Plymouth Whalers Get Pinked Out for Breast Cancer Awareness

Detroit is on fire as a sports town this week.

The Lions are 5-0, the Tigers are playing in the American League Championship Series, the Red Wings are 2-0, Michigan is 5-0 and Michigan State is 4-1.  In high school football, Plymouth is 7-0 and Canton is 5-2.

The Plymouth Whalers are making a statement of their own this week in the local community.

The Whalers are involved in their annual Pink Out! For Breast Cancer Awareness.  What started as a game with an idea four years ago has turned out to be a week-long series of activities designed to heighten awareness to breast cancer.

Tuesday morning, some 16 Whalers reported to the Lucky Hair Company in Canton to have their hair dyed pink.  The rest of the players will report to the Lucky Hair Company after practice to continue with a tradition that started four years ago.

It should be noted that Lucky Hair Company shuts down during the Whalers' annual visit, donating time, material and expertise in an outstanding spirit of cooperation.  The Lucky Hair Company will also be at Saturday for fans wanting to sprinkle their hair in the spirit of pink.

“We enjoy doing this,” said Melissa Coughlin, owner of Lucky Hair Company.  “If we weren’t doing this, it would be just another day in the salon.  Some of our stylists are breast cancer survivors, so the cause hits home.  This also allows out stylists to be creative.  And the Whalers are good sports about getting their hair dyed.”

Goaltender Scott Wedgewood is a four-year veteran of the Pink Out! and decided to go with a blow-dried look after working with a Mohawk in other years.  Alex Aleardi looked sharp in a pink do that was slicked back.  Matt Mahalak continued with the tradition of a Mohawk.  Nick Malysa decided to get his fu-manchu mustache pinked out.

Although Andy Bathgate has played four full seasons in the Ontario Hockey League, this is his first year in Plymouth.

“We never did this in Belleville,” Bathgate said with a smile.

Plymouth defenseman Austin Levi had the most creative hair cut last season, with a Mohawk shaped into a breast cancer ribbon.  Stylist Theresa Wojtan worked with Levi last year and looked forward to collaborating with the Carolina Hurricanes draft pick this season.

“This year, instead of doing the Mohawk that went into the breast cancer ribbon, we’re doing his entire head a breast cancer ribbon.  He came in with the idea and I said, ‘Let’s go with it.’ 

“I am having such a blast doing this.  This year, we knew we had to go bigger, just because it was so much fun.”

The Whalers will work the rest of the week in pink hair and will play Thursday in Windsor and host Niagara on Friday at 7:05pm at Compuware Arena before the Saturday’s Pink Out! with Sarnia, again at 7:05pm.

That’s not all. The Whalers will be working as waiters on Wednesday from 5-8 p.m. at at Compuware Arena with all proceeds donated to Karmanos Cancer Institute.

In addition, the Whalers will be recognized Tuesday evening by Karmanos Cancer Institute as one of the Heroes of Breast Cancer, an annual award given to businesses and individuals for their contribution towards breast cancer awareness.

Plymouth will wear specially designed pink jerseys for the Saturday’s, which will be auctioned off with proceeds going to the Karmanos Cancer Institute.

Fans can get involved with the Pink Out! taking the Pink Out! Pledge.

Audio: Whalers Director of Communications Pete Krupsky chats with Maureen Bender of the Karmanos Cancer Institute.

DEVANE RETURNS TO PLYMOUTH: Plymouth Whalers General Manager and Head Coach Mike Vellucci announced 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 7th 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 PIM's in 63 games.

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

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 7:05pm

Audio: Toronto Maple Leafs Director of Amateur Scouting Dave Morrison spoke about Mitchell Heard and Jamie Devane during the Whalers season opener in Owen Sound.