Just to sit and think of what’s being offered to you, the situation I’m in [with UMass-Lowell] is phenomenal.”

The Jets will have their other first-round pick from the 2011 NA3HL draft in the lineup this weekend as defenseman Trevor Hillman was signed Thursday.

Hillman, a 17-year-old from Beverly Hills, was taken third overall in June out of the Detroit Falcons 16U team, just one pick before forward Justin Shureb.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Jon Elliott, the second-leading scorer with the Jets during the 2009-10 season, is playing his second season with the Cumberland Grads of the Central Canada Hockey League.

The 20-year-old Elliott, an alternate captain with Cumberland, is fourth in team scoring with eight goals and 22 points in 35 games.

Elliott, a Birmingham native who played his high school hockey at Brother Rice, recorded 15 goals and 26 points while playing in all 48 games back in ’09-10.

Muskegon adds Panthers pick Bengtsson

2011-12-09T21:55:00.002-05:00

Add another NHL draft pick to the Muskegon Lumberjacks’ blueline.

The Lumberjacks are pleased to announce defenseman Rasmus Bengtsson has been loaned to them by the Rogle BK hockey club in Sweden. The Florida Panthers selected the 6-foot-2, 196-pound prospect in the second round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

Bengtsson, the 59th overall selection from this past June, joins fellow left-shooting defenseman Nick Seeler, who went in the fifth round to his hometown Minnesota Wild, on the Muskegon blueline.

“We are very excited to add a player of Rasmus’ caliber,” said Lumberjacks head coach-GM Kevin Patrick. “Rogle BK’s reputation for developing elite players is well-earned and we appreciate their cooperation in giving him this opportunity.”

Rogle BK is part of the HockeyAllsvenskan, one of the top Swedish leagues, where the 18-year-old Bengtsson played 18 games this season and 45 last winter, accumulating 12 points while competing against much more mature players.

“Rasmus is a great talent, and in consensus with our coaches, we welcome this move,” said Rogle BK CEO Peter Hedlund. “It’s about finding an individual development plan for each player and in the USHL he will play many games against America’s best juniors.”

In addition to being held in high regard by the Panthers and Rogle BK, Bengtsson participated in this August’s World Junior Championship evaluation camp in Lake Placid, N.Y., as part of Team Sweden.

“Rasmus will have a chance to further develop his talents here in Muskegon and he will certainly bolster our blueline, especially on the offensive end,” Patrick said.

The website Eliteprospects.com calls Bengtsson “very solid on the blueline and with the potential to become a good power-play quarterback. [He] passes the puck well and has good on-ice vision.”

The native of Landskrona, Sweden, has skated for his home nation in international junior competitions in each of the last three seasons. Bengtsson is slated to join the Lumberjacks in the near future.

In other personnel news, two forwards left the Canadian junior ranks for the shore of Lake Michigan this week as Dean Pawlaczyk and Rudy Sulmonte have joined the Jacks. Pawlaczyk, from Madison Heights, most recently skated with the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit, while Sulmonte left the QMJHL’s Moncton Wildcats to take on the USHL.

Commerce native chooses UMass-Lowell

2011-12-07T16:43:00.006-05:00

Courtesy NAHL

Already one of the North American Hockey League’s finest goaltenders, Odessa Jackalopes backstop Connor Hellebuyck added to his impressive resume on Monday as the team announced that the Commerce native has committed to play Division I college hockey at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell beginning in the 2012-13 season.

UMass-Lowell competes in the 10-team Hockey East conference, featuring several of college hockey’s top programs, including 2008 and 2010 national champion Boston College, 2009 national champion Boston University, Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont among others.

Hellebuyck, 18, has distinguished himself as one of the league’s best players this season, as he currently leads all NAHL netminders in save percentage (.939), ranks eleventh in goals-against average (2.29) and ranks third in saves (728), fourth in minutes played (1232:33) and is 8-9-4 in 21 starts.

“It’s a dream come true,” said Hellebuyck Monday of the realization that he will have the chance to play college hockey at its highest level. “Just to sit and think of what’s being offered to you, the situation I’m in [with UMass-Lowell] is phenomenal.”

Hellebuyck says his decision to commit to Lowell was made easy once he talked to team officials.

“Their facilities and training staff are great and once I talked to the coaching staff there, I knew it was a great fit,” said Hellebuyck. “The big deal is, will I see playing time, and they [UMass-Lowell] made it very clear to me that I will have a great opportunity to earn playing time right away.”

Hellebuyck also pointed to his current team as a major factor in his making this commitment.

“The Jackalopes are a great team and a great organization,” said Hellebuyck. “The professional way they handle things and everything they’ve done to help me improve has led to me getting this opportunity.”

For the Jackalopes, Hellebuyck’s commitment marks an important milestone in the team’s transition from professional to junior hockey.

“We know we had the staff and the wherewithal to expose hockey players to college and pro scouts,” said Jackalopes GM Joe Clark. “We are proud of what Bucky has done with his opportunity here. We told him from the beginning that it’s a two-fold deal - if he plays well and produces, we’ll make sure people find out about him.”

Hellebuyck’s on-ice contributions have led not only to personal opportunities, but also opened doors for his team on the ice this year according to Jackalopes head coach Paul Gillis.

“I think he’s done a great job and he’s been our best player this season,” said Gillis. “He works extremely hard and I think it’s great news.”

Hellebuyck’s decision to commit to the River Hawks could bode well for the Jackalopes for the remainder of the 2011-12 season.

“It helps greatly,” said Hellebuyck. “Now I can focus completely on my game and have the confidence boost of knowing that if I can play at the next level, then I should be able to play really well here [in the NAHL].”

Photo/NAHL

Wlodkowski improving quietly for Jets

2011-12-02T10:23:00.003-05:00

Tim Wlodkowski may not show up on the score sheet on a game-by-game basis, but the little things he does far exceed goals and assists.

Wlodkowski does have a goal and three assists in 17 games thus far, but aside from that, statistics aren’t kept for the intangibles he brings to the table for the Metro Jets.

“He’s probably our most under-appreciated player,” said Jets head coach Jason Cirone. “He works hard and he does all the little things that help a team win. I don’t think he gets enough recognition for what he does, but I notice him and so does the rest of the team.”

Before his father’s job took the family down to Katy, Tex., Wlodkowski grew up in Michigan. His family still in the Lone Star State, he now lives in Riverview with his grandparents.

“I think it’s been a good season so far,” said the 6-foot-2, 215-pound Wlodkowski. “I think I keep improving each week and working harder. Before this season, I didn’t know a whole lot about the North American 3 Hockey League. I just knew that Jason was the coach of the Jets and that he was interested in having me play for him. It’s nice living with my grandparents, too, because I don’t really get to see them a lot, but now that I live there, I get to spend time with them.”

Wlodkowski, now 19, played high school hockey in Texas and initially got into hockey in Michigan watching his father play.

“My dad was my big influence growing up and his dedication to make me a better hockey player influenced me a lot,” said Wlodkowski.

Defenseman Adam Reid is also a Texas native with the Jets, a Georgetown native who grew up in Kalamazoo.

When told of Cirone’s “under-appreciated” comment, Wlodkowski felt a sense of humility.

“I feel as though that I keep improving each week and I just leave it all on the ice every game without complaining about anything because that’s just not the player I am,” he said. “And the shifts I do get, I make sure I give it all I got.”

In the model of hard work paying off, Wlodkowski said his short-term goal this season is to “get some time in the NAHL and be up there for good next season.”

After that, Wlodkowski is eyeing college hockey.

LOOKING BACK, LOOKING AHEAD

After sitting idle two weekends ago, the Jets lost to the Flint Jr. Generals, 5-2, on Thanksgiving Eve at Flint Iceland Arena.

Cirone wasn't the least bit upset after the game, though, instead praising his team for playing "a heck of a game against a heck of a team."

"I think the whole game was a positive," said Cirone. "We played hard in a building that's a tough building to come into and against a tough team to play against. If you match their intensity and work ethic, you usually get a good result. Unfortunately, (Wednesday) night we didn't."

Dillon Kelley got the call in net with Devin Williams still on a call-up with the Ontario Hockey League's Erie Otters and finished with 27 saves.

"I have complete confidence in Dillon and thought he did a good job again tonight," said Cirone. "Of the five goals, I think just the fifth he'd like to have back, but that goal had no bearing on the game at all."

Doug Andrews and Jordan Jones scored the Jets' goals, with Jones' being his first of the season.

Richard Jansson scored two goals for Flint, while Ben Myers made 34 saves for the win.

Steve Klisz scored his team-best 13th goal of the season with six minutes left in the third period and the Jets held on to defeat the Toledo Cherokee, 4-3, Sunday afternoon at Lakeland Arena.

Mike MacKinnon had given the Jets a 3-2 lead at 8:23 of the third, only to have Charles Kingston tie the game for Toledo 44 seconds later.

The Jets (11-8-0-0) played with a short bench after a handful of players were benched for arriving late to practice Saturday and defenseman Andrew Shalawylo left the game with an upper-body injury in the middle of the second period.

"We played with a skeleton crew and when guys are late getting to practice or miss practice, you don't play," Cirone said. "I think that shows disrespect to teammates and me when that happens. I thought the kids that played today were unbelievable, especially our goalie (Kelley), who I think is finally recognizing what it takes to be a junior hockey player."

Kelley made 29 saves for his fourth win of the season, while Austyn Roudebush finished with 26 stops for Toledo.

Chris Hellebuyck and Josh Beleski scored the other Jets goals and captain Tommy Kilgore chipped in with two assists.

"We played the exact game we played last Wednesday night in Flint," said Cirone. "There was no panic and I thought we dominated for the first two periods and even when we took the lead in the third, I didn't think we played as well as we could have played."

The Jets are off until Sunday when they travel to Darien, Ill., to play in the Combat Hockey NA3HL Showcase, starting a stretch of six games in eight days. Metro will play the Quad City Jr. Flames (Sun. Dec. 4, 4:30 p.m. CST), Peoria Mustangs (Mon. Dec. 5, 9:30 a.m.), Minnesota Flying Aces (Tues. Dec. 6, 12:30 p.m.) and North Iowa Bulls (Weds. Dec. 7, 11:30 a.m.) at the Darien Sportsplex.

"I think four wins is a realistic goal and I wouldn't want anything less," said Cirone. "Hopefully, our work ethic from the past two games will carry over into the showcase."

Metro will host the Queen City Steam Dec. 10-11 at Lakeland.

JET STREAKS

With a full roster, despite injuries to key players like Jake Schlacht and Zach Schlacht and Tim Perks nearing his season debut, Cirone said changes may be coming shortly to the Jets’ roster.

“I think what our problem is right now is that we have a lot of good hockey players that I’m trying to find a lot of ice time for,” Cirone said. “I think we’re going to have to make a couple moves in the next few weeks to move some bodies and get some guys some playing time elsewhere.”

Goalie Ethan Loo (Raleigh, N.C.) was released last weekend. He had not seen game action this year. Williams is expected to be in Waterford the rest of the season after dressing for several games recently as a backup for the Otters.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Jon Cooper, the head coach of the 2002 Jets’ Silver Cup Junior B national championship team, is currently in his second season as head coach of the Norfolk Admirals, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Prior to joining the Admirals, Cooper led the United States Hockey League’s Green Bay Gamblers to a USHL championship in 2010 and the NAHL’s St. Louis Bandits to two straight NAHL titles in 2007 and 2008.

Cooper has also spent time behind the bench internationally, most recently serving as the assistant coach for the USA U-18 team that competed in the 2008 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka Tournament in Slovakia and the Czech Republic. He won a silver medal as head coach of the USA U-17 team that participated in the 2007 Five Nations Tournament in the Czech Republic and was named a finalist for the 2007 United States Olympic Committee’s Development Coach of the Year.

Cooper’s assistant coach in Norfolk, Mike Flanagan, was formerly coach and GM of the Grand Rapids Jr. Owls (now the Battle Creek Jr. Revolution) in the NA3HL (then known as the Central States Hockey League).

North Stars' Schempp picks Ferris State

2011-11-30T19:35:00.004-05:00

It’s about 85 miles from Centre ICE Arena to Ferris State University, but it seems a lot closer.

Kyle Schempp, a rookie center from Saginaw, became the latest Traverse City North Stars player to commit to FSU, making it eight in less than three years.

Schempp, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound Compuware product, was Traverse City’s first-round pick in the NAHL Draft in the spring and has more than justified the selection with six goals and six assists through 20 games, including a trio of power-play markers and a pair of game-winning tallies. He was a targeted by several collegiate programs and found a comfort zone at Ferris.

“I think it was the best fit,” he explained. “The style they play, the system they play within seemed like a good place for me. And academically, it was the right fit as well. The staff seems very supportive and the coaches and players can teach me how to play at that next level.”

Schempp played 40 games with Compuware during 2010-11, scoring 21 goals and assisting on nine others, but it was his all-around acumen that drew the attention of Stars head coach Chad Fournier and GM Anthony Palumbo.

“He’s very gifted offensively,” Fournier said. “Kyle has that knack for making things happen. He plays tough and physical and has really developed in his own end. He was a high-end midget player and he had been drafted in the USHL, so we took a bit of a chance in picking him, but fortunately for us he ended up here. He’s really a well-rounded player.”

Schempp, currently a senior at Traverse City Central High with a 3.75 GPA, has long eyed a career in athletic training - a degree he’ll pursue at Ferris. He says he’ll apply the lessons learned at the midget and junior levels on and off the collegiate ice.

“It’s about putting in the work, day-in and day-out,” Schempp surmised. “And if you’re not ready to work, there won’t be a place for you to play.”

By the time Schempp arrives at Ferris State, it’s possible that more than a quarter of the Bulldogs roster will consist of North Stars alums – Garrett Thompson, C.J. Motte, Travis White and Andy Huff are currently playing for FSU, while Zack Dorer and Seth Adams have also committed for future enrollments.

Kyle Bonis is a currently in his junior season at FSU.

“I haven’t played with those guys,” Schempp said. “But I got to meet a couple when I was down on a visit. It says something that so many guys (from TC) have gone on to play there and do well.”

Schempp cites a laundry list of people who have been influential in his playing career, including a support system at home.

“All the coaches and teammates I’ve had, the family and friends – they’ve all helped push me to get better and have helped me get this opportunity. Nobody makes it in hockey without them.”

Schempp and the North Stars welcome the top two teams in the NAHL North Division to Centre ICE this weekend, as first-place Port Huron visits on Friday and second-place Kalamazoo on Saturday. Schempp has been especially effective against the former, with eight of his twelve points coming against the Falcons this year, including a four-point outburst on Sept. 28.

“It’s an important weekend,” he added. “We want to win the division and move on in the playoffs to nationals. All that starts now.”

Photo/John Elftmann/NAHL

Jr. K-Wings acquire Flood from Chicago

2011-11-25T20:41:00.005-05:00

The Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings have announced the trade of forward Matt Cessna to the Chicago Hitmen in exchange for forward Brandon Flood.

Flood comes to Kalamazoo after 23 games on the season with Chicago. The NAHL rookie from Mason was second on the Hitmen in scoring with 17 points (eight goals, nine assists). Flood also lead the Hitmen with 57 penalty minutes.

The Jr. K-Wings gave up the 18-year-old Cessna in the two-team deal. In 19 games on the campaign, Cessna tallied two goals and two assists.

Kalamazoo head coach Marc Fakler is excited with the new addition to the roster, as he is anticipating even more production from his offense.

“Brandon is a talented offensive player that has a track record for scoring goals,” said Fakler.

Flood is set to wear No. 26 for the Jr. K-Wings and Fakler plans to have him available by the start of this weekend's two-game set with the Port Huron Fighting Falcons.

'Jacks deal Henke to Storm for Chlapik

2011-11-25T17:42:00.001-05:00

The Muskegon Lumberjacks announced they have acquired forward Adam Chlapik and a second-round pick in the 2013 USHL Entry Draft in a trade with the Tri-City Storm.

In exchange, the Jacks sent rookie winger Josh Henke to the Storm.

Chlapik (pronounced CLAP-ick), a 6-foot, 185-pound center from the Czech Republic, has 12 goals and 22 points in his 58-game USHL career to date. The 17-year-old is in his first year eligible for the NHL Draft and was ranked as the seventh-best USHL prospect (59th overall) in August by Red Line Report.

“We are excited to get Adam in our lineup,” said Lumberjacks head coach-GM Kevin Patrick. “He’s a very intelligent player with a great understanding of the game.”

Chlapik has played internationally for the Czech Republic, wearing his nation’s colors for the Under-17 team. He skated for HC Sparta Praha for two seasons in the Czech U18 league before hopping the Atlantic to skate for the L.A. Jr. Kings in 2009-10.

“Adam possesses good offensive instincts and the ability to make plays,” Patrick said. “He has a high hockey IQ.”

The lefthanded-shooting Chlapik joined the Omaha Lancers last season and put up 15 points (nine goals) in his first 43 USHL contests. He was teammates with Lumberjacks goalie John Keeney while in Omaha until being dealt to Tri-City on Oct. 14.

Chlapik is expected to join the team at some point this weekend as the Lumberjacks (7-7-0, 14 points) play two games on the road. Muskegon faces off with Green Bay at 8:05 p.m. Eastern time tonight and takes on Chicago at the same time Saturday.

Saginaw trades Hermenegildo to Oshawa

2011-11-24T21:37:00.000-05:00

The Saginaw Spirit have traded overage defenseman Peter Hermenegildo to the Oshawa Generals in exchange for a seventh-round pick in the 2013 OHL Priority Selection.

Hermenegildo appeared in 15 games this season for the Spirit, scoring two goals and recording four assists.

Photo/Aaron Bell/OHL Images

TC's Adams commits to Ferris State

2011-11-18T01:11:00.002-05:00

Family, friends and fans of Traverse City North Stars forward Seth Adams won’t have to travel far to see the rangy winger play his college hockey.

Adams, a Big Rapids native, signed on to play collegiately at Ferris State University, which is located mere minutes from Adams’ home.

“It’s definitely exciting,” said Adams, who played for Big Rapids High School last year. “I’ve always had a great relationship with (FSU coach) Bob Daniels, I played with his son growing up, and been around the Ferris program. It’s good to be headed somewhere that you’re comfortable and excited about when you get to that next level.”

Adams, a 6-foot-3, 195-pound forward with a deft scoring touch, was tendered early on by the North Stars staff, and wowed everyone during the summer camping season before a lower-body injury sidelined him for the rest of the summer and into the early season.

“Before he got hurt, he was head and shoulders above the field at a couple of those camps,” said Stars head coach Chad Fournier. “But Seth has worked his way back from that and is just starting to get some traction. With a kid as talented as Seth, we’re just starting to see the tip of the iceberg.”

Adams, a two-time All-State selection at Big Rapids, registered his first career junior goal back on Oct. 12 at Port Huron, and has earned a regular shift among a veteran-laden forward cast. He has appeared in 10 games so far, including the last six TC outings.

“He’s big, strong, and knows where to put the puck,” Fournier added. “He skates well and can move the puck, and he can score. I think Ferris was right on the money in getting Seth. They probably didn’t want to let a local kid with this much talent get away.”

Adams plans to study biology upon his enrollment at FSU – presently slated for the 2013-14 academic year – and has the scholastic chops for it: He boasts a 3.8 grade-point average and rocked a 25 on the ACT. A senior at Traverse City Central, Adams has his eye on a career as an orthopedic surgeon.

“I’m not necessarily looking to play hockey forever,” he explained. “But getting to play college hockey is a great honor; It’s something to really work toward.”

Adams says the pace of the North American Hockey League is a bit accelerated compared to high school hockey, but that he’s growing more accustomed to it every day.

“At this level, if you make a mistake, you’d better make it fast,” he said. “Junior hockey features a lot more strength and speed, not to mention the hockey skills. It’s a very good (brand of hockey).”

While his skates and sticks have carried Adams to the proverbial ‘next level’ of the game, he says that at least a few people helped him get this far.

“My old coach in Big Rapids, Tim Blashill, was a big influence on my hockey career,” Adams added. “And I’d have to thank my parents for always keeping me motivated. They taught me respect, getting along, and working hard at everything.”

Fournier says that Adams’ on- and off-ice makeup will translate to good things in both arenas.

“Seth is a great kid and a great teammate. He’s got the talent and the smarts. It’s not a stretch to say that he’ll be a success in whatever he does in life.”

Petoskey's Kelley adjusting to Jets

2011-11-17T13:19:00.002-05:00

Making the jump from high school hockey to Junior A hockey was an adjustment at first for Dillon Kelley.

He has since come into his own and is constantly pushing his goalie counterpart, Devin Williams, for playing time in the Metro Jets’ crease.

“The first few games and weeks were rough for me,” said Kelley, a 17-year-old Petoskey native. “I feel I was being too hard on myself, but once I lightened up, I got my game back and have improved every game. The hockey is a much faster pace and the players are much more creative and smarter.”

Kelley played last season for Petoskey High School and was scouted by Jets’ assistant coach Randy Wilson, who saw the potential for Kelley to play juniors.

“Randy wanted me to come to the Jets’ open camp and after I went to the camp, he said he would like me to come to main camp,” Kelley said. “That was when they offered me a spot. I really didn’t know much about the Jets or the NA3HL. All I knew was what Randy had told me and I didn’t really know what to expect. After being in the league and on the team for two months now, I am very happy to be on this team and in this league.”

So far this season, Kelley is 3-1-0 with a 4.25 goals-against average and a .883 save percentage. Williams has seen the bulk of playing time, but Kelley has played well when called upon.

“Devo is probably my closest friend on the team,” explained Kelley. “We hang out all the time and love to talk hockey and equipment. Within that friendship, we both want to push each other to get better and we both want to play. There is competition there, but it’s a good one.”

Kelley sat on the bench for one game earlier this season as a backup for the NAHL’s Port Huron Fighting Falcons. That experience opened Kelley’s eyes as to what it will take to make the lateral move to the NAHL.

“I plan to keep working hard day in and day out on and off the ice,” boasted Kelley. “I want to improve myself so I can help my team win whenever I am in the net. I hope to get better and better game in and game out and help our team get to where we want to be at the end of the regular season.

“My goals are to improve and get to the next level like everyone else, but my main goal is to help the Jets make it deep into playoffs and win a championship.”

LOOKING BACK, LOOKING AHEAD

The Toledo Cherokee jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first period and held on to top the Jets, 5-3, last Saturday night at Lakeland Arena.

Jake Schlacht, Chris Hellebuyck and Zach Mohr scored for the Jets.

In goal, Williams started and allowed all five Toledo goals in 28:21 of work, making 16 saves in the process.

Kelley replaced Williams and made 20 saves.

The Jets (10-7-0-0) are now idle until Wednesday, Nov. 23, when they play in Flint.

Metro's next home game is Sunday, Nov. 27, against Toledo at 11:50 a.m.

*** NOTE *** All Sunday home games are now at 11:50 a.m., instead of 1:20 p.m.

JET STREAKS

Defenseman Jordan Jones, who played 23 games for the Jets last season, returned to the team and made his 2011-12 debut against Toledo.

Jones, a 20-year-old Toledo native, tallied eight assists in 16 games with the Boston Jr. Blackhawks of the International Junior Hockey League this year.

Last season, Jones recorded four assists after he was acquired from Toledo on Nov. 23, 2010.

Justin Shureb, an 18-year-old forward from Livonia, also joined the Jets last Friday.

Shureb was drafted fourth overall by the Jets out of Livonia Stevenson High School last June. He was an honorable mention Division 1 All-State selection last year.

Shureb joins Mike MacKinnon, Hellebuyck, Tim Perks (injured, hasn’t played this year), John Baker, Chad Frost, Tim Wlodkowski and Steve Klisz as 2011 draft picks to make the Jets’ team this season.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Wylie Rogers, a goaltender on the 2002 Silver Cup national Junior B championship team, is playing this season for the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees of the Central Hockey League.

Rogers, who played for the U.S. National Team Development Program in 2002-03, also played four years of Division I college hockey for Alaska-Fairbanks of the CCHA from 2004-08.

The 26-year-old native of Fairbanks saw time last season for the Heerenveen Flyers pro team in the Netherlands.

Saginaw acquires Amestoy from Storm

2011-11-11T17:33:00.002-05:00

The Saginaw Spirit announced today the team has completed a trade with the Guelph Storm, acquiring forward Carlos Amestoy for the Spirit's fifth round pick in the 2012 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection, a seventh round selection in 2013 and a fourth round pick in 2014.

Amestoy had been playing for the University of Maine Black Bears, a Division I program in the NCAA's Hockey East loop.

The Toronto native is a 1992 birth year, having appeared in 15 games over the past two seasons.

It is expected that Amestoy will join the Spirit during this weekend's three-game set in Eastern Ontario that begins tonight in Ottawa against the 67's.

Shier emerging as Jets' top blueliner

2011-11-11T12:05:00.000-05:00

Will Shier is proof that you can go home again.

The Metro Jets’ defenseman started last season playing in the Northern Pacific Hockey League with the Wyoming-based Yellowstone Quake, but after a handful of games, decided he needed a bigger challenge and wanted a venue where he would be scouted.

Enter the Jets, the team that drafted Shier in the 2010 North American 3 Hockey League draft.

“I had heard that the Jets hired Jason Cirone (as head coach) and were now a part of the NA3HL,” said Shier. “I felt that I would have a better opportunity to make it to the next level if I returned home and played in the NA3HL.”

Once he returned to Michigan and signed with the Jets, things changed drastically.

“Last season had quite a few ups and downs for me personally,” said the 19-year-old Sterling Heights native. “As the season went on, my game really improved because Coach Cirone pushed me constantly. I was also in the gym every day working hard to get stronger. I earned a lot of playing time which helped my game out quite a bit. By the end of the season, I had gained a lot of experience and was really confident with my game. I believe playing for the Jets last year really contributed to the player I am now.”

Earlier this season, Shier earned a call-up to the Port Huron Fighting Falcons of the North American Hockey League. He had gone to Port Huron’s main training camp in August and narrowly missed making the team.

When he got the call in October, Shier took advantage of the opportunity to impress Port Huron head coach Bill Warren during the two games he dressed for the Fighting Falcons.

“When I got called up to Port Huron, I knew from my experiences at the Fighting Falcons’ main camp, that the speed would be quite different than that of the NA3HL, and it was,” explained Shier. “In the NAHL, you have less time to make decisions and it is a much faster game. I knew a few of their players received game misconducts the day before and I thought I was only getting the call up for one game, but was happy to find out after the first game, that I would be playing another one. I got to play alongside many great players, many of them whom I played with in the past. I spoke with Coach Warren before heading back to the Jets and he told me to be patient, my time would come.”

With the Jets, Shier has been playing 25-30 minutes a game, including the point on the power play. He has a goal and five assists for six points thus far this season.

“I wish I had three or four more Will Shiers on the team,” said Cirone. “He’s our go-to defenseman and is a leader back there for us, which is also why he’s one of our alternate captains. He’s played with several different defense partners and makes them all better players when they’re out there with him.”

Still, the NAHL is Shier’s goal, both short-term and long-term. He said being in Port Huron showed him what it takes to move up and play in the league.

”I worked really hard on my game during the offseason,” said Shier. “I went out east for ten days and skated with one of the coaches (Blair Joseph) from the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. I received a lot of positive feedback from the NAHL coaches during tryouts this summer, but I just fell a bit short. Coach Cirone and (Metro GM) Butch Wolfe attended every tryout and gave me a lot of support. With the addition of full-time assistant coaches Dave Hague and Randy Wilson, I know we are going to have a great year and this is where I want to be. I wanted to come back and play for the Jets because I know Jason will help get me to the next level.

“I know, when given the chance, through hard work and dedication, I will be successful. I have already had a taste of the NAHL and can’t wait for more. Hopefully, the hard work will pay off and I will receive an offer to play college hockey for the 2013-14 school year as I work toward a degree in architecture.”

Looks like Shier is already building a solid future for himself.

LOOKING BACK, LOOKING AHEAD

Metro swept both games at home last weekend against Pittsburgh, winning 7-3 on Saturday night and then 4-2 on Sunday afternoon.

Saturday night, Shier (goal, two assists), Chris Hellebuyck (two goals, assist) and newcomer Zach Mohr (goal, two assists) had three-point nights and goaltender Dillon Kelley finished with 39 saves.

Steve Klisz, Matt Stirling and Matt Stemkoski also scored in the victory.

The Jets’ penalty kill shut down Pittsburgh’s power play as the Jr. Penguins went 0-for-6 with the advantage and 1-for-12 over the entire weekend.

In the series finale, Stemkoski and Mohr each had a goal and an assist, while Stirling and Doug Andrews tallied the others.

Klisz recorded two assists and Devin Williams made 32 saves in goal.

“Every single kid played well,” said Cirone. “I attribute that to last week in practice. It was probably our best week of practice since the second or third week of the season. Our kids really put it together last weekend and showed they have what it takes to win in this league.”

Metro (10-6-0-0) hosts Toledo this Saturday night for a 7:40 p.m. puck drop at Lakeland Arena in the lone game of the weekend.

“It all starts in practice and typically, how you practice is how you play during the weekend,” Cirone said. “I’d like to think we’ve turned a corner here and have turned our kids into believers.”

JET STREAKS

Mohr wasn’t the only new player in the lineup last weekend as forward Cameron Bazin made his return to the Jets in Sunday’s game.

“Bazin was one of my favorite players last year and is really a silent leader,” said Cirone. “Kids on our team can learn from him. His first shift on Sunday, he goes out and blocks a shot that prevented a scoring chance and then on his second shift, he throws a big hit. He’ll be an asset for us.”

Last year, the 19-year-old Troy native had three goals and 10 points in 36 games for the Jets.

Mohr, a 19-year-old from Novi, had a five-point weekend after coming over from Port Huron two weeks ago.

“I don’t expect Zach here the whole season,” said Cirone. “He’s very deserving to get another shot in the NAHL and I think once he works on some things that may be hindering his game he’ll be back up there.”

In another transaction approved Wednesday, the Jets traded Swedish defenseman Niels Olesen to Queen City. Olesen had one assist in 11 games this year.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Nick Kenney, the Jets’ top scorer during the 2006-07 season with 31 goals and 35 assists for 66 points (35 on the power play), is starting his junior season at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, a Division III school in the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA).

After the Jets, the 23-year-old Wixom native skated two seasons with the NAHL’s Mahoning Valley Phantoms.

Photo/Andy Grossman/Detailed Images

Ex-Jr. K-Wing McDonald picks Bulldogs

2011-11-09T18:02:00.003-05:00

The Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings have announced the verbal commitment of former player Chad McDonald to Ferris State University.

McDonald played in 12 games with Kalamazoo this season, all the while leading the team in scoring. He tallied ten goals and five assists for 15 points, while playing to a plus-3 rating. His two short-handed goals still stand as the only two Kalamazoo has netted on the season.

McDonald’s most memorable performance with the Jr. K-Wings was his five-goal, six-point outburst against the Dawson Creek Rage during the NAHL Showcase in Blaine, Minn., back on Sept. 16. The five-goal outing included three power-play goals and a short-handed strike.

The Battle Creek native was traded from Kalamazoo to the Des Moines Buccaneers of the USHL on Oct. 27, a trade that saw the addition of forward Austin Hervey for the Jr. K-Wings. Since joining Des Moines in late October, McDonald has produced one goal and has played to a +4 rating.

“The goal of our program is to promote players to the next level," said Kalamazoo coach Marc Fakler. "Chad had a very strong start to the season, which earned him a tremendous opportunity to play college hockey at a strong program in Ferris State.”

North Stars' Leibinger picks MTU

2011-11-04T14:04:00.003-04:00

Even after an ultra-successful rookie season in the North American Hockey League, Chris Leibinger wasn’t satisfied.

Among the youngest players in the league, the Traverse City North Stars defenseman acquitted himself with great aplomb in 2010-11, registering a pair of goals and four assists in 41 appearances with a +4 plus-minus rating. But it wasn’t enough.

“As a 16-year old, it was tough at times,” Leibinger admitted. “I had to get bigger and stronger to work more effectively in our own end. There were times when I’d be in the corner with bigger and older guys, and I wouldn’t always be able to come out with it (the puck).”

North Stars head coach Chad Fournier agreed.

“He was good, but he knew he needed to get stronger,” Fournier explained. “He made the decision to absolutely commit to getting even better over the summer, and we’re starting to see the rewards of that hard work.”

That labor consisted of a steady diet of weights and roadwork.

“I was in the weight room every day, sometimes twice a day,” Leibinger explained. “Kyle Schempp and I had the same trainer, did a lot of running, and probably put on 15-20 pounds. I can really feel a definite difference this year. When I go up against bigger guys, I can hold my own a lot more of the time.”

Leibinger and Fournier aren’t the only ones who have taken note of his ability, progress, and immense potential: Michigan Tech’s coaching staff extended an offer, and Leibinger accepted.

“It feel good to kind of have that part of the equation taken care of,” he said. “Now I can focus on just playing hard for the next year or two and work on improving.”

Leibinger, a 5-foot-11, 175-pound Saginaw product, has a goal and an assist through 12 games so far this season. It’s his all-around ability – and bolstered defensive zone presence – that Fournier says will help him succeed at the NCAA Division I level.

“He’s a real talent, no question,” Fournier added. “He skates well, moves the puck, and can join the play when the opportunity arises. He’s an all-around defenseman who is really starting to excel in the defensive zone.”

Leibinger, who sports a sterling 3.62 grade-point average, has designs on a degree in Kinesiology from Tech after a summer spent with an in-the-field professional.

“I went and visited the director of the program, and it seemed a good fit, in terms of what science classes I had and my grades,” he said. “Working out with our trainer I got to see some of it up close and thought it would be a great profession to be a part of.”

Leibinger is the first of the North Stars players to commit to an NCAA hockey program this season, but Traverse City’s reputation as a weigh station en route to the collegiate game is becoming renowned.

“The ultimate goal for junior programs at this level is to move kids along to college – even more than winning games,” Fournier explained. “When (GM) Anthony (Palumbo) looks at players, he’s trying to bring in guys that can play at that next level, and we’ve always been willing to have a younger team if that means moving kids on to college. And our alumni deserve some credit, too. Guys have gone on to have great success at the next level, and college coaches know Traverse City is a place to find talent.”

Stirling brings veteran leadership to Jets

2011-11-03T20:29:00.004-04:00

As one of the few returning players to the Metro Jets this season, Matt Stirling is being counted on for leadership and offense as the Jets hope to play in the North American 3 Hockey League playoffs for the first time in five years.

Leadership hasn’t been an issue as Sterling is an alternate captain for the second straight season. The offense, though, has sputtered, but has recently come alive for the 19-year-old Dexter native.

“The first two months of the season have been interesting and not what I was expecting,” Stirling said. “It has been a slow start for me this season and has been frustrating so far. With that said, I feel that my play has picked up recently over the past couple weeks and that with the better play, I should hopefully have better results soon.”

Going into this weekend, Stirling has just two goals through 14 games. Last year, he posted 24 goals and played in the NA3HL Top Prospects Tournament last February in Ann Arbor.

“Last season, I learned that you have to bring your game every night and that the consistency of your play is vital to success,” remarked Stirling. “The more consistent you are, the better chance you have of moving up or playing well. I also learned that it is a long season full of ups and downs in which you have to be prepared for anything.”

Looking back on last year, Stirling said the feel around the locker room is much different, and in a good way, as compared to the 2010-11 season.

”I think there is a different mindset to this year’s team because of the amount of returning players to the Jets and the leadership the returners bring to the team,” said Stirling. “The returners know what to expect this year on and off the ice, where last year we were all learning a new system and that took time for players to develop.”

Stirling went to summer camps with the North American Hockey League’s Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings and Traverse City North Stars, but felt another year of seasoning in Waterford would help improve his game to move up next year. Getting a few more wins on the board could help slow starters like Stirling pick up their game, and if a catalyst like Stirling can get off the schneid, that can only be a positive for the Jets.

“The team has slid a little bit from our hot start in our last couple games, but I feel that we have some good hockey players and as a team, we are playing very well so far,” Stirling said “I think that if I can get my game going and keep improving my game, it can only help the team in the long run.”

LOOKING BACK, LOOKING AHEAD

Metro traveled to Cleveland last weekend and suffered a two-game sweep at the hands of the East Division-leading Jr. Lumberjacks.

Saturday night, Steve Klisz and Mike MacKinnon scored late in the third period, but it wasn’t enough as Cleveland held on for a 3-2 win.

Devin Williams was outstanding in goal with a 48-save performance against the NA3HL’s highest-scoring team.

Then Sunday afternoon, Cleveland blanked the Jets, 5-0. Williams started and made 24 saves on 29 shots through 35:04. Dillon Kelley played the rest of the game and stopped all 18 shots he faced.

This weekend, the Jets (8-6-0-0) come home to Lakeland Arena to battle the Pittsburgh Jr. Penguins. Game time Saturday night is 7:50 p.m. with a 1:20 p.m. matinee scheduled for Sunday.

Pittsburgh sits in fourth place in the East, just three points behind third-place Metro.

JET STREAKS

Forward Zach Mohr, a 19-year-old Novi native, joined the Jets in a trade from the NAHL’s Port Huron Fighting Falcons late last week and is expected in the lineup this weekend against Pittsburgh.

Mohr totaled two goals and two assists in 14 games with Port Huron this year.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Tommy Burns, who played for the Jets last year, is averaging better than a point per game with Lindenwood University’s ACHA Division II team this season.

Burns, a 21-year-old forward from Pinckney, has eight goals and 13 points in 11 games for the Lindenwood, a school based in St. Charles, Mo.

Last season, Burns posted 16 goals and 33 points in 43 games in 2010-11, good for fourth in team scoring.

Photo/Andy Grossman/Detailed Images

Whalers obtain Payne from Generals

2011-11-02T13:31:00.000-04:00

The Plymouth Whalers have announced the acquisition of 17-year-old center Cody Payne from the Oshawa Generals in exchange for a third round selection in the 2012 Ontario Hockey Priority Selection.

“Cody is a big, strong forward,” Plymouth coach-GM Mike Vellucci said. “He skates very well and has good hands. We feel he will adapt well here to ‘Whaler Hockey.’”

Payne – from Weston, Fla. – was originally selected by Oshawa in the third round (58th overall) in the 2010 OHL Priority Selection. Last season, Payne scored a goal with 12 assists for 13 points and was +7 in 50 games for the Generals. This year, Payne scored twice in 10 games for Oshawa.

Payne played for the United States in the 2011 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka Tournament. He comes to Plymouth already knowing some of his new teammates.

“I’ve played with Tom Wilson in Toronto before coming to the Generals,” Payne said. “We worked out together in the summer. And I went to the same school as Matt Mistele in Whitby, Ont. I’m very excited to be coming to Plymouth.”

Payne is expected to report to Plymouth this week and will be in the lineup this weekend when the Whalers host Barrie on Friday and Windsor on Saturday at Compuware Arena. Both games start at 7:05 p.m.

Plymouth completes a busy weekend on Sunday in Saginaw.

Photo/OHL Images

MacKinnon finding chemistry with Jets

2011-10-28T17:00:00.005-04:00

Mike MacKinnon had an easy decision on his hands when the Metro Jets drafted him in the second round of the North American 3 Hockey League draft this past June.

One of MacKinnon’s close friends, Cameron Bazin, played for the Jets last season and passed along encouraging words about the team and the league.

Metro head coach Jason Cirone was also familiar to MacKinnon as he had coached MacKinnon in a fall league session back when MacKinnon played at Troy Athens High School.

“I knew my fair share about the NA3HL before this year just from hearing about it from friends and hearing about it from playing juniors in a different league,” said the 19-year-old MacKinnon. “I knew a lot about the Jets since they are the most local junior team from my house and I have always heard good things. Jason's a good coach and and he demands a lot of his players, which will only pay dividends in the long run.

“I'm just going to keep working hard and hopefully some opportunities open up for me.”

Last year, MacKinnon played for the Yellowstone Quake in the Northern Pacific Hockey League and while he said he enjoyed the experience, it’s good to be home this year.

“Being away from home last year was nice, but so far, I like living at home better,” explained MacKinnon. “That’s one of the reasons I chose to play here because it’s pretty close to my house and I can still live my everyday personal life away from hockey.”

Entering this weekend, MacKinnon is third in team scoring with nine goals and 22 points in a dozen games playing mostly on a line with Steve Klisz and Matt Stemkoski.

“My line has been really good to this point,” said MacKinnon. “We focus on puck possession and we feel like we wear opposing defenses down. We know where each other is out there and it’s fun playing with those guys.”

More than piling up points, though, is MacKinnon’s team-first expectations.

”Personally, I want to continue working hard and helping my team win a lot of games,” MacKinnon said. “Ultimately, I think we can win our division and go to nationals.”

LOOKING BACK, LOOKING AHEAD

In their lone game last weekend, the Jets were blanked by the Flint Jr. Generals, 6-0, Saturday night at home.

“There were no positives in Saturday’s game,” said Metro captain Tommy Kilgore. “We were out-hustled and out-played in every aspect.”

This weekend, the Jets head to Cleveland for a two-game set with the Jr. Lumberjacks Saturday night and Sunday afternoon.

”We are going to go into Cleveland ready to go full force,” added Kilgore. “We worked hard this week in practice and we will be well-prepared for them.”

JET STREAKS

Goalie Devin Williams, signed by the Ontario Hockey League’s Erie Otters last week, dressed for his second game of the year in Erie Wednesday night in a backup role. Williams is expected back for the series this weekend in Cleveland.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

The Oakland University ACHA Division I team has five former Jets on the roster.

Defensemen Mike Corder and Jacob DeSano and forwards Art Dore, David Merkle and Adam Novack play for the Golden Grizzlies this season.

Corder (2009-10) and Novack (2008-09) are both former Jets captains.

Jr. K-Wings get Hervey from USHL

2011-10-28T11:58:00.002-04:00

The Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings have announced the trade of forward Chad McDonald to the USHL’s Des Moines Buccaneers for Austin Hervey.

A forward from Brighton, Hervey started his junior career with the US NTDP in 2009-10. During that season, he played in eleven games. Hervey won back-to-back state championships in high school with Novi Catholic Central High School.

From there, he moved to the Lincoln Stars where he played in 44 games, registering four goals and three assists.

Hervey started this season with the Buccaneers. He played five games for the Bucs, scoring once.

Hervey will join the Jr. K-Wings for their three-game set against the Jamestown Ironmen this weekend. He is set to wear number 28 for Kalamazoo.

“Hervey brings additional junior experience to our team,” said Kalamazoo coach Marc Fakler. “He will be a physical power forward and be a presence in our lineup. He has a strong work ethic, a heavy shot and his size and strength will be an asset to our team.”

Hervey is committed to play at Western Michigan University next season.

OHL's Otters sign Metro goalie Williams

2011-10-22T12:52:00.000-04:00

Metro Jets goaltender Devin Williams has signed an Ontario Hockey League contract with the Erie Otters and was on the bench Friday night in Erie backing up starting goalie Tyson Teichmann.

Williams, who turns 16 next Sunday, will re-join the Jets Saturday night at Lakeland Arena against the Flint Jr. Generals, but will be eligible to be recalled by the Otters for up to 10 games this season.

Erie drafted Williams, a Saginaw native, in the fifth round (95th overall) of this past May’s OHL draft out of the Motor City Metal Jackets U-16 organization.

“He’s extremely athletic and very dedicated,” Otters general manager Sherry Bassin said. “We think this signing will solidify our goaltending for the future.”

According to Metro head coach Jason Cirone, also a scout for Erie, seeing Williams sign to play at a higher level “is what we’re here to do.”

“I’m happy for the kid,” said Cirone. “To play in the OHL is a lifelong dream, but he knows that this isn’t the end of the road. (Jets goalie coach) Randy (Wilson) has done a great job with Devin and really hasn’t had to adjust anything – just a few tweaks here and there. Devin has reached this point in his career all on his own and that’s a credit to him. He’s also one of the most mature kids on our team and I think that shows he was raised the right way and put on the right path.”

This year with the Jets, Williams is 6-2-0 with a 3.34 goals-against average and a .911 save percentage.

Lumberjacks tweak goalie corps

2011-10-21T23:52:00.000-04:00

With their home opener a day away, the Muskegon Lumberjacks added what could be an important piece to their 2011-12 puzzle.

The Jacks acquired three-year USHL veteran goaltender John Keeney from the Omaha Lancers in a trade. Muskegon sent its third-round selection in the 2013 USHL Entry Draft to Omaha, along with a player to be named later.

Keeney, 18, is one of the most experienced netminders in the league, with 45 games under his belt in parts of three seasons. He made his debut during the 2009-10 season and suited up in 30 contests for the Lancers last year.

The 6-foot-1, 187-pounder from Twin Peaks, Calif., made the most of the increased playing time last season, going 15-9-3 with a 2.23 goals-against average – fifth-best in the USHL – and a .918 save percentage that ranked eighth.

“John has put up excellent numbers during his time in the league,” Lumberjacks head coach-GM Kevin Patrick said. “He is one of the more veteran goalies in the USHL.”

Thus far this season, Keeney has played in two games, stopping 54 of 58 shots while posting a 1-1-0 record. He will join returner Paul Berrafato in Muskegon’s goaltending stable, as rookie Blake Voth was released in a corresponding transaction.

“We are constantly evaluating our needs to put our team in the best position possible,” Patrick said. “We felt we needed to solidify the goalie position in order to be successful.”

Williams: Jets today, OHL tomorrow

2011-10-20T09:52:00.002-04:00

Devin Williams has taken the reins as the Metro Jets’ No. 1 goaltender and has been in net for six of the team’s eight wins this year.

He’s handled the responsibility of being the last line of defense with remarkable maturity and has his eyes on signing an Ontario Hockey League contract in the coming days with the Erie Otters.

All of this after a busy summer that saw the Saginaw native represent the gold medal-winning United States at the Under-17 Five Nations Tournament in Ann Arbor, emerge as a candidate for the U.S. National Team Development Program and stand out as the top goalie at the USA Hockey Select-16 Festival in Rochester, N.Y.

Not too bad for a player that won’t turn 16 until Oct. 30.

“Devin came here to play minutes and see traffic in front of the net,” said Metro head coach Jason Cirone. “He’s been a major component of our success so far and I think a lot of that falls on (Jets goalie coach) Randy Wilson. Devin has been as good or better than I expected most nights.”

The Otters drafted Williams in the fifth round of the OHL draft this past May on the recommendation of Cirone, also a scout with Erie. Once he signs with the Otters, he’ll still play for the Jets, but will be eligible to be called up to the OHL at any time. Williams figures to be in the OHL on a full-time basis next season.

Like most Americans, deciding between Major Junior hockey and the NCAA was an issue Williams dealt with, but he believes he’s made the right choice to play in the OHL.

“I grew up watching the Saginaw Spirit and my dream was to one day play in the OHL,” said the 5-foot-10, 160-pound Williams. “I’ve always felt the OHL atmosphere was what I wanted and I think it will be a good fit. I’m adjusting to the junior level here and I think playing against older guys is a challenge, but it’s a challenge I want. There is pressure, but to me, it’s fun pressure. The team has been great in front of me and it’s been a team effort all year long.”

Williams even garnered attention from Red Line Report, an independent scouting newsletter, back at the Select 16 Festival where he had a .945 save percentage and miniscule 1.33 goals against average.

“Very solid mentally and gives up nothing in 1-on-1 showdowns with shooters,” the report read. “Always makes puck carrier make the first move. Excellent rebound control. Follows the puck well through traffic and anticipates developing plays very well.”

Focused on helping the Jets get their name back on the map after a few dreary seasons the past couple years, Williams said he actually had other options over the season as to where to play this season.

“I skated with Jason all summer and he told me that I’d be a good fit with Metro and it would prepare me to go up to Erie,” explained Williams. “Jason always has the player’s interests before his own. I love him. He’s just a great coach.”

LOOKING BACK, LOOKING AHEAD

Metro split its series in Pittsburgh last weekend, losing Saturday night before winning Sunday afternoon.

Saturday night, Doug Andrews tallied the lone goal in a 4-1 loss, while Williams finished with 36 saves.

Sunday afternoon, a wild game had the Jets up 3-0 heading into the third period and holding on for a 7-4 win.

Mike MacKinnon and Steve Klisz scored twice and Josh Beleski, Matt Stemkoski and newcomer John Baker added singles.

“It’s good morale for the team to get a split on the road,” said Cirone.

Dillon Kelley made 32 saves in goal for the victory.

The Jets (8-3-0-0) play just one game this week, a home contest Saturday night at 7:50 p.m. at Lakeland Arena taking on Flint.

“It seems like we play Flint every week,” Cirone said. “Do we prepare for them any differently than we would any other team? No. Do I think we’re developing a rivalry with them? I do. I think we have similar teams and that always makes for some good hockey games.”

JET STREAKS

Defenseman Will Shier was sent back to the Jets from the NAHL’s Port Huron Fighting Falcons and played both games last weekend in Pittsburgh.

Cirone thinks Shier will be back in the NAHL before too long.

“He’s had a taste and I believe he wants more,” said Cirone. “You know, it’s like a yummy steak. You have a great steak and want another one. Will knows he can play at the NAHL level.”

Baker, a 20-year-old from Waterford, was also added to the roster and saw time at forward and defense in Pittsburgh. He was a Jets’ draft pick back in June and started this season with the Leamington Flyers of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.

“He’ll bring grit and versatility,” Cirone said. “He’s an older guy and he’ll also being experience and leadership.”

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Last Friday night in Southern Professional Hockey League exhibition play, two former Jets players dropped the gloves as Colin Ronayne (Knoxville Ice Bears) and Morgan James (Columbus Cottonmouths) went toe-to-toe with one another.

Ronayne skated with the Jets in 2005-2006, while James captained the Jets last year.

What’s ironic is the two are Commerce Township neighbors and close friends.

Photo/Andy Grossman/Detailed Images

Off-ice officials vital to Port Huron

2011-10-19T18:13:00.003-04:00

All hockey fans understand the importance of referees and linesmen to any game, even those who boo them from the moment they step on the ice to the game’s final buzzer.

What most don’t understand, though, is that there is another group of officials with a task that is just as important to the integrity of the game, the off-ice officials.

The Port Huron Fighting Falcons’ off-ice officials are responsible for tracking stats for each player on the ice, including goals, assists, plus/minus, shots and penalty minutes. Some off-ice officials work just a few feet from the ice as goal judges and penalty box attendants, while others sit high above the action tracking statistics.

A goal scored does not become official until the referee gives the goal signal, and the goal judge lights the red lamp. One of those goal judges, Brad Amey, has volunteered as an off-ice official for nearly 30 years, since the early 1980s when the Port Huron Flags called McMorran Arena home.

The referee then sends his or her opinion of who scored the goal in to a pair of off-ice officials who run the scoreboard and communicate with the rest of the crew upstairs. Betty Vargo and Jim Wedge have been that pair of off-ice officials since long before the North American Hockey League had a team in the Blue Water Area.

Upstairs, stat keepers like Mike Reily take note of first and second assists, and the official scorer gives the information to PA announcer Jim McGuigan to read to the crowd. Scorer John Baunoch has been an off-ice official since the Port Huron Border Cats competed in the United Hockey League.

Vic Frandsen, who also started volunteering as an off-ice official with the Border Cats, then enters the data into a special software program that updates all stats to the internet so that fans at home can follow the game in real-time.

During intermission each goal undergoes a video review to ensure that the correct players are credited for goals and assists each period.

The Fighting Falcons have a new supervisor of off-ice officials this season, as Gary Temple takes over for Dan McVety, who has also worked with Port Huron hockey teams dating back to the Border Cats.

“I’ve been working with the crew about six years,” said Temple, whose family hosts Fighting Falcons forward Logan Lemirande for the second year. “I started out as a substitute, got a position as a full-timer and became the new supervisor when Dan stepped down to be able to follow his son’s hockey team.

“It’s a great group of guys, and we have a good time working together.”

Andy Bennet, Jim Eagle, Derek Steele, Al O’Dell and Jim Wilson are all off-ice officials that have worked over 20 games per year for the last several seasons of Port Huron hockey. Rodney Jarvis joined the crew full-time this season.

These off-ice officials, as well as their substitutes, have brought the same professional approach to the Fighting Falcons as they offered when they worked for professional teams in the past. Though the Fighting Falcons compete at a different level than past professional teams, the crew approaches their work as they always have. They know that accurate statistics are of utmost importance to junior-level players and college scouts.

Many scouts rely on statistics to decide what players to put on their radar, and what teams to see in person.

When the Fighting Falcons traveled to Jametown, N.Y., for a weekend series with the Ironmen earlier this month, no data about shots on net was provided. Based on statistics that only counted goals against, Port Huron goalie Max Milosek’s save percentage dropped 26 points. Before the problem was fixed, scouts viewing Milosek’s stats may not have looked at his game-by-game numbers to see that there was a problem and moved on to another player.

“What I’m really looking forward to with this league and team is seeing these players develop and move on to college,” said Temple. “It’s very rewarding to know that as a group we can provide accurate information to the scouts and help make that happen.”

Most off-ice officials have full-time jobs during the day, and volunteer their time during game nights to help the games run smoothly. As work schedules change, substitute officials are often needed to help fill all necessary positions.

Temple and the Fighting Falcons are looking for hockey enthusiasts to volunteer for substitute off-ice official positions. Substitutes would be asked to work a handful of games throughout the season as needed, and are given a pair of tickets to each game they work for their friends or families.

If you are interested in volunteering to become an off-ice official, call the Fighting Falcons at (810) 966-3800, or send an email to Mike Reed in the office at mike@phfightingfalcons.com.

Lumberjacks announce new charity

2011-10-17T17:36:00.002-04:00

The Muskegon Lumberjacks announced today the creation of the Muskegon Lumberjacks Charitable Foundation, the team’s new nonprofit arm committed to enriching the West Michigan community through an association with hockey and the Lumberjacks.

Lumberjacks owner Josh Mervis has long demonstrated a commitment to community engagement with a proven track record of running a successful charitable organization in connection with his previous team, the Danville (Ill.) Wings.

“I believe in social responsibility,” Mervis said. “I believe it is our duty to give back to our community, to the game of hockey, and to the children of West Michigan. It’s the way we’ve always operated with all of our businesses and it’s how we will continue to operate.”

The Lumberjacks Charitable Foundation will begin its work by contributing to Muskegon-area youth hockey organizations and sponsoring the Lumberjacks Reading Caravan. In its first year, the Caravan will sponsor and participate in programs designed to assist more than 5,000 Muskegon area students to achieve reading goals.

Program participants will be given the opportunity to earn free game tickets and other prizes. The Lumberjacks will also continue to support other nonprofit organizations in the community through donations, partnerships and player appearances.

The foundation will be supported through philanthropic partnerships with corporations, as well as fundraising events and silent auctions. All proceeds from in-game promotions like Chuck-a-Puck, pull tabs, Club Keno and jersey auctions will also benefit the foundation.

Plymouth deals OA Mahalak to Sarnia

2011-10-14T14:08:00.003-04:00

The Plymouth Whalers have announced the trade of overage left wing RJ Mahalak to the Sarnia Sting in exchange for a sixth round draft choice in the 2012 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection.

The draft choice originally belonged to the London Knights.

The deal allows the Whalers to get down to the three overages (or 1991 birthdays). OHL teams are allowed to play just three overage players. With Jamie Devane returning to Plymouth from Toronto of the American Hockey League earlier this week and making his Whalers debut Thursday in Windsor, the Plymouth overages are now Devane, center Andy Bathgate and defenseman Beau Schmitz.

Mahalak, a Monroe native, was originally selected by Plymouth in the fourth round (80th overall) of the 2007 OHL draft. In 207 regular season games with the Whalers, Mahalak scored 20 goals with 34 assists for 54 points and 253 penalty minutes with a +14 rating.

Mahalak joins a Sarnia team that now has four overages - center and ex-Whaler Taylor Carnevale, defenseman Daniel Broussard, goaltender Brandon Maxwell and now Mahalak.

OHL teams have to cut down to three overage players by the Jan. 9 final trade deadline.

Photo/Walt Dmoch

Jets' Shier, Hall called up to Port Huron

2011-10-13T22:35:00.002-04:00

The Metro Jets of the North American 3 Hockey League have sent two more players up to the North American Hockey League as defensemen Will Shier and Scott Hall have been called up to the Port Huron Fighting Falcons.

Forward Mike Moroso, who played for the Jets last season, currently plays for Port Huron, while rookie Jets goalie Dillon Kelley dressed as a backup for Port Huron two weekends ago. Metro captain Tommy Kilgore played three games for Port Huron last season as well.

“Selfishly, I would like it if both Will and Scott came back to us,” said Metro head coach Jason Cirone. “I don’t see it happening, though. We’re in the business of winning hockey games and moving players to the next level. Our players are getting the exposure and taking advantage of their opportunities.”

Shier played for Port Huron this week in a win against the Traverse City North Stars on Wednesday and a loss against the Michigan Warriors Thursday.

One of the Jets’ returning players and an alternate captain this year, Shier, a 19-year-old Sterling Heights native, had three assists in nine games this year. He joined the Jets last season at the midway point and tallied four assists in 21 games. Shier went to Port Huron’s camp last summer and nearly made the team. Now, he may be in the NAHL for good.

“Will has been our best defenseman by far and has earned this,” Cirone said. “He’s turned his game around from where he was last year and has carried the load for us defensively. He’s played a lot of hockey this year.”

Hall, who was sent down to the Jets last weekend from Port Huron to see some playing time, also played this week on his NAHL recall. He was a Division 2 Second Team All-State selection in 2010 while playing for Muskegon Catholic Central High School.

Hall recorded two assists in Metro’s loss in Flint Sunday afternoon.

“Scott played really good last weekend and showed steady composure and solid play without the puck,” said Cirone. “He’s a big kid (6-foot-6, 235 pounds) and plays a simple game.”

The Jets (7-2-0-0) play two games in Pittsburgh this weekend before returning home next Saturday to host Flint at 7:50 p.m. at Lakeland Arena.

Saad returned to Saginaw from Hawks

2011-10-12T20:43:00.003-04:00

Saginaw Spirit forward Brandon Saad has been returned to the Spirit from the Chicago Blackhawks, the Spirit announced Wednesday evening.

Saad played the entire preseason and earned a spot on the opening day roster with the Blackhawks after signing an entry level contract with the club the day before the start of the NHL season. Saad, taken in the second round (43rd overall) by the Blackhawks in June, played in Chicago’s first two regular season games registering three shots on goal.

“The Saginaw Spirit are very proud of Brandon and the progress he made during training camp and the preseason with the Chicago Blackhawks," said Spirit president Craig Goslin. "It is the goal of the Saginaw Spirit to develop its talent to play at the NHL level. We are extremely excited to have Brandon back with the Saginaw Spirit this season."

Last season with the Spirit, Saad scored 27 goals and recorded 28 assists in the regular season.

Photo - CHL Images

Devane back, Whalers now with four OAs

2011-10-12T11:22:00.005-04:00

The Plymouth Whalers announced Tuesday the return of 20-year-old center-left wing Jamie Devane to the Whalers from Toronto of the American Hockey League.

Devane - selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the third round (68th overall) of the 2009 National Hockey League Entry Draft - started this season with the AHL Toronto Marlies, but he has not played in a regular season game.

Devane was originally selected by the Whalers in the seventh round (130th overall) of the 2007 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection. He enjoyed his best season last year for the Whalers, scoring 18 goals with 20 assists for 38 points and 131 penalty minutes in 63 games.

In all, Devane has 29 goals with 40 assists for 69 points and 307 PIMs in 178 games for Plymouth.

The Whalers now have four overagers in Devane, captain Beau Schmitz and forwards RJ Mahalak and Andy Bathgate. Only three can play in a game.

Devane is expected to report to Plymouth in time for this weekend's games. Plymouth plays in Windsor on Thursday and will host Niagara on Friday and Sarnia on Saturday at Compuware Arena. Both games start at 7:05 p.m.

Photo - Walt Dmoch/Plymouth Whalers

Whalers trade Restoule to Sudbury

2011-10-08T18:31:00.003-04:00

The Plymouth Whalers have announced the trade of 18-year-old left wing Adam Restoule to the Sudbury Wolves for a future fifth-round pick in the Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection.

Restoule was originally selected by Plymouth in the 11th round (213th overall) in the 2009 OHL draft.

In 34 career games with Plymouth, Restoule scored one goal and had 36 penalty minutes.

Stemkoski making noise for Jets

2011-10-07T11:47:00.005-04:00

Matt Stemkoski quietly came to the Metro Jets in a trade last season from the Toledo Cherokee, but is making noise this year as Metro’s leading scorer after a 10-point outburst last weekend against the Battle Creek Jr. Revolution.

The North American 3 Hockey League subsequently recognized the 18-year-old Novi native with its Combat Hockey 1st Star honors for last week.

“Matt’s a kid that came in last year and struggled a bit,” said Jets’ head coach Jason Cirone. “He had moved from forward to defense and then back. This year, he’s comfortable at center and has really elevated his game. Instead of waiting for plays to happen, he’s going out and making things happen. He’s creating his own openings.”

Last season in 27 games after the trade, Stemkoski posted eight goals and 11 points. This season, he’s light years ahead of that pace with eight goals and 11 assists in just seven games playing on a line with Mike McKinnon and Steve Klisz. That line has accounted for 22 of Metro’s 44 goals so far.

Cirone knew Stemkoski was capable of that type of offensive production last year after having scouted Stemkoski during his later youth hockey years. The only problem was that Toledo coach Scott Syring also knew that Stemkoski had the potential to be a breakout player.

“Stemkoski was a kid I wanted to try and get from day one when I walked through the doors here,” Cirone said. “I called Scott a few times to inquire about Matt and each time, Scott said he wasn’t available. Then one day, Scott called me back and said he was available, so we jumped on it.”

And while the stats have been a big reason why the Jets are 6-1-0-0 early in the season, Cirone said Stemkoski’s makeup is more than numbers.

“He’s a very committed hockey player and his goal is to go play college hockey,” said Cirone. “He’s a good kid and he’s a leader in our locker room, which is why he’s one of our alternate captains this year. I think he realizes what it is going to take to get to the next levels of hockey.”

LOOKING BACK, LOOKING AHEAD

The Jets outscored Battle Creek, 19-5, last Friday and Saturday night at Lakeland Arena.

In the first game of the series, Stemkoski scored once and added three assists in a 10-4 win.

McKinnon (two goals, assist), Klisz (goal, two assists), Matt Stirling (goal, two assists), Travis Hargett (three assists) and Jake Schlacht (three assists) all had three-point games.

“It was good seeing Stirling come out of his early-season funk,” said Cirone. “I also thought Hargett had a great weekend.”

Chris Hellebuyck added two goals and Tim Wlodkowski, Zach Schlacht and captain Tommy Kilgore scored one apiece.

Dillon Kelley made 15 saves for the win between the pipes.

Saturday night in a 9-1 victory, Stemkoski notched two goals and four assists and McKinnon chipped in with a pair of goals and three assists. Klisz added a goal and three assists.

Hargett and Doug Andrews each had a goal and an assist, while Jake Schlacht and Branden Morganroth scored once.

In net, Devin Williams earned the victory with a 22-save outing.

“We’ll take the two wins, but it was a difficult weekend to implement our systems by playing a lot on special teams,” said Cirone. “Battle Creek is struggling, but they’re rebuilding and (Jr. Revolution coach) Richard Keyes is doing it the right way. I rolled four lines and all four lines got significant ice. All in all, I think it was a positive weekend.”

The Jets play on the road in Toledo this Saturday night and then at Flint on Sunday afternoon.

“This won’t be an easy weekend,” Cirone added. “Toledo and Flint are two tough teams and they’ll both be ready.”

JET STREAKS

Second-year defenseman Ian Costello (Lansing) was released late last week by the Jets and in doing so, Cirone didn’t mince words in explaining the reason for doing so.

“He quit,” said Cirone. “He came in and quit. I understand why, but do I condone it? No. Am I disappointed? Yes. We went out of our way last season to help this kid out and then this happens.”

Costello was held without a point in four games this season.

Kelley was also returned by the NAHL’s Port Huron Fighting Falcons after serving as the team’s backup last Saturday night.

“Dillon wasn’t playing for us Saturday and (Port Huron coach) Bill Warren called and said they needed a backup because one of their guys was suspended, so Dillon went and sat the bench for them,” explained Cirone. “It was by no means a promotion, but it was good for him to see a game at the NAHL level.”

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Todd Knaus, a forward who played 16 games for the Jets during the 2009-10 season, is starting his freshman year at Finlandia University, a Division III school in Hancock.

With the Lions, Knaus is reunited with Vinnie Pietrangelo, a former Jets’ teammate. Both are also Traverse City natives.

Knaus scored three goals with two assists during his stint in Waterford.

Photo - Andy Grossman/Detailed Images

Saginaw's Oleksiak inks with Dallas

2011-10-06T20:20:00.003-04:00

The Saginaw Spirit announced today that defenseman Jamie Oleksiak has come to terms on a three-year, entry-level contract with the National Hockey League’s Dallas Stars.

The Toronto native was the Stars' first-round selection, taken 14th overall in the 2011 NHL draft in Minnesota.

Oleksiak is currently in his first Ontario Hockey League season where he has recorded one goal in five games played. Oleksiak spent the 2010-11 season attending Northeastern University in the NCAA ranks where he posted 4-9-13 numbers in 38 games.

Oleksiak was returned to the Spirit just prior to the team’s season opening game in London on September 23 after a successful stay at the Stars' camp where he participated in the Traverse City NHL Prospect Tournament.

The 6-foot-7, 240-pound rearguard is also being considered for a spot with the Canadian national junior team that will participate in the 2012 World Junior Hockey Championship after being invited to the team’s development camp this past summer.

Fighting Falcons make roster moves

2011-10-05T20:47:00.002-04:00

The Port Huron Fighting Falcons have made a pair of trades as they prepare for their trip to Jamestown, N.Y., for a weekend series with the Ironmen.

Defenseman Ryan Nick was acquired last week in a trade with the Traverse City North Stars that saw the Fighting Falcons give up a tender and a third-round pick in the 2012 NAHL Draft. The Plymouth native made an instant impact, earning three points on a goal and two assists in last Saturday’s 9-0 win over Jamestown at McMorran Arena.

Nick had appeared in three games with Traverse City, including the September 28 matchup between the North Stars and the Fighting Falcons. The 18-year-old did not register a point in the 5-2 Traverse City victory.

Forward Joseph Pizza will make his Fighting Falcons debut this weekend in Jamestown after coming over in a trade with the St. Louis Bandits. Pizza (pronounced PIE-zuh), 19, appeared in five games for the Bandits this year, but has not yet registered a point.

The Fighting Falcons parted with a tender and a fourth-round draft pick to bring in the Sylvania, Ohio native.

Nick and Pizza both come from the Midwest Elite Hockey League, with Nick having played for Detroit Victory Honda and Pizza for Detroit Honeybaked. Nine Fighting Falcons players have roots in the Midwest Elite Hockey League, including five players from Honeybaked.

Travis Hill, who appeared in three games with the Fighting Falcons at the NAHL Showcase in mid-September, has been traded to the Michigan Warriors in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick. Hill tallied two goals, two assists and a plus/minus of minus-8 in 17 games in Port Huron last season.

In other roster news, Dillon Kelley, who was brought up from the Metro Jets to serve as backup goalie while Pete Megariotis served a one-game suspension, has returned to the Waterford-based NA3HL team.

Saad to start season with Blackhawks

2011-10-04T16:52:00.004-04:00

The Saginaw Spirit announced today that forward Brandon Saad has come to terms on a three-year entry level contract with the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League.

The Gibsonia, Penn., native was the Blackhawks' second round selection in the 2011 NHL Draft, taken 43rd overall.

This past season with the Spirit, Saad recorded 27 goals and 28 assists for 55 points in 59 games in his first year in the Ontario Hockey League.

Among Saad’s highlights during Chicago’s rookie and main camps and preseason games was a game-winning goal against the Washington Capitals.

Saad may make his NHL regular season debut this Friday when the Blackhawks begin their season in Dallas against the Stars.

Saad is the lowest drafted player to secure a roster position with Chicago in his draft year since the 2003-04 season and the team had to have signed him by 5 p.m. EST in order for him to suit up on opening night. He still could be returned to the Spirit for the 2011-12 OHL season as he is not eligible to be sent to a minor league affiliate, but he can play up to nine games before the first year of his NHL contract comes into play.

Photo/Aaron Bell/OHL Images

Rochester native decides on Michigan

2011-09-29T19:49:00.003-04:00

The U.S. NTDP has announced that defenseman Jacob Trouba has committed to play collegiate hockey at the University of Michigan next season.

The 6-foot-2, 194-pound native of Rochester collected seven points (3g, 4a) while playing 31 USHL games for Team USA’s Under-17 squad in 2010-11. Trouba participated in this summer’s NHL Research, Orientation and Development Camp alongside several other top NHL draft-eligible prospects. He has been tabbed as one of the top USHL prospects for the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

"I really liked the way he played in all three games I viewed; he's a very good size D man," Al Jensen of NHL Central Scouting told NHL.com following the USHL Fall Classic. "He skates exceptionally well and likes to rush up ice with the puck and with good speed. He'll also join the rush himself, is very confident and has great agility. He's strong physically, can handle the puck and is always alert. He also did a good job with one-on-one rushes against ... he has great upside."

Trouba won’t have to go far to continue his hockey career as the Ann Arbor-based National Team Development Program is in close proximity to the University of Michigan campus.

LISTEN to Trouba’s recent interview on The Pipeline Show as he discusses his development and decision to play college hockey at Michigan.

Photo by Tom Sorensen

Muskegon's Pomarico chooses Army

2011-09-29T18:16:00.003-04:00

Muskegon Lumberjacks defenseman Christian Pomarico committed to play hockey for the United States Military Academy on Wednesday.

In doing so, the blueliner from Simsbury, Conn., not only secured the next step of his hockey career, but also fulfilled his childhood dream.

“Ever since I was young, I’ve wanted to serve in the military,” Pomarico said. “Both of my grandfathers served and I’m very proud. This is very important to my family.”

Pomarico will move to West Point in fall 2012. He got an opportunity to impress Army assistant coach Trevor Large with his performance at the United States Hockey League Fall Classic last week. On Tuesday morning, he received a call and an offer from Army head coach Brian Riley.

“I had a good weekend,” Pomarico said. “They liked the way I played and I couldn’t be more grateful that they offered me a spot.”

Pomarico consulted his parents and Jacks head coach Kevin Patrick for advice before committing and admits that a weight has been lifted from his shoulders.

“It’s a big relief,” Pomarico said “I came into the season not entirely sure of what options I’d have. I had a lot of faith in Coach Patrick and the coaching staff here to get me where I wanted to be.”

The Jacks already have a connection to the academy, as former Jacks athletic trainer Jason Rule is in his first season in that same role at West Point.

Hellebuyck glad he chose Jets, NA3HL

2011-09-28T19:52:00.007-04:00

For the Metro Jets and Chris Hellebuyck, the second time was the charm.

The Jets drafted Hellebuyck in 2010, but the Commerce Township native elected to play midget hockey last season with the Lansing Capitals.

When the 2011 North American 3 Hockey League draft came around this past June, Hellebuyck was again drafted by the Jets and this time, he made the decision to make the jump to junior hockey.

“When I signed with Metro, I knew a little about the league and I had a chance to skate with (Jets head coach) Jason (Cirone) the season before, so I knew a little about him as well,” said the 19-year-old Hellebuyck. “I feel lucky to play for a coach who I will learn from, rather than just play for, and so far I've really enjoyed the hockey in this league.”

Playing on a forward line with Doug Andrews and Josh Beleski, the trio has accounted for almost a third of the team’s scoring this season. Hellebuyck has two goals and eight points through five games.

“I think that getting to play with players like Andrews and Beleski has helped a lot,” Hellebuyck said. “Andrews is always their picking up where I left off with the puck and Beleski always seems to be in position. I also think that getting that first goal and having a good first game was very important for me. It takes a lot of pressure off me as a player so I can continue to try and get better now.”

The Jets had actually hoped for two Hellebuycks to be playing in Waterford this season and signed goalie Connor Hellebuyck, Chris’s younger brother, to a tender last May. Connor earned a tryout with the expansion Odessa Jackalopes of the North American Hockey League and made the team.

Still, having the older Hellebuyck is a great situation for the Jets.

“My goal in hockey is to earn a college degree with it and I think that junior hockey is the best route,” Hellebuyck said. “I would really like to play with my brother in Texas if I were given that opportunity, too. This season, my biggest expectation for myself is to improve on what I know were my weak spots last year. I would also like to make sure that I can help my team on the offensive side of the ice as well as the defensive side.”

To keep improving, Hellebuyck looks to two Detroit Red Wings forwards for inspiration.

”I really enjoy watching Pavel Datsyuk play because he is always where he needs to be,” explained Hellebuyck. “It looks like he's not working hard, but he will always be in the right place. I also enjoy watching Darren Helm play because it is somewhat of the opposite. He works hard and creates his opportunities that way.”

If the first five games are any indication, Hellebuyck will be enjoying a multitude of opportunities this year with Metro.

LOOKING BACK, LOOKING AHEAD

Matt Stemkoski scored the game-tying goal and then the overtime game-winner as the Jets came from behind and topped the Flint Jr. Generals, 4-3, last Saturday night at Lakeland Arena.

The Jets, now 4-1-0-0, took a 2-1 lead into the third period on goals from Matt Stirling and Beleski before Luke McDiarmid and Edward Osowski gave Flint the lead with 1:06 to play.

With goalie Devin Williams on the bench for the extra skater, Stemkoski beat Flint goalie Dominic Orlando at 19:19 to send the game to the extra session where Stemkoski won it at 2:33.

Williams finished with 30 saves and has been in net for all four Jets' victories this year.

Mike McKinnon and Steve Klisz added two assists apiece for Metro.

The Jets host the Battle Creek Jr. Revolution (0-6-0-0) this weekend for a two-game series. Both games Friday and Saturday night at Lakeland start at 7:50 p.m.

JET STREAKS

The Jets released 17-year-old rookie defenseman Neal Krentz (Bloomfield Hills) prior to the game against Flint. Krentz had not seen any game action this season.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Vinnie Pietrangelo, Metro’s top draft pick in 2009, is entering his sophomore season at Finlandia University this fall on the Lions’ blueline.

Pietrangelo, a 20-year-old Traverse City native, tallied a goal and nine points in 47 games with the Jets during the 2009-2010 season. Last year with FU, he had two assists while playing in all 24 games.

Pietrangelo’s third cousin, Alex Pietrangelo, is starting his second season with the NHL’s St. Louis Blues. Vinnie’s father, Tony, is third cousins with Alex's uncle, Frank Pietrangelo, himself a former NHL goaltender with Pittsburgh and Hartford in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Photo by Andy Grossman/Detailed Images

Lomberg feels USHL, 'Jacks best fit

2011-09-27T22:25:00.004-04:00

Ryan Lomberg has a dream, and with every hockey phenom like him who chooses the United States Hockey League path to greatness, that dream becomes more of a reality.

“I believe that one day, the USHL and college hockey will be clear-cut better than the OHL (Ontario Hockey League), especially with Canadian players coming over,” the first-year Muskegon Lumberjack said. “I’m proud to be part of that movement.”

Lomberg, a Richmond Hill, Ont., native, was selected sixth overall by the Jacks in the 2011 United States Hockey League Entry Draft. But he was destined for Muskegon long before his name was called and long before he put together an extraordinary performance at the Jacks’ tryout camp in mid-June.

Stuffing the stat sheet is one thing, and Lomberg certainly did just that for Hill Academy last season to the tune of 99 points on 52 goals and 47 assists. His team took part in the Muskegon Winter Showcase at the L.C. Walker Arena in late February. The inaugural event brought in 10 premier AAA teams and featured six members of the Jacks’ current active roster.

“The showcase gave us the chance to recruit him really hard in our own building. We got to show him first-hand what we have to offer,” Lumberjacks head coach and general manager Kevin Patrick said. “You’ve got to be able to get players to your building so you can show them what you have to offer. His team coming and him being able to see first-hand what we’re doing in Muskegon helped him decide that it’s where he wanted to be.”

“It was a very impressive event,” Lomberg said. “It gave me a chance to see Muskegon in person, and it’s such a beautiful town. The arena is awesome. The facilities are great. The coaching staff and ownership were nice and welcoming to me. I knew I wanted to be a Lumberjack right there and then.”

Lomberg wasted no time making his presence known for Musky, leading the team with four points on a goal and three assists during the exhibition schedule. Perhaps most noticeably, Lomberg showed zero hesitation when teammate and fellow USHL rookie Nick Seeler was checked from behind in the waning minutes of a hard-fought game against Youngstown. Lomberg immediately came to Seeler’s aid.

“Chemistry is everything,” Lomberg said. “It’s not just about being close off the ice, either. It’s especially on the ice. If someone gets hit, you feel it. You immediately want to stick up for them. When they’re upset, you’re upset. Chemistry is one of the most important pieces for a championship team.”

Lomberg, who wore the 'C' for Hill Academy, as well as during his development with the Mississauga Reps youth hockey program, knows a thing or two about the power of chemistry. He was immediately impressed with the leadership of such returners as defenseman Carter Foguth.

“We all love Fogey, and he can command a room,” Lomberg said. “He knows when to say the right thing, and he always says it. I could see it immediately in just the first exhibition game.”

The Jacks are certainly deep and skilled and boast a wealth of leadership with 10 players who saw significant ice time during the 2010-11 campaign returning for the upcoming season.

“The guys are tough on each other, and having half of the team returning is great,” Lomberg said. “They do a nice job of physically helping us out, but they’re also telling us what to do and what to watch out for – on and off the ice.”

Lomberg has committed to play hockey at one of the most storied programs in all collegiate sports – the University of Maine.

He admits he’s still acclimating to Muskegon and the tempo and physicality of the premier juniors league in the nation. But the challenge only makes him work harder.

“Plain and simply, Muskegon was the best place for me to develop and hopefully I can reach the dream someday of playing in the NHL,” Lomberg said. “If you’re willing to work for it, they give you everything a player could need to be a premier player and stand out as a true freshman on the collegiate level and beyond.”

'Jacks help raise $2700 for WSAHA

2011-09-26T17:05:00.003-04:00

The Muskegon Lumberjacks raised $2,700 to support the West Shore Amateur Hockey Association during their exhibition game against the Youngstown Phantoms on Saturday, Sept. 17 at the West Shore Community Ice Arena.

Along with the Lumberjacks, many West Shore volunteers helped raise funds through ticket sales, a silent auction and the classic intermission game Chuck-a-Puck.

“This was a terrific opportunity to showcase the USHL to our fans in the Ludington area,” said Lumberjacks president Tim Taylor. “More importantly, the event raised significant money for the West Shore Amateur Hockey Association.”

All proceeds from the event were donated to the West Shore Amateur Hockey Association and the youth programs they facilitate. Additional funds will be allocated among the youth hockey teams to help cover expenses for ice time.

“I wanted to present a professional element to the event, and see to the needs of each team and their staff and provide an enjoyable experience for the spectators,” said Charlie Weber, president of the WSAHA. “The game was exciting and I am pleased at the result of the first-year run at this. It will only get better.”

“I was pleased to see the organization of the event, the professionalism of the players, coaches, and staff of both Muskegon and Youngstown,” West Shore Community Ice Arena manager Mike Moore said. “I thought the teams made a great impression on the local community and I hope this helps facilitate both interest in hockey at our arena and for the Muskegon Lumberjacks.”

The Lumberjacks also participated in a 20-minute post-game skate with hockey fans and children. The players signed autograph cards and memorabilia.

“A special thank you to Charlie Weber, West Shore Community Ice Arena, and all of the volunteers that made the event possible,” Taylor said. “Furthermore, we thank those that attended and supported the event.”

Port Huron begins North play Saturday

2011-09-23T16:41:00.003-04:00

The Port Huron Fighting Falcons will begin play in the NAHL’s newly realigned North Division this weekend, as they play road games against the Michigan Warriors and the Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings.

This year, the North Division will be made up of the Fighting Falcons and four other teams: the Warriors, Traverse City North Stars, Jr. K-Wings and the Jamestown (NY) Ironmen.

The Fighting Falcons are looking to build off of their success at last week’s NAHL Showcase in Blaine, Minn., where they skated to a 3-0-1 record, and left in a three-way tie atop the North Division.

Port Huron’s success was one of the biggest stories of the showcase, where each NAHL team played four regular-season games. Three of Port Huron’s four games took place against teams that won their division last season. A shootout loss to the reigning Robertson Cup champion Fairbanks Ice Dogs last Saturday kept the Fighting Falcons from a perfect record.

The Fighting Falcons will travel to Flint Saturday to take on the Michigan Warriors, with a Sunday matchup set in Kalamazoo against the Jr. K-Wings. The Warriors, who fell to the Ice Dogs in last year’s Robertson Cup finals, also left Blaine with a 3-0-1 record. Last season, the Warriors were the only team to lose twice to Port Huron.

The expansion Jr. K-Wings won two of their four showcase games. Forward Chad McDonald led the Jr. K-Wings with eight points in four games, with six coming in a five-goal effort in Kalamazoo’s 8-2 victory over the Dawson Creek Rage last Friday. McDonald was named the NAHL’s third star of the week for his efforts.

Rookies Kody Polin and Easton Powers tallied five points apiece at the showcase to lead the Fighting Falcons. Polin put up four goals in a 7-3 win over the New Mexico Mustangs last Friday, while Powers dished out four assists and netted one goal in last week’s action.

Fighting Falcons goalies Pete Megariotis and Max Milosek were strong in net last week, each starting two games, stopping over 90 percent of the shots they faced and earning goals against averages of less than 2.

The Fighting Falcons will travel to Traverse City next Wednesday to take on the North Stars, who went 12-0 against the Fighting Falcons last season. The North Stars, like the Fighting Falcons and the Warriors, left the NAHL Showcase without a loss in regulation. These teams faced off in a pre-season matchup September 8. Port Huron won that game, 5-2.

Port Huron’s home opener will take place Saturday, Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. at McMorran Arena against Jamestown. Port Huron native Jack Campbell, who was selected by the Dallas Stars with the 11th overall pick in the 2010 NHL Draft, will be on hand to drop the ceremonial first puck and sign autographs.

If the team is able to continue their unbeaten streak, it is possible for them to match last season’s six wins before they even play in front of their home crowd. Port Huron’s next win will give them nine points, half of what they earned in 58 games in their inaugural season.

Saginaw trades Morgan's rights north

2011-09-23T16:37:00.002-04:00

The Saginaw Spirit have traded the rights to Alex Morgan, the 173rd overall pick in the 2010 OHL Priority Selection, to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in exchange for a fifth round pick in the 2012 OHL Priority Selection.

Westland native Brown an OHL captain

2011-09-21T22:19:00.003-04:00

The Kingston Frontenacs have announced that they have named overage forward Tyler Brown team captain for the 2011-12 OHL season.

“I took the opportunity and allowed the kids to voice their opinion and mark down who they would like as captain and assistants,” said Kingston head coach Todd Gill. “I looked over their answers and agreed with their choices.”

Brown, a Westland native and former Plymouth Whaler, joined the Frontenacs at the trade deadline in January when he came over from the London Knights.

“Brown is a quiet leader,” added Gill. “He leads by example and doesn’t just speak to be heard. He speaks to be meaningful.”

Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

Klisz showing offense early for Metro

2011-09-20T09:40:00.003-04:00

When Steve Klisz scored the overtime game-winner to send the Metro Jets past the Flint Jr. Generals in both team’s season opener two weeks ago, he said after the game that the goal was “definitely one of the biggest goals I’ve ever scored.”

Not too shabby for a player the Jets drafted in June in the 20th round with the 317th overall pick in the North American 3 Hockey League Entry Draft.

“We drafted Klisz on the recommendation of (former Metro assistant coach) Sean Clark,” said Jets head coach Jason Cirone. “So far, he’s been one of our most skilled players and is a kid that can bring the pace of the game to his level. That’s not something you teach and it also shows that he doesn’t panic.”

After he found out Metro selected him, Klisz (pronounced KLISH) started doing his research.

“When I was drafted, I honestly didn't know much about the Jets or the league, but after going to some (summer open) skates and talking to Coach Cirone, I realized that playing for the Jets would be the best for me,” explained Klisz, an 18-year-old forward from Livonia. “I like the team and I’m very glad I made this decision.”

Scoring his clutch goal against Flint only solidified Klisz’s decision to play for the Jets. Like he mentioned, it was one of a handful of what he considers to be memorable goals. He added three more this past weekend against the Queen City Steam and now leads Metro in scoring with nine points.

“Last year for Livonia Churchill High School, we played Orchard Lake St. Mary's in the state quarterfinals and I scored two big goals,” remembered Klisz. “Another time was in Bantams when I scored the game-winning goal at Joe Louis Arena to win the Little Caesar’s championship.”

Klisz, like most players at this level, has very high, yet reasonable expectations of himself.

”I want to play great defense, score 30 goals and have 30 assists and be a great team player,” said Klisz, who grew up looking up to NHL stars Steve Yzerman, Pavel Datsyuk and Mats Sundin. “One person I look up to is my dad. I wouldn't be playing hockey today if it wasn't for him.”

“He’s a very big part of our power play,” said Cirone of Klisz. “He’s so calm, cool and collected with the puck and we need a guy like that on the power play. We’ve scored a power-play goal in every game so far and Klisz is a big part of that.”

Klisz also has a hockey future mapped out past this year.

”I would like to play in the North American Hockey League next year and I think that would be a big achievement for me,” Klisz said. “Then after that, I would like to play college hockey. Ohio State has always been a dream ever since I was a little kid and that would be a blessing if I played for the Buckeyes.”

Keep scoring big goals and Klisz may have his pick of where to play in the future.

LOOKING BACK, LOOKING AHEAD

The Jets reeled off two wins on the road against the Steam last weekend, completing their first sweep in Cincinnati in more than five years.

The Jets, now 3-1-0-0 on the young season, won both games by a 5-3 count with goalie Devin Williams earning both wins.

"The funny thing that happened this weekend is that everyone played well," Cirone said. "I rolled four lines Saturday night, but then we had a couple injuries and I played three lines plus one and eight defensemen Sunday. We played extremely well for five periods this weekend, with the exception being the third period Sunday."

Saturday night, Klisz scored twice with an assist, Mike McKinnon had a goal and two assists, Matt Stemkoski a goal and a helper and Doug Andrews the other goal.

Williams finished with 24 saves.

Sunday afternoon, Klisz, Andrews, Stemkoski and McKinnon scored again with Branden Morganroth tallying as well. Andrews has scored in all four games thus far for the Jets.

"The guys worked hard all week and I think our practice Thursday was our best of the year," said Cirone. "It was upbeat, up-tempo and there was a lot of teaching and a lot of learning going on."

Matt Stirling chipped in with a pair of assists and Williams stopped 27 shots in goal.

The Jets return home to Lakeland Arena this Saturday night for their lone game this week, a 7:50 p.m. start against Flint.

Cirone said to prepare for Flint, a team that the Jets played on opening night and took a 8-7 win in overtime, not much should change this week in practice.

"We just have to keep continuing what we're doing," Cirone said. "Flint's a very good team and if we don't keep ourselves grounded from winning these two games in Queen City, Flint will fix that real quick."

JET STREAKS

Metro captain Tommy Kilgore turned 19 last Sunday … Forward Travis Hargett was back in the lineup for the Queen City series after suffering an upper-body in the season opener against Flint on Sept. 9 … Williams is tied with Granite City goalie Matt Grove for most wins in the NA3HL this year (3).

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Steve Oleksy, a defenseman who played for the Jets during the 2004-2005 season, has agreed to terms with the ECHL’s Idaho Steelheads on a contract for this season.

The 25-year-old Oleksy is returning for his third season with the Steelheads. He originally signed with the team in January 2010 and going to the Kelly Cup finals. He returned last season and solidified himself as one of the team’s top blueliners with 21 points (seven goals, 14 assists) and a team-high 134 penalty minutes for the Steelheads before being loaned to the Lake Erie Monsters of the American Hockey League.

“Steve is a guy who got an opportunity last season and really took advantage of it,” Idaho coach Hardy Sauter said. “You want the kinds of players that will step up like Steve has. He got good experience with us and in the AHL last season, so we’re really happy to have him back.”

During his time in the AHL, Oleksy skated in 17 games, picking up four assists and 39 penalty minutes. He also appeared in three playoff games with Lake Erie.

After playing for the Jets, Oleksy played for the NAHL’s Traverse City North Stars and then three seasons at Lake Superior State from 2006-2009.

Whalers swap goalies with Knights

2011-09-19T20:23:00.004-04:00

The Plymouth Whalers have announced the trade of 17-year-old goaltender Jake Patterson to the London Knights in exchange for 17-year-old goaltender Darien Ekblad, plus three draft choices in the Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection.

Besides Ekblad, Plymouth receives London’s third-round choice in the 2012 OHL draft, plus a couple of their own draft choices moved in previous trades – the Whalers' fifth- and eighth-round selections in 2012.

“We feel we owe it to Jake to give him a chance to play in the OHL,” said Plymouth coach-GM Mike Vellucci. “He’ll get a good opportunity in London.”

London is looking for another goaltender to work with incumbent Michael Houser and Patterson may be the answer.

Patterson was originally selected by the Whalers in the seventh round (135th overall) of the 2010 OHL draft. He played twice against London in the preseason and played well, stopping 73 of 79 shots for a .924 save percentage in a 4-2 loss to the Knights on Sept. 9 (final goal into an empty net) and a 3-3 tie the next evening.

Ekblad – 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds - was originally selected by London in the ninth round (179th overall) of the 2010 OHL draft. He’s currently playing for the Leamington Flyers of the Great Lakes Junior Hockey League.

Ekblad is the brother of Aaron Ekblad, the first overall pick in the 2011 OHL Priority Selection who is playing for the Barrie Colts.

Meanwhile, the Whalers will continue in goal with New Jersey prospect Scott Wedgewood and Matt Mahalak (Carolina).

Patterson photo courtesy Plymouth Whalers

Andrews off to fast start with Jets

2011-09-16T16:53:00.002-04:00

Doug Andrews is a player that Metro Jets’ head coach Jason Cirone said “is going to be a heck of a player for us this year.”

And after a six-point weekend to open the North American 3 Hockey League season last Friday and Saturday, who's to argue?

Andrews, who signed with the Jets late in the summer as a free agent, said he knew what he was getting into by joining the Jets.

“When I signed with the Jets, I had some knowledge of the league and I also knew some of the players that were in it,” said Andrews, a 19-year-old Macomb, Mich., native. “One of my coaches from last year, Andy Oleksy, informed me more about the team and thought this would be a good fit for me. When I signed, I actually didn't know much about Coach Cirone, but I know that he expects a lot out of his players. I'm glad I am playing for him this year. I’m going to work hard and focus on becoming an all-around better hockey player.”

Last season, Andrews was part of the Troy Sting Midget AA team (pictured) that won the state championship. The Sting was coached by Fred Costello, a former head coach of the Jets.

Once last season ended, however, Andrews was already looking ahead to making the jump to junior hockey.

“I really tried to prepare myself all summer for the upcoming season by off-ice conditioning and also working on my shot,” the 5-foot-9, 170-pound Andrews said. “This has helped me get off to a good start this season. I don’t really feel any pressure from what Coach Cirone said, I just go out and give 100 percent every shift.”

Growing up, Andrews idolized NHL stars Steve Yzerman and Peter Forsberg. He said both “always played with class and heart.” He tries to model his game after those two and hopes to one day climb the hockey ladder to higher levels.

“I would like to progress next year to the NAHL or a college team,” boasted Andrews. “I intend to do this by continuing my work ethic.”

Or just by simply continuing to be one heck of a player.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Mike Moroso, who played for the Jets last season, led the Port Huron Fighting Falcons over the Traverse City North Stars, 5-2, with a two-goal effort in a preseason NAHL game at Ferris State University on Sept. 8.

"(Moroso) basically made our team out of camp and the reason he did is because he put pucks in the net," Port Huron head coach Bill Warren said to the (Port Huron) Times-Herald. "Did I expect him to score two goals? No. But does he have that ability? Yes."

Last year with the Jets, the 20-year-old from Macomb, Mich., was third in team scoring with 20 goals and 16 assists for 36 points in 43 games. He also led the team and was second in the NA3HL with four shorthanded goals.

Muskegon to play five exhibition games

2011-09-15T21:41:00.000-04:00

Before the Muskegon Lumberjacks’ second quest for the Clark Cup gets under way, the United States Hockey League club will cut its teeth on five exhibition games, culminating with three contests at the USHL Fall Classic.

The Jacks’ first exhibition game will take place at Western Michigan University at 7 p.m. Friday against the Indiana Ice. Admission is free.

The Jacks will turn around to host another Eastern Conference rival, the Youngstown Phantoms, at West Shore Community Ice Arena on Saturday. The game will be a fundraiser for the West Shore Amateur Hockey Association. Tickets can be purchased at either Port City Candy in Manistee or Gordy’s Skate Shop in Ludington. Port City Candy is open every day but Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and can be reached at (231) 887-4333. Gordy’s Skate Shop is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The shop’s phone number is (231) 845-9100. Fans may also call the Lumberjacks’ office at (231) 724-JACK (5225) for more information.

The Jacks’ exhibition slate will wrap up with three games in the USHL Fall Classic in Sioux City, Iowa. Muskegon’s first game during the highly-scouted four-day extravaganza will be against the Chicago Steel at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 22. The Jacks’ second game will be against the Dubuque Fighting Saints at 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23 and they will wrap up the preseason against Green Bay at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24. The Jacks’ second and third games at the Fall Classic will be broadcast at http://www.fasthockey.com/.

“The Fall Classic is something our guys are very excited for, and three games in four days is a great opportunity to gauge the shape you’re in,” Lumberjacks head coach and general manager Kevin Patrick said. “It’s been a great camp so far. I know our guys are eager to get out there and compete.”

The Jacks begin their regular season with four games away from the L.C. Walker Arena before opening the home schedule against the Dubuque Fighting Saints on Saturday, Oct. 22.

Canton's Obuchowski chooses Yale

2011-09-14T21:53:00.001-04:00

The Indiana Ice announced that defenseman Ryan Obuchowski has committed to play college hockey with Yale University starting in the fall of 2012.

The 19-year-old from Canton was a solid blueliner for the Ice during their mid-season resurgence in the 2010-2011 campaign. Obuchowski posted a +9 plus-minus rating and earned all of his 13 points (5G, 8A) between early December and early April, including goals in three consecutive games in late March.

He first came to the Ice after being selected 70th overall in the 2010 USHL Entry Draft.

Obuchowski will be joining a collegiate program that is very familiar to his new head coach with the Ice, Kyle Wallack. Prior to joining the Ice, Wallack spent three seasons on the bench as the associate head coach for the Bulldogs.

"I'm extremely happy for Ryan," Wallack said. "He exemplifies everything you look for in a student, a person and a hockey player. His hockey ability will fit right into Yale's style of play."

Photo courtesy Whiteshark Photography

Muskegon's DeBlouw has faith

2011-09-14T13:21:00.004-04:00

By Christopher Heimerman
Lumberjacks staff

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we do not see.” – Hebrews 11:1.

During his rookie season in the United States Hockey League, Matt DeBlouw rode a veritable roller coaster of emotion because of an unfortunate injury, but was sustained by faith.

Entering his sophomore campaign, the Muskegon Lumberjacks’ electrifying forward has a much more serene outlook.

“I’m in a relaxed state right now,” DeBlouw says, “now that I’ve got a year under my belt.”

And what a year it was.

DeBlouw missed the bulk of the 2010-11 regular season with a lacerated spleen, an injury he suffered while delivering a clean, bone-rattling body check during the third game of the Jacks’ season Oct. 9 against Team USA in Ann Arbor. About six months later, the Chesterfield native broke out with a team-high eight points (3 goals, 5 assists) and +6 plus/minus rating over six games during the Jacks’ inspired Clark Cup playoff run.

“The most important thing coming back is trying to click with your teammates again,” says DeBlouw, a product of Belle Tire Youth Hockey whom the Jacks selected in the second round of the 2010 USHL Entry Draft. “It showed during the playoffs. It took time, but we all started clicking again. It felt so great after being frustrated when I tried to click again after I came back from the injury. I hadn’t skated with my teammates for three months.”

‘I surrender’

DeBlouw missed those three months after only getting to cut his teeth on two full USHL games before his tough-luck injury. But he refused to let his confidence wane, thanks to his relentless support system and, perhaps most importantly, his unshakable faith. He was hospitalized for six days, during which his family and girlfriend, Holly, kept him constant company.

“They were there every day, and I couldn’t have done it without them,” DeBlouw says. “My family’s always been there for me.”

DeBlouw admits that he needed to “surrender,” and trust that God would help him overcome the injury.

“Faith helped me push through and has gotten me to where I am,” DeBlouw says. “I could’ve been depressed and down in the dumps. I just reminded myself, ‘I know I can’t play tomorrow or the next day, but I know God will help me get back in a couple months.’ I just had to surrender and have faith.”

Coach provides consolation

At the forefront of his support was Jacks head coach Kevin Patrick. When a doctor told DeBlouw he might not play hockey again last season, Patrick told his player to keep his spirits high.

“He just told me to take it day by day, to eat right, stay healthy and stay safe,” DeBlouw says.

When DeBlouw was cleared to return for the Jan. 14 game against Youngstown, he showed no effects of missing time in terms of his intensity. While his stride wasn’t quite as powerful as it was coming out of training camp, he fearlessly played his way and the Jacks’ way – fast and physical.

“That’s all because of Coach Patrick and playing on a fast and physical team,” DeBlouw said. “He told me it was a freak accident and that I need to keep playing the way that I play. If I didn’t, there was no sense being out there.”

DeBlouw admits feeling frustrated that his effort wasn’t consistently translating in the points column. Before breaking out at the most important time – the postseason – he registered six points on two goals and four assists in the final 30 games of the regular season.

“Coach Patrick just kept telling me to take it day by day,” DeBlouw says. “Suddenly, in the playoffs we clicked. (Matt) Berry, (Ryan) Misiak and I started clicking. And (Travis) Belohrad and I started clicking toward the end. It felt great that coach used me to help other lines get going. We needed a whole team effort and that’s exactly what we delivered.”

That was then, this is now

DeBlouw can’t wait for Friday night, the first exhibition game against the Indiana Ice at Western Michigan University. But he’s certainly made exceptional use of his summer leading up to the preamble to the 2011-12 USHL season.

While not enjoying a couple of trips to Mackinaw City, he’s been bulking up –thanks to the rigorous program put together by Jacks assistant coach and certified strength trainer Dave Noel-Bernier. DeBlouw is boasting another 10 pounds and now checks in at 6 feet tall and 175 pounds. Given his postseason explosion and dedication during the offseason, he’ll undoubtedly be a must-see player this season.

But the first thing you notice when you bump into him isn’t the new bulk. It’s his infectious, ear-to-ear smile.

“I just feel at peace coming into this season,” DeBlouw says. “Our team is gelling so well. We’ve got vets who know what they’re doing, and the incoming group is a great one. They’re working hard and fitting in. I’m excited for the newcomers to look to me for help, and I’m ready to have some fun this season.”

- Christopher Heimerman is the broadcaster and communications director for the Muskegon Lumberjacks. He can be reached here.

Photo by Dave Reginek

North Stars start new season tonight

2011-09-14T08:56:00.003-04:00

The exhibition season is in the rear-view mirror and the Traverse City North Stars are steaming toward the regular season opener on Wednesday on the opening day of the four-round North American Hockey League Showcase in suburban Minneapolis.

The Stars, coming off a franchise-first 40-win season, kick off the Showcase against perennial powerhouse Texas, which posted a 35-15-8 mark in 2010-11 and are already qualified for the Robertson Cup finals as host of the season-ending event.

Traverse City head coach Chad Fournier says his club will have to be prepared for a jump in the level of intensity.

“Now they count,” offered Fournier, who will make his official head coaching debut on Wednesday. “We don’t get to dress 22 guys anymore, the pace will be much quicker than it has been (in the preseason). We’ll also have to compete harder. We worked hard in the exhibition games, but when we got to the Port Huron game, we got thoroughly outworked and it showed in the final score.”

The Stars will take on Odessa in Thursday action, a team that crafted a 32-19-7 record last season playing as the Owatonna (Minn.) Express, and follow that with a clash against Aberdeen on Friday. Former North Division foe Springfield (Ill.) will provide the opposition in Saturday morning’s Showcase-capper.

“You go into the Showcase hoping to win all four (games),” Fournier said. “But they are four good opponents. Texas has been very successful program over the years and Springfield closed out last year as hot as any team in the NAHL. Aberdeen also started playing well in the latter stages (of 2010-11) and Odessa is coming off a playoff berth as well. We play some quality teams, we’re always looking to improve every time out, and hopefully we’ll be better on Saturday than we are on Wednesday.”

Before departing for the Land of 10,000 Lakes, Fournier and Co. inked defenseman Dean Burggrabe, who played for the Compuware midget major program last year. The Marquette native will help bolster a young blue-line corps.

“We’ll put our best 20 (players) out there and go after it,” Fournier added. “We’re still learning about each other and the new voice, the new system – but the playoff push begins Wednesday. We’re ready to get going.”

MINNIE MANIA

WHAT: NAHL Showcase

WHERE: Schwan Super Rink – Blaine, Minn.

WHO: All 28 NAHL teams

WATCH IT: Click the FastHockey link at http://www.traversecitynorthstars.com/

WEDNESDAY: vs. Texas, 9 p.m. ET

THURSDAY: vs. Odessa, 3:30 p.m. ET

FRIDAY: vs. Aberdeen, 11:30 a.m. ET

SATURDAY: vs. Springfield, 10:30 a.m. ET

Jets open NA3HL season tonight

2011-09-09T00:01:00.000-04:00

Let bygones be bygones, says Metro Jets head coach Jason Cirone.

After taking over the Jets last year just before the start of the season, Cirone guided the Jets to a 15-29-1 record in the North American 3 Hockey League. Not a bad year, all things considered, and then to move a half-dozen players up the hockey ladder this offseason made last season seem worth it.

That was then, though, and with the Jets’ season opener slated for Friday night at 7:50 p.m.at Lakeland Arena against the Flint Jr. Generals, Cirone feels more prepared for this year.

“On paper, I like my team, but it’s always easier to like your team on paper,” said Cirone. “I think we have a different team than last year where we were a meat and potatoes-type team who liked to dump and chase. This year, we’re going to be a little more skilled and will hopefully control the play a little more than last year. Last year at this time, this really wasn’t my team, but now, this is my team.”

New captain Tommy Kilgore, who tallied 12 goals in 40 games a season ago for the Jets, has noticed the difference in the two seasons as well.

“We’re a lot closer-knit team and I think everyone is more committed than this time last year,” said Kilgore, a 19-year-old native of Pinckney. “Guys aren’t just showing up whenever. Everyone is coming to the rink on time and ready to play hockey. We had probably twice as any guys at our camps this summer and five times the talent. (Cirone) recruited so many guys and I know it had to be hard for him to make some of the cuts. Last year, we were still trying to get guys at this point.”

“We’ll have a lot of depth this year and again, that’s by design and that’s from the hard work of a lot of people this summer,” Cirone said. “Last year at this time, we were basically begging other teams for scraps. That’s nothing against the kids we had last season, but my team last year, we worked our tails off and I’ll never take that away from them. What made us win as many games as we did was the fact we were family.”

Returning skaters along with Kilgore include forwards Travis Hargett (Clarkston), Matt Stemkoski (Novi) and Matt Stirling (Dexter) and defensemen Ian Costello (Lansing), Jake Schlacht (Allen Park), Andrew Shalawylo (Clinton Township) and Will Shier (Sterling Heights).

Stemkoski, Stirling, Schlacht and Shier will serve as alternate captains – two will be home captains and two will wear the ‘A’ for away games.

“All five of our letters are kids that are coming back and that’s not taking anything away from the new kids we have because some of those kids are good leaders, but I told the kids at a meeting this week that you don’t need to have a letter on your jersey to be a leader,” said Cirone. “The way I see it, we have 26 players on the team, 26 leaders.”

Kilgore said being named captain is something that wasn’t expected, but is a challenge he’s ready to tackle.

“It’ll be different for sure,” said Kilgore. “Last year, I really wasn’t a talkative guy. I pretty much came to the rink, played my game and that was it. This year, I’ll have to get the team through any tough times we might have, get guys to step up, things like that. It’ll be more pressure, but I think I can handle it.”

“The reason why we made him captain, and it was unanimous, is that last year, he probably took more crap from me, persevered through it and didn’t take it personally,” explained Cirone. “He worked at it, got himself a call-up (to the NAHL’s Port Huron Fighting Falcons in January) and even though he didn’t get another (NAHL) chance this year, he’s come back here and shown the leadership qualities and abilities he showed last year. It was actually a pretty easy decision to show loyalty to a kid that has shown loyalty to me.”

New to the team this year are goalies Dillon Kelley (Petoskey), Devin Williams (Saginaw), a 2011 draft pick of the Ontario Hockey League’s Erie Otters, and Ethan Loo (Raleigh, N.C.), and forwards Tim Wlodkowski (Katy, Tex.), Chris Hellebuyck (a Commerce Township native whose younger brother, Connor, was tendered by the Jets to play goal this year, but wound up cracking the roster of the NAHL’s Odessa Jackalopes), Mike McKinnon (Troy), Steve Klisz (Livonia), Cameron Bruff (Flushing), Branden Morganroth (Highland), Josh Beleski (Southgate) and Doug Andrews (Macomb). Oxford native and forward Tim Perks also made the team, but will miss the season recovering from a torn ACL.

Though two of the three goalies will be young (Williams is only 16 and Kelley just turned 17 last week), Cirone isn’t worried one bit.

“We have three guys who can step up and carry the load for us and play the most important position in hockey,” said Cirone. “Goalies have short memories, or at least they’ll learn to have short memories working with (assistant coach and goalie coach) Randy (Wilson), and that’s one of the reasons we brought him in on a full-time basis. I don’t know much about playing goal and I’m not going to start trying, so that’s why Randy’s here.”

Adam Reid (Georgetown, Tex.), Max Biggings (Hartland), Niels Oleson (the Jets’ first-ever Sweden native), Neal Krentz (Bloomfield Hills), Zach Schlacht (Jake’s younger brother) and Chad Frost (Clarkston) make up the new crop of defensemen.

“I think we’re going to be strong on the back end and I also think we’ll have a lot of talent up front,” Kilgore said. “Our goalie situation should be really good again and having Randy back is definitely a plus. Losing some of the guys from last year will be tough to replace, but I think a lot of the new guys coming in and some of the returning guys will be able to pick up the slack. We have the talent and we have the skill and I think if we all play the systems coach Cirone wants us to play, we should have no problem winning games.”

Dave Hague steps in as a new assistant coach. Sean Clark, an assistant last season, took a job with the central scouting office of the United States Hockey League. Jamie Hayden, a former head coach of the Jets, remains with the team in a special coaching capacity.

“I have said this since day one when I walked through the door here – we don’t just take good hockey players, we also want quality people,” Cirone said. “I don’t care how good you are. If you’re not a decent person, you don’t play here. The same goes for the coaching and scouting. I like to think I’ve surrounded myself with good people and as a team, that’s what we need to do for the players, too.

“I don’t think a lot should surprise me this year. I tell the kids all the time that the day you stop learning is the day you stop playing the game and it works that way as coaches, too.”

Wins and losses have their share of meaning when it comes to gauging team success, but according to Cirone, the NA3HL is more than numbers in columns.

“We call ourselves a development league and the kids all get a chance to play here,” said Cirone. “I told one kid this week that I treat everybody fair, but different, and as soon as they figure out what that means, we’ll be fine. The goal is always the same and that’s to move kids up. If we go 25-5 inour first 30 games and then 2-18 over our last 20, that’s a good season for me. That means other teams noticed our kids and now they’re gone. Was I disappointed in our record last year? Not one bit, but we did win more games last year than in the two previous years combined.

“Getting to the playoffs and winning a championship is always a goal, but overall, the main goal of Metro Jets hockey is to move kids to the next level.”

ON TAP: FLINT AND CLEVELAND

The Jets host Flint on Friday night and then the Cleveland Jr. Lumberjacks on Saturday night.

Both games face-off at 7:50 p.m.

“Flint usually has a pretty physical team, but we didn’t have too many problems with them last year,” explained Kilgore. “Cleveland is more of a team that doesn’t hit and is usually one of the faster teams we play. With the way things are looking right now, I don’t think we should have too many problems this weekend, but we’ll see.”

Cirone said he doesn’t want to look past any one game this year.

“Our division (with Flint, Cleveland and the Pittsburgh Jr. Penguins) will be one of the toughest in the league,” stated Cirone. “It’s so cliché, but we’ll take it one game at a time. Hopefully, we have a team here that will make other teams worry about us rather than us worrying about them.”

Metro hits the road to play the Queen City Steam in suburban Cincinnati next weekend.

Stirling photo by Andy Grossman/Detailed Images

Florida native Lopez signs in Saginaw

2011-09-08T17:24:00.002-04:00

The Saginaw Spirit have announced the signing of defenseman Ramon Lopez to an Ontario Hockey League contract.

Lopez was selected by the Spirit in the fifth round (96th overall) of the 2011 OHL Priority Selection.

This past season, the Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., native skated with the Toronto Titans Minor Midget program where he was a teammate of Jimmy Lodge, the Spirit’s third round pick this year. Lopez appeared in 30 games, recording 14 goals and 16 assists.

A forward last season, Lopez has been moved back to the blueline by the Spirit and is now listed as a defenseman on the Saginaw roster.

Warriors readying for '11-12 campaign

2011-09-08T12:14:00.003-04:00

The Michigan Warriors start their 2011-12 hockey season this weekend as they play host to Adrian College at Flint’s Iceland Arena on Saturday with a 2 p.m. face-off.

For the exhibition game, season ticket holders will be given a voucher for admission to enter the game, while fans that have not purchased season tickets can purchase adult tickets to the game for $3 each or two for $5. Children 12 and under and children wearing hockey jerseys will be admitted to the game free. There will be no parking charge for the game.

The NAHL North Division playoff champion Warriors will then travel to take on Adrian in the second game of a home-and-home series on Sunday at 2 p.m.

Warriors head to Blaine for Combat Hockey/NAHL Showcase

Next week, the Warriors head to Blaine, Minn., for the 2011 Combat Hockey/NAHL Showcase where they will face Chicago, Corpus Christi, Austin and Dawson Creek.

Warriors Home Opening Weekend

The Warriors' home opener is Friday, Sept 23 at 7:30 p.m. at Perani Arena against the former Motor City team now relocated to Jamestown, N.Y. The Warriors will also face I-69 rival Port Huron the following night at 7 p.m. to wrap-up their first home weekend series.

Kalamazoo names Leone team captain

2011-09-07T23:49:00.002-04:00

The Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings head into their opening weekend of play by selecting its team captains.

Leading the team and wearing the ‘C’ on his sweater will be Chris Leone. Leone, a two-year veteran of the NAHL has spent the last two seasons with the Wichita Falls Wildcats. Leone has 102 games of NAHL experience, tied for the most with Andrew Graves for the most on the roster.

After playing 51 games with the Coulee Region Chill last season, Chris Hughes has been named one of two full-time alternate captains for the Jr. K-Wings. Hughes, a natural scorer, was Michigan’s Mr. Hockey in 2010.

Joining Hughes as a full-time alternate captain is Graves. Graves has spent the last two seasons with the Motor City Metal Jackets. Last season, he was third on the team in scoring with 44 points (26 goals, 18 assists).

Along with the two full-time alternate captains, there will be one home and one away alternate captain for each game. The home game alternate captain will be Taylor Burden. Burden, a 19-year-old forward, spent time with the Traverse City North Stars after being their 12th overall draft selection in 2009.

Acting as the away game alternate captain will be Christian George. A rookie in the NAHL, George most recently played for the Chicago Fury 18U AAA Midget Major program.

Muskegon's Schulze decides on Badgers

2011-09-06T13:15:00.003-04:00

It is safe to assume that Muskegon Lumberjacks defenseman Kevin Schulze had a wonderful Labor Day weekend.

On Saturday, the White Bear Lake, Minn., native made his verbal commitment to play college hockey at the University of Wisconsin beginning in fall 2012.

“It feels great,” Schulze said. “It’s a load off my shoulders to know where I’m going to college. I’ve always loved watching Wisconsin hockey, and when I visited Madison, I loved everything about my visit.”

It was not an easy decision for the 5-foot-9, 155-pound blueliner, who weighed the Badgers’ program against that of another powerhouse – the University of Maine.

“I must have talked with my mom and dad for an hour and a half the night before,” Schulze said. “In the end, I just followed my heart.”

Jacks head coach and general manager Kevin Patrick spent five years behind the Badgers’ bench as an assistant to head coach Mike Eaves. In Patrick’s first year at Wisconsin, he and Eaves directed the Badgers to a national title in 2006.

Eaves got his first opportunity to watch Schulze in person during the Jacks’ tryout camp in mid-June.

“Tryout camp definitely played a factor in it,” Patrick said. “Coach Eaves was here specifically to watch Kevin, and for him to be able to see Kevin’s game with his own eyes played a big factor. It’s a great opportunity for Kevin. I have the highest respect for Coach Eaves and his ability to develop players.”

Schulze echoes the same admiration for Eaves.

“He’s done it all – played in the NHL, coached in the NHL and on the college level – so it’s great to have that information,” Schulze said.

During his rookie season in the United States Hockey League, Schulze will heavily rely on Patrick to have him up to speed on Wisconsin hockey long before his arrival in Madison.

“While I was making my decision, I talked with Coach Patrick a lot,” Schulze said. “I’ll rely on him a lot for information on not just the coaches, but everything about the program.”

Schulze has enormous upside, and Patrick is proud that the Jacks will be able to help him develop for not just the college game, but also an outstanding professional career beyond that both on and off the ice.

The Jacks’ 24-man training camp roster now boasts 15 commitments to Division I universities.

“We’re very proud of our commitments. That’s the business we’re in – helping our players reach their full potential,” Patrick said. “They’ve got to stay focused on the task at hand. What they do now here in Muskegon will determine their success in the future.”

Spirit back on Next Media this year

2011-09-06T13:03:00.004-04:00

The Saginaw Spirit, in conjunction with Next Media of Saginaw, have agreed on a new contract that will see the broadcaster continue to be the play-by-play provider for the OHL team.

All 68 Spirit games will be carried live on WSGW 100.5 FM Talk and Sports, along with the Spirit radio show which can be heard every other Monday from 6 pm until 7 pm beginning on September 19.

The play-by-play broadcast team of Leigh Cunningham and Dennis Desrosiers will also return to the airwaves for a fourth season culminating with the Spirit’s opening game of the franchise’s tenth anniversary season on September 23 at the John Labatt Center in London.

Next Media of Saginaw general manager Shannone Dunlap had this to say about the contract extension: “I’m excited to be a part of the excitement of our local OHL franchise, the Saginaw Spirit, with an extension of our broadcast partnership for the 2011-2012 hockey season. You can hear the coach’s show every other Monday and every game’s professional play by play announcing by Leigh and Dennis on your radio at 100.5 FM or on our stream at www.wsgw.com and on your wireless devices - just download the application.”

Spirit president Craig Goslin explains that this agreement further expands upon the relationship between the team and the region.

“The Saginaw Spirit is truly a Great Lakes Bay Region community project and Next Media continues to demonstrate their commitment to our region with their continued support of Spirit hockey," said Goslin. "As we celebrate our tenth year, we are honored to be in a position to be able to extend our current partnership with Next Media on all 68 regular season games and the playoffs. We are grateful for the relationship that we have with all five of Next Media's radio stations. Next Media's strong ratings and professionalism allows us to get the word out to the entire region on upcoming games and all the happenings of the Spirit, both on and off the ice."

Whalers deal d-man Iafrate to Rangers

2011-09-03T15:32:00.004-04:00

The Plymouth Whalers have announced the trade of 17-year-old defenseman Max Iafrate to the Kitchener Rangers in exchange for third-round draft choices in the 2015 and 2016 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selections.

Plymouth and Kitchener will also exchange first-round picks in the 2012 and 2013 Canadian Hockey League Import Drafts.

Iafrate was selected by the Whalers in the first round (15th overall) in the 2010 OHL draft. Iafrate played all of last season in Plymouth, scoring five goals with two assists for seven points and 74 penalty minutes in 62 games.

Plymouth also announced the tryout of free-agent left wing Trent Samuels-Thomas.

Samuels-Thomas, 18 years old and from Hartford, Ct., played last season with the Drummondville Voltigeurs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, where he scored two goals with five assists for seven points and 25 PIMs in 36 games.

Samuels-Thomas also played with Waterloo of the United States Hockey League in 2009-10 and spent 2008-09 with Victory Honda of the Midwest Elite Hockey League, where he scored four goals with four assists for eight points in 31 games.

Samuels-Thomas was contacted Friday and is in transit to Plymouth. He is expected to make his Whalers debut tonight in Plymouth’s preseason game against Windsor at the Farmington Hills Ice Arena.

Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

Vienneau leaves Muskegon for OHL

2011-09-03T13:59:00.004-04:00

The Sudbury Wolves have announced that goaltender Joel Vienneau has reported to the team's tryout camp being held at the Sudbury Arena.

The 6-foot-4, 185-pound goaltender from Hearst, Ont., made the difficult decision this week to choose the option of playing for the Wolves and earning an OHL education scholarship over returning to the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL and the prospect of an NCAA scholarship.

Vienneau backstopped the Lumberjacks to their first-ever playoff series win and posted a .910 save percentage in two playoff rounds last season. He played 39 regular season games for the expansion USHL team and recorded 15 wins and a .889 save percentage.

"I am really pleased to be here in Sudbury and competing for a goaltending position with the Wolves," said Vienneau. "Sudbury has a very good team and a good organization and I’m excited about the prospects of playing here this season."

The Wolves acquired Vienneau's rights last season from the Guelph Storm as part of the Dan Maggio trade which saw the Wolves receive two second round picks, a fifth round pick and the rights to Vienneau, who was originally selected in the seventh round of the 2008 OHL Priority Selection by Guelph.

"Joel was a goaltender that we were very high on in his draft year," said Wolves' GM Blaine Smith. "We are pleased that he has made the decision to report to Sudbury and provide us with another excellent goaltender and depth at our goaltending position. He is a big goaltender that uses his size and challenges shooters. Joel has a positive attitude and excellent character.”

Vienneau's decision to leave the USHL for the OHL was a difficult one, but he’s glad that he did.

"The OHL is a better league and NHL scouts watch every OHL game," said Vienneau. "At this point of my hockey career, my goal is to play hockey as long as I can, attend college and graduate from university down the road. I believe that the OHL is the best fit for me at this point of my career. I look forward to the challenge of earning a job with the Wolves and concluding my junior career in Sudbury."

Muskegon Chronicle (Aug. 30): Muskegon Lumberjacks cut ties with goaltender Joel Vienneau

Warriors start camp, add coach Hamre

2011-09-02T20:22:00.005-04:00

The Michigan Warriors have announced that John Hamre will join the organization as an assistant coach and Dr. Matt Sardelli will return as team physician.

Hamre (HAM-ree) will also take over some of the operational duties with the team for the upcoming season. The Roseville, Minn., native is a veteran coach, having coached at the NCAA Division I, international and professional levels, and has worked with USA Hockey at many developmental camps and coaching clinics. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota’s College of Education.

“We are proud and fortunate to be able to bring a man with John’s winning history and experience on board," said Warriors owner Pat McEachern.

Sardelli, who is affiliated with both Hurley Medical Center and McLaren Regional Medical Center, has previous experience that includes holding the same position with the Minnesota Wild of the NHL.

The Warriors officially start training camp for the 2011-12 season today, after a brief practice and introductory meeting last night.

All Warriors training camp ice-related activities will be held at Flint’s Iceland Arena located at 1106 S. Elms Road, culminating with the team’s annual exhibition game against Adrian College at Iceland on Saturday, Sept 10 with a 2 p.m. face-off. The team’s practice schedule is listed below.

All practices are open to the public with no admission charge.

Saturday, Sept. 3 - 10:30 a.m.-12 noon
Tuesday, Sept. 6 - 2:30 p.m.-4 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 7 - 3 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 8 - 3 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 9 - 3 p.m.-4:30 p.m.

Fighting Falcons ready for pre-season

2011-09-01T18:32:00.001-04:00

Blue Water Area fans will get their first chance to see the Port Huron Fighting Falcons in game action this Saturday, when they will play an intra-squad scrimmage at 7 p.m. at McMorran Arena.

All Fighting Falcons healthy enough to play will be in action at the scrimmage, which is free to the public.

The Fighting Falcons have held on-ice practices for the last two weeks, but Saturday’s scrimmage will be their first real game action together. Players have been going through a grueling training camp since mid-August.

Players and coaches alike look forward to the scrimmage, and to a change of pace from their normal practice routine.

“At this point in training camp I think it’s time to see this team put together what we’ve been working on the past few weeks,” said head coach Bill Warren. “There are some situations that are tough to practice for, and that’s what makes this scrimmage and our other pre-season games so important. Now is the time to work out the kinks in our game so we can make them an afterthought once the regular season starts.”

The team will play their first true pre-season game this Thursday, when they travel to Ferris State University to take on the Traverse City North Stars. The Fighting Falcons will host Oakland University Saturday, September 10 in their last pre-season game. That game, originally scheduled for 7 p.m., has been moved up to 2 p.m. at McMorran Arena.

Following their pre-season matchups, the Fighting Falcons will travel to Blaine, Minn., to take part in the Combat Hockey/NAHL Showcase September 14-17. Each NAHL team will play four regular season games in Blaine, but few will have a tougher week than the Fighting Falcons, who will take on three 2010-11 division winners.

'Jacks announce exhibition schedule

2011-08-31T19:51:00.002-04:00

Before the Muskegon Lumberjacks’ second quest for the Clark Cup gets under way, the United States Hockey League club will cut its teeth on five exhibition games, culminating with three contests at the USHL Fall Classic.

The Jacks’ first exhibition game will take place at Western Michigan University at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16 against the Indiana Ice. Admission is free.

The Jacks will turn around to host another Eastern Conference rival, the Youngstown Phantoms, at West Shore Community Ice Arena on Saturday, Sept. 17. The game will be a fundraiser for the West Shore Amateur Hockey Association. Tickets can be purchased at either Port City Candy in Manistee or Gordy’s Skate Shop in Ludington. Port City Candy is open every day but Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and can be reached at (231) 887-4333. Gordy’s Skate Shop is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The shop’s phone number is (231) 845-9100. Fans may also call the Lumberjacks’ office at (231) 724-JACK (5225) for more information.

The Jacks’ exhibition slate will wrap up with three games in the USHL Fall Classic in Sioux City, Iowa. Muskegon’s first game during the highly scouted four-day extravaganza will be against the Chicago Steel at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 22. The Jacks’ second game will be against the Dubuque Fighting Saints at 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23 and they will wrap up the preseason against Green Bay at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24. The Jacks’ second and third games at the Fall Classic will be broadcast at http://www.fasthockey.com/.

“This is a schedule that will have our guys plenty ready for the regular season,” Lumberjacks head coach and general manager Kevin Patrick said. “The Fall Classic is something our guys are very excited for, and three games in four days will be a great test and a great opportunity.”

The Jacks begin their regular season with four games away from the L.C. Walker Arena before opening the home schedule against the Dubuque Fighting Saints on Saturday, Oct. 22.

North Stars set for seventh NAHL season

2011-08-31T11:50:00.002-04:00

Another run for the Robertson Cup is officially under way.

After a summer’s worth of tryout camps, tenders, draft picks and even a trade, the Traverse City North Stars reported for duty this week as the 2011-12 season gets rolling.

The North Stars, coming off the franchise’s first-ever 40-win regular season campaign, will practice together this week in advance of a Labor Day weekend trio of preseason clashes in Sault Ste. Marie. While the club is entering its seventh season, longtime assistant coach Chad Fournier is going into his first year holding the reins as head coach.

“The guys are working hard and we’re excited to be back at it,” said Fournier, between two-a-day practices. “This first week or two is about coming together as a team, getting back in that winning frame of mind, and preparing for the season. The goal is to improve every day.”

The weekend event will feature six teams from three junior hockey leagues, including the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Soo Eagles, Soo Thunderbirds, Blind River Beavers and Sudbury Cubs and Ontario Junior Hockey League Hewitt Cup champion Wellington Dukes. Traverse City will face off against Blind River in Friday’s tourney opener, Wellington on Saturday, and conclude with a Sunday tilt against the host Eagles.

“It won’t count in the standings, but it does count in terms of what direction we take as a team,” Fournier explained. “There will be plenty of college (scouts) there as well, so there’s some individual motivating factors too.”

While Fournier and his North Stars squad would like to get off on the right foot this weekend, the North American Hockey League’s regular season isn’t far off, either. The NAHL Showcase gets cranked up on Sept. 14, featuring all 28 teams in a four-day spectacle that attracts thousands of fans and college scouts from across the league’s considerable footprint and beyond. The team’s home opener is set for Wednesday, Sept. 28 against North Division foe Port Huron.

“We’re still introducing some concepts, and as a staff we’re still learning about our players,” Fournier added. “Friday, Saturday, and Sunday will be a chance to see how we’ve progressed, and what we’re doing well. We’re all pretty excited to be here, to get going, and to start the journey.”

LABOR BY THE LOCKS

WHAT: Soo Eagles Labor Day Weekend Showcase

WHERE: Pullar Stadium - Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 2
7:30 p.m.: Blind River v. Traverse City

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3
1 p.m.: Soo Eagles v. Sudbury
4:30 p.m.: Soo Thunderbirds v. Blind River
8 p.m.: Wellington v. Traverse City

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4
1 p.m.: Sudbury v. Blind River
4:30 p.m.: Soo Thunderbirds v. Wellington
8 p.m.: Soo Eagles v. Traverse City

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 5
11 a.m.: Sudbury v. Wellington
4 p.m.: Soo Thunderbirds v. Soo Eagles

Metro defenseman Corder off to Oakland

2011-08-30T21:18:00.003-04:00

In what has turned out to be a very successful offseason for the Metro Jets in terms of player advancement, defenseman and former captain Mike Corder has committed to ACHA Division I power Oakland University based in nearby Rochester.

Corder played two years for the Jets and was the 2009-2010 captain and assumed the same role the first half of last season. Statistically, the 21-year-old from Warren posted two goals and 12 assists in 76 career games with a combined 186 penalty minutes.

His solid defensive play, coupled with his fearlessness on the ice, had several colleges taking note as last season came to a close.

“I was really unsure as to where to attend school and try to play hockey this season,” said Corder. “I discussed the colleges with (Jets head) coach (Jason) Cirone and he put me in touch with (OU assistant) coach (Nick) Tomczyk. I spoke a few times with coach Tomczyk and he said that the OU staff had seen me play with the Jets. I went to the first camp of the summer and enjoyed the up-tempo style that the OU players played. I wanted a good college and a good opportunity to play for a national championship – OU is that college. I just want to do whatever I can to help the team and the program.”

OU won the Division II national championship in 2004 and 2006 under former head coach Sean Hogan, also a former Jets player in the mid-1990s, and then moved to Division I and won the national title in 2007, also with Hogan at the helm.

Corder has aspirations off the ice, too.

“My goals academically are to do the best that I can and get the best grades that I am able to get while I try to decide what I want as a major,” Corder explained. “During my first two years, I plan to get a lot of my general education classes out of the way while I try a few different areas to see what interests me. I would like to earn a degree in something that will allow me to stay connected to hockey when my playing career is over.”

The Grizzlies have a handful of ex-Jets on the roster, including forward David Merkle, a former teammate of Corder’s during his first season in Waterford.

“It is nice to have something in common and a few familiar faces does make the transition and getting to know the team a bit easier,” noted Corder.

Showing his humble side, Corder gave thanks to the Jets’ organization and has high hopes for the organization moving forward.

“My two seasons with the Jets made me a more well-rounded player “ said Corder. “I gained a lot of experience and learned a great deal from the coaches, especially coach Cirone. I really learned my role as a player and how to simplify the game. Coach Cirone made the game easy to understand, even at the faster pace of juniors. I don't feel that I would have had the opportunities to get an education and continue to play a high level of hockey without my time with the Jets organization and coach Cirone.

“During my first season, the team started to move a little bit in the right direction. After coach Cirone came in, the team really started to gain momentum going down the right road. The bumps will have to be smoothed out a bit, but I know that coach Cirone expects nothing but 100 percent night in and night out and he won't settle for anything less from his players or himself. I know that the NA3HL draft was very positive for the team and they tendered some good players. I am excited to see what the Jets can accomplish this upcoming season.”

Photo by Andy Grossman/Detailed Images

Training camp starts Friday in Saginaw

2011-08-30T21:05:00.004-04:00

The Saginaw Spirit will open defense of its West Division regular season crown earned a season ago with the commencement of its 2011-12 main camp at the Dow Event Center this week.

The camp will open with 44 players in attendance, including 17 from last year’s squad.

Among the returnees are four Spirit players that were selected in the 2011 NHL Draft this past June: Brandon Saad (2nd Round Chicago), Vince Trocheck (3rd Round Florida), Anthony Camara (3rd Round Boston), and Josh Shalla (4th Round Nashville), along with the recently signed Jamie Oleksiak (1st Round Dallas). Other returning veterans include John McFarland (2nd Round Florida 2010), Brandon Archibald (4th Round Columbus 2010) Ryan O’Connor, Garret Ross (Washington Invite 2011), Brad Walch and goaltenders Tad Galansky and Jake Paterson (NHL eligible 2012).

Four other players with OHL experience will also be in attendance including three skaters acquired in the offseason in Michael Fine (Kingston), Steven Strong (Belleville) and Dean Pawlaczyk (Barrie/Sarnia). Former Belleville Bull Jan Kaminsky has also been invited to the Spirit’s main camp.

Saginaw will also feature its three top picks from the 2011 OHL Priority Selection, and their first selection from the 2011 CHL Import Draft in Nick Moutrey (1st Round), Sam Povorozniouk (2nd Round), Jimmy Lodge (3rd Round) and Vadim Khlopotov (1st Round, CHL Import Draft).

The Spirit will open their preseason schedule on Friday, September 9 as they travel to Sarnia to face the Sting, with the same two teams returning to the Dow Event Center one night later. The exhibition season will wrap up with a home-and-home set with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Friday, September 16 at the Essar Center and on Saturday, September 17 on home ice.

Saginaw and the Great Lakes Bay Region will welcome back the Spirit for the 2011-12 regular season for home opening weekend on September 30 versus the Kitchener Rangers and the following night against Ottawa. The game against the 67’s will feature the raising of the championship banner from this past season’s West Division title.

The following is the team’s on-ice schedule and fans are encouraged to attend the sessions.

Friday, September 2
10:00 am Practice (Team White)
11:00 am Practice (Team Blue)
3:00pm Scrimmage

Saturday, September 3
9:00 am Scrimmage
3:00 pm Scrimmage

Sunday, September 4
10:00 am Practice

Monday, September 5
10:00 am Practice

Lumberjacks' Masters chooses UNH

2011-08-30T20:59:00.003-04:00

Jordan Masters is relieved to know where he’ll continue to hone his hockey skills after his time with the Muskegon Lumberjacks.

After thorough deliberation, the Jacks’ forward committed to the University of New Hampshire late Saturday night.

“It was between New Hampshire and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute,” Masters said. “A lot of deep thought went into the decision.”

Masters, who posted 12 points (five goals and seven assists) for the Jacks in 55 games during his rookie season in the United States Hockey League, leaned heavily on his family to help him make his decision. Perhaps more than anyone, however, he relied on Jacks head coach Kevin Patrick for insight.

“He was a very big help in the process and told me a lot about the differences between the two schools,” Masters said. “It’s great having a coach who knows the ins and outs of college hockey.”

Masters, along with fellow Jacks forward Joe Cox, was a member of the Team USA squad that recently competed in the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, and the duo also was part of the Under-17 squad that won the gold medal at the Five Nations Tournament in Switzerland last summer.

Next fall, he’ll join former Jacks forward Casey Thrush in New Hampshire. Also committed for next fall is Jacks forward Mike McNicholas.

A product of Little Caesar’s youth hockey, Masters feels “relieved” to know where he’ll play college hockey before realizing his dream of playing hockey for a living.

“It’s a good feeling to not have to worry about where I’m going to college,” Masters said. “After that? Of course, playing in the NHL is the dream.”

Photo by Dave Reginek/USHL

Muskegon's Klecha picks Bulldogs

2011-08-30T20:46:00.002-04:00

Just in time for Muskegon Lumberjacks training camp, Dakota Klecha has committed to Ferris State University.

The Jacks’ second-round selection in the 2011 United States Hockey League Entry Draft has been in conversations with Ferris for years. On Friday, they made him a scholarship offer he couldn’t refuse.

“They put the offer on the table and I thought it was awesome,” Klecha said. “I had to take it. My parents are very happy for me.”

Klecha will attend Baker College full-time before transferring to Ferris in fall 2012. He plans to study business.

“I know between the Jacks staff and everyone at Baker, they will do everything they can to help me succeed,” Klecha said.

The Taylor native leaned on the Jacks’ staff, as well as Belle Tire head coach Chris Coury, who’s been a mentor to Klecha for years and served as his contact person in discussions with Ferris.

Klecha amassed 50 points (28 goals, 22 assists) and 248 penalty minutes during 56 games with the Wichita Falls Wildcats of the North American Hockey League last season and prides himself on affecting every aspect of the game.

“My game elevates when I play my way,” Klecha said. “I can’t be timid out there. I have to be finishing every check, and that’s what jumps my spark. I can’t wait to play hockey again. It’s been awhile.”

Plymouth starts camp this Wednesday

2011-08-29T10:30:00.004-04:00

Training camp is just a few days away in the Ontario Hockey League.

The Plymouth Whalers report to Compuware Arena on Wed. Aug. 31 for off-ice testing and medical exams.

The Whalers will hit the ice in scrimmages from 9-11am and 2-4pm on Thurs. Sept 1 and Fri. Sept. 2. The scrimmages are free and open to the public and media. Rosters will be provided the days of the scrimmages.

National Hockey League drafts J.T. Miller (first round, NY Rangers, 2011), Stefan Noesen (first round, Ottawa, 2011), Rickard Rakell (first round, Anaheim), Scott Wedgewood (3rd round, New Jersey, 2010), Austin Levi (3rd round, Carolina, 2010), Garrett Meurs (5th round, Colorado, 2011) and Matt Mahalak (6th round, Carolina, 2011) will all be participating in the scrimmages.

In addition, Whaler fans will also get their first look at overage center Andy Bathgate (over from Belleville in a trade) and get reacquainted with rookies Mitchell Dempsey, Danny Vanderwiel, Matt Mistele, Jake Patterson, Chris Lindner and Michael Bunn.

Fans coming to Compuware Arena for the scrimmages should be aware of construction on the CSX railroad crossing on Beck Road just south of the arena. Northbound and southbound Beck will be closed at the tracks during the project. The construction runs from Mon. Aug. 29 through Thurs. Sept.1.

A potential alternative route is taking Sheldon Road north to Five Mile. Turn west (left) on Five Mile to Beck. Turn south (left) on Beck to Compuware Arena.

Plymouth's first pre-season game in Sat. Sept. 3 at 7pm against Windsor at the Farmington Hills Ice Arena in the "Faceoff in Farmington." The game is sponsored by Art Moran Buick-GMC-Mitsubishi, with proceeds going to the Farmington Hills Hockey Association.

Before the game, fans can participate in a pre-game skate from 5:30-6:30pm with Whalers mascot, Shooter, for $2. After the game, the Whalers will be participating in a meet-and-greet and autograph session.

The Farmington Hills Ice Arena is located at 35500 Eight Mile Road.

Fans interested in purchasing tickets from the Farmington Hills Hockey Association can contact Marjann Lawson at secretary@fghhahockey.org. Tickets are also available at the Whalers Box Office by calling (734) 453-8400.

The "Faceoff in Farmington" marks the third straight year Plymouth has played on a neutral site to start the pre-season. On Aug. 29, 2009, the Whalers defeated Saginaw, 7-2, in the "Battle of Brighton." Last season (Aug. 7, 2010), Plymouth and Windsor played to a 2-2 tie in Chelsea in the "Clash at the Coliseum."

Plymouth continues the preseason by playing in Windsor on Mon. Sept. 5 at 2pm in Windsor; and will complete the preseason on Fri. Sept. 9 in London and Sat. Sept. 10 against London in St. Thomas, Ont., at Timken Arena.

The Whalers open the regular season on Wed. Sept. 21 in Owen Sound against the OHL champion Attack, with the home opener on Sat. Sept. 24 at 7:05 p.m. against Erie.