USPHL Commitment Profiles: Metro Jets And MJDP Veteran Lewis Commits To Anna Maria College

By Joshua Boyd / USPHL.com

River Lewis is certainly a traveler. From his home in Chandler, Ariz., he has gone on to play with the prestigious Shattuck-St. Mary’s program in Minnesota and then on to the Metro Jets organization the past two seasons. From the Jets and their Metro Jets Development Program (MJDP) team before that, he is now moving even further east.

He committed recently to Anna Maria College, located in Paxton, Mass. Anna Maria is an NCAA Division III school competing in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC).

“I first started talking to AMC a little after the season ended. They liked my size a lot, because they lean more towards having a bigger team, and my puck handling skills,” said the 2005-born Lewis.

“What I like most about AMC is that they provide their players with everything a player needs to develop their game, from on-ice to off-ice development,” Lewis added. “They also provide players with academic help, like supplying tutors and extra help so there is really no excuse to not be on top of it.”

Lewis first joined the Metro organization out of Shattuck-St. Mary’s Prep National Championship team of 2022-23. He put up an impressive 13 points in 23 games with the MJDP team of 2023-24.

“I thought playing for the Development Program was nice. It gave me a chance to prove myself as well as push myself to get better against the older group, which helped me a lot,” Lewis said. “I do like the way things are run over at Metro.”

He signed on again last year and became a member of the Jets’ main team the next year, and once again, propelled his game to new heights, scoring 27 points in 41 games. He played both forward and defense for the Jets.

“What I enjoyed most about Metro was how close everybody was. From my teammates to the coaches, It was like a big family,” said Lewis. “The on-and off-ice development was really good as well. The team’s focus on player development instead of just winning definitely developed me.”

The Jets always took full advantage of the USPHL’s unparalleled Showcase Series, typically playing in four showcase events per year to maximize player exposure to college coaches.

“I thought it was great. The Vegas and Tampa Showcases were my favorite ones,” he said. “It’s nice being able to travel a bit and play against the other top teams in the league.”

It’s a busy summer for River Lewis, as he’s keeping his focus on becoming the best possible player he can be for AMC from Day 1.

“I just really want to work on shooting in stride, physicality, my mental game and confidence,” he said. “I feel like all those, especially the physicality of college hockey, will help me play at the level and make me an impact player. The mental game has been my problem in the past, so fixing that and getting it under control will definitely help me big time.”

The USPHL congratulates River Lewis, his family, the Metro Jets and Anna Maria College for his commitment.