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Sports

Tom Wilson's Not the Only Whaler Up For NHL Entry Draft

Alex Aleardi, Mitchell Heard and Cody Payne could be selected in Pittsburgh

Sound byes and video courtest of www.plymouthwhalers.com

No matter what he’s doing, Whalers veteran Alex Aleardi keeps a positive outlook on any situation.

The glass is half-full for Aleardi, who always seems to be walking on the sunny side of the street.

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Although not rated by the National Hockey League’s Central Scouting Bureau in their rankings for the 2012 NHL Entry Draft in Pittsburgh, there’s talk that Aleardi could be selected sometime over the seven-round draft, which starts with the first round on Friday and finishes up on Saturday.

“I’m going to Pittsburgh with my agent (Brian Feldman) to experience the draft and to see what’s going to happen,” Aleardi said today.  “I’m keeping an open mind about it. We’re going to meet Matt Mahalak, hang out and support ‘Willy’ (Tom Wilson). I’m looking forward to it.”

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Whaler fans appreciate the development of Aleardi, who was acquired quietly by Plymouth general manager/head coach Mike Vellucci a few days before the start of the 2010-11 season from Belleville for a pair of second round draft choices.

After scoring 20 goals with 19 assists for 39 points in 2010-11, Aleardi blossomed into a consistent two-way player last season, scoring a career-high 36 goals with 29 assists for 65 points in 68 games.  He also scored six goals and four assists for the Whalers in the playoffs.

Aleardi is one of the few players in the Canadian Hockey League who can go end-to-end to score goals, a fact not lost on the other teams.  As last season unfolded, opposing defensemen were quick to notice when Aleardi wound up in neutral territory.  More often than not, they had a hard time stopping Aleardi once he gained the offensive zone.

It’s no surprise that Aleardi finished second to Kitchener’s Ryan Murphy as Best Skater in the annual OHL Western Conference Coaches’ Poll last season.

Aleardi may not receive the acclaim that Wilson is getting now, but that didn’t stop NHL teams from contacting him over the course of last season.  He had several meetings with scouts from several teams.  As a result, NHL teams are well aware of Aleardi, although he may or may not be selected in Pittsburgh.

Aleardi is eligible to return to the Whalers as an overage in 2012-13 and spends his summer playing inline hockey for Alakali Fusion FTB.  His linemate is Garret Ross, who plays for the Saginaw Spirit.

Alkali Fusion FTB is playing in the TORHS American National Championships June 29-July 7 at Taylor Sportsplex. Perhaps Aleardi will discover a few new moves to try out next season.

Aleardi isn’t the only Whaler player who wasn’t rated by Central Scouting but will go to Pittsburgh.  Mitchell Heard will be attending the draft with his agent in anticipation of being selected in Pittsburgh.

Although Heard’s NHL status is similar to Aleardi, he gets the job done on the ice in a different way.  Need a faceoff win? Heard was named the Best on Faceoffs in the Western Conference Coaches Poll.  Need a goal scored?  Heard enjoyed a career-best 29 goals with 28 assists for 57 points in 58 games last season.  Need someone to drop the gloves? Heard cheerfully led the Whalers with 12 fighting majors last season.

When playing at his best, Heard skates with an edge that can be effective in all areas of the ice.

Heard also had meetings with several NHL teams over the course of last season.

And like Aleardi, Heard can return to the Whalers in 2012-13 as an overage.

BRINGING THE PAYNE:  Whalers right wing Cody Payne is ranked 146th by Central Scouting for the 2012 NHL Entry Draft and may or may not be selected in Pittsburgh. 

Acquired by the Whalers from Oshawa last November, Payne brings grit and a work ethic to the rink.

"I think Cody's really turned the corner since coming over from Oshawa," Anaheim scout Jim Sandlak said about Payne during the 2012 playoffs.  "Mike Vellucci does one heckuva good job with his players, whether it's de-programming them, or just getting them to play the style of hockey that the Whalers play.  Cody's really impressed me of late as well."

Payne keeps a realistic and positive outlook about the draft.

“All I know is I’ve worked very hard to get to this point and if I get drafted, it will be very exciting,” Payne told Mihockeymag.com.  “But even getting recognized as someone with NHL potential is pretty good.  If I don’t get drafted, I know there is always next year and I will have to push myself even more.”

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