Vanderwiel making most of opportunities

Courtesy PlymouthWhalers.com

One man’s suspension is another man’s ice time.

When the Plymouth Whalers were recently hit with suspensions to Matt Mistele, Mitch Jones, Mitchell Dempsey and Cody Payne, rookie Danny Vanderwiel stepped up in a big way.

Vanderwiel scored four goals over a three games last weekend to increase his season total from one goal to five in a three-day span.

Two of the goals came on the big stage in London on Friday before a full house of 9,046. Although the Whalers lost, 8-6, while playing with just ten forwards and seven defensemen, Vanderwiel was named the second star.

Vanderwiel also scored in a 6-5 loss to Kitchener on Saturday and a 5-4 shootout win against Saginaw on Sunday.

“It was great,” Vanderwiel said of the experience of playing in London. “There are no words for that (experience) – it’s tough to explain. Not playing too much this year and going into London with three lines on the bench – all the boys are trying to go hard. To score a pair of goals, especially as a 16-year-old, is one of the greatest things I could ask for.”

Although one of Vanderwiel’s goal came on a snap shot from the right circle to beat London goaltender Michael Houser, the other three goals came as a result of going to the net hard and winning battles in gritty areas.

He scored his second goal in London by following up a wrap around at the left post and potting home the rebound through traffic, went hard to the net as he was being checked to score against Kitchener, then batted home a rebound just outside the blue ice against Saginaw.

Vanderwiel was quick to give Plymouth assistant coach Don Elland credit for his goal against Kitchener.

“Coach Don was telling me to go to the net, throw my body around and finish hard,” Vanderwiel said. “I saw 'Wales' (Michael Whaley) get the puck and so I put my head down and skated to the net, hoping that the puck would hit off my stick. It went in the net."

Like a good two-way passing play, Elland returns the compliment to Vanderwiel.

“It’s a great opportunity for him,” said Elland about Vanderwiel’s opportunity. “He’s taking advantage of it, he’s playing hard, he’s keeping it simple. Danny’s doing a good job and he’s getting better every week.”

Vanderwiel – from Island Lake, Ill. - was selected by Plymouth in the eighth round (144th overall) of the 2011 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection.

On an older team that is second overall in the Western Conference and chasing London for the top spot, Vanderwiel – along with fellow rookies Mistele, Dempsey and Jones – understand their roles on a very good team.

“All of the rookies – me, ‘Misty’ (Mistele), Dempsey and 'Jonsey' – have the right attitude,” Vanderwiel explained. “We understand that it’s a tough lineup to crack. We have guys like Stefan Noesen, J.T. Miller, Alex Aleardi, Rickard Rakell – a bunch of guys who are great players.”

For players like Vanderwiel, practice time is game time.

“Practices are big for all of us, Vanderwiel said. “(Head coach Mike) Vellucci sees when we’re working hard in practice and when we’re not. That’s what (working hard in practice) normally gives us our chance to play in a game.”

Whalers TV analyst Sean Baligian appreciates the attitude of all of the Plymouth rookies.

“So much can be said about a player’s talent,” Baligian said during Saturday's broadcast. “Sometimes, there’s not much said about a player’s character. The Whalers have been blessed to have so many good, young men come in here and get it – they don’t have a sense of entitlement.

“Danny could go play some place here this year, and probably score a million goals and a million assists. But you know what? He’s biding his time and he’s improving his stock. Good for him.”

And good for the Whalers.

Photo/Rena Laverty

Whalers, Spirit going outside in December

In late December and early January of next season, Detroit will play host to a week-long celebration of hockey at all levels known as the Hockeytown Winter Festival at Comerica Park, home of the Detroit Tigers.

The Ontario Hockey League has been invited to play a double-header featuring the Plymouth Whalers and London Knights, along with the Saginaw Spirit and Windsor Spitfires, as part of the outdoor game festivities.

“The Ontario Hockey League is most pleased and values the invitation extended to us by the Detroit Red Wings and the NHL to be part of the Winter Classic,” said OHL commissioner David Branch. “We look forward to hopefully concluding the necessary arrangements to be part of this very special and exciting hockey celebration."

The announcement about the NHL’s Winter Classic and the Hockeytown Winter Festival was made by the NHL Thursday morning at a news conference at Comerica Park. The Detroit Red Wings will host the Toronto Maple Leafs on January 1 in Ann Arbor at Michigan Stadium.

Photo/Mike Caples/MiHockeyNow.com

Ross keeps Jets' players 'in one piece'

Dave Ross may just be the Metro Jets’ MVP this season.

And he hasn’t set one foot on the ice all year.

As the team’s athletic trainer, much of what Ross does goes unnoticed, but then again, if he didn’t do his job, the team wouldn’t be able to stick together – literally.

“Yeah, I guess you could say I keep each player in one piece,” said Ross, who has been a physical therapist for 25 years and has a clinic in Clarkston. “It’s a long season and these kids get banged up, so I see a lot of shoulder and knee injuries that require immediate attention. The thing about this season that is so different about past years is that the kids are responding to what I ask them to do and by doing that, they heal quicker and can get back on the ice.

“All I can do is treat them and give them exercises to do, so after I see them, it’s on them. These are all good kids and they all have a different attitude this year. It’s very refreshing to see.”

Ross is on the bench for all Jets’ home games and is almost always on the move.

“Knee and shoulder injuries are the most common and dealing with knees is probably the hardest and one that requires a lot of therapy,” Ross said. “You can skate with a bad shoulder; you can’t skate with a bad knee.”

With the onus these days on safety and hockey and concussion prevention, Ross is on board with all the new safety measures, but cautions that no equipment is 100 percent going to prevent injuries.

“Hockey is a tough sport and guys are crashing and banging into each other all game long,” said Ross. No helmet will protect you from a hit. Look at Sidney Crosby. He was out almost a year and then when he comes back, he gets hit by his own player and is out again. You have to take your time with concussions.”

Now in his fifth season with the Jets, Ross likes what he sees on the ice this year and can’t help but be a fan of the marked improvement this season.

“These kids want to win and they want to get better,” said Ross. “(Metro coach) Jason (Cirone) has done a fantastic job with these kids and it shows. I think we’re in for a great finish this season.”

LOOKING BACK, LOOKING AHEAD

Cameron Mackey, just signed earlier in the day, scored a power-play goal at 13:45 of the third period to snap a 5-5 tie and the Jets held on for a 6-5 win last Saturday night over the Cleveland Jr. Lumberjacks at Lakeland Arena.

The teams traded goals in the third period after the game was tied 3-3 after 40 minutes.

"I told the kids right from day one when we won 8-7 in overtime against Flint that if we're going to run and gun, make sure you got the bigger gun and you come out on top," said Cirone. "I was talking with the ref before the game and he asked what kind of game we should expect and I told him there would be a lot of goals. Both teams are offensively-gifted and the game was what it was."

Steve Klisz scored twice to up his team-best total to 27 and Justin Shureb also added a pair with an assist for the Jets (21-14-0-1). Cameron Bruff scored the other Metro goal.

Another player making his Jets' debut, Trevor Bardallis, chipped in two assists, as did Cameron Bazin and Mike MacKinnon.

Dillon Kelley earned the win in goal with a 29-save outing.

"I thought both goalies struggled a bit and maybe stopped the shots that should have been goals and allowed goals they could have stopped," said Cirone. "You'll have games like that and tonight was one of those games."

L.J. Dvorak stopped 29 shots for Cleveland, who got goals from five different skaters.

The Jets have now won six straight at home, but don't return to Lakeland until Feb. 25-26 for a two-game set with the Pittsburgh Jr. Penguins. Next weekend, Metro plays a pair on the road against the Michigan Mountain Cats and the following weekend will play four games in four days as part of the NA3HL East Showcase at the Troy Sports Center.

"No game is ever easy in this league," added Cirone. "We haven't had an easy game all year. I think our kids work and earn everything they get. What's considered an easy game nowadays?"

JET STREAKS

Mackey and Bardallis suited up last week at practice and debuted against Cleveland.

Both are local forwards (Mackey is from Commerce, Bardallis from Waterford) and both made an immediate impact last weekend. Bardallis turned 19 at the beginning of December and Mackey is 20.

“Mackey just kind of showed up one day at practice and he asked if he could skate and we went from there,” explained Cirone. “I worked with Bardallis last summer at Puckmasters helping him get in shape and stuff like that. He was out in the EJHL, but had some family issues and wanted to come home and be closer to his family. He sent me an email, I told him to come out to practice that night and here we are.”

Bardallis was tendered last season by the NAHL’s New Mexico Mustangs, but didn’t make the team this year and wound up skating with the EJHL’s Bay State Breakers and Capital District Selects.

Forward Chris Hellebuyck has re-joined the Jets after a stint in the NAHL with the Odessa Jackalopes.

Hellebuyck went without a point in five games with Odessa. He’s currently third in Jets’ scoring with 40 points and his 21 goals are second on the team behind Klisz.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Seth Giersdorf, a forward on the Jets’ 1999-2000 team, is still in the area, living in Canton and working as a regional director for Sterling Management, overseeing real estate properties in Indiana, Michigan and Ohio.

Giersdorf has been married to his wife, Meghan, the niece of his host family when he played for the Jets, for 7 ½ years.

Giersdorf came to the Jets from Coral Springs, Fla., but is originally from Beulah, N.D.

Jr. K-Wings add forward DeKorte

The Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings have announced the addition of forward Davis DeKorte.

The 18-year-old forward was dealt to Kalamazoo at the end of the trade deadline period in the NAHL for future considerations.

DeKorte, a DeWitt native, joins Kalamazoo late in a rookie season that has included 26 games with the Janesville Jets. In those contests, DeKorte has posted seven points on three goals (one of which a game-winner) and four assists. He has also played to a plus-9 rating. DeKorte has also been very well disciplined this season, having only served two penalty minutes.

“Davis is a young forward with good size and strength," said Kalamazoo coach Marc Fakler. "He will add to our depth at forward as we head into the stretch of our season.”

DeKorte will likely make his Kalamazoo debut tomorrow night as the Jr. K-Wings face off against the Traverse City North Stars at 6:35 p.m. in Traverse City.

North Stars trade for USHL blueliner

The Traverse City North Stars bolstered their blue line on Friday, completing a deal with Des Moines of the USHL to bring defenseman J.D. Cotroneo into the fold.

Cotroneo, who played in 14 contests this season for Des Moines, will help shore up the loss of Dean Burggrabe, who suffered season-ending injuries in a Jan. 22 game at Kalamazoo.

“We feel like we got a good, young defenseman who can come in and contribute right away,” said Stars GM Anthony Palumbo. “He had some injuries early on this season and didn’t get back on the ice until around Christmas, so we’re very fortunate to be able to add him.”

Last season, Cotroneo (6-foot, 200 pounds) led Hill-Murray High School in Minnesota to a 21-3-1 record and showed off his two-way game en route to scoring five goals and assisting on 11 others along the way.

The Woodbury, Minn., native was originally a third-round pick by Waterloo in the 2009 USHL Futures Draft.

Muskegon makes trade with Buccaneers

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

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

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

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

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!

Davison native Kalisz chooses UConn

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.”