Net Gains - Whalers Sign Goaltenders Alex Nedeljkovic, Riley Corbin

Plymouth Whalers general manager and head coach Mike Vellucci announced the signing of two 16-year-old goaltenders. The Whalers signed Alex Nedeljkovic, Plymouth’s selection in the sixth round (120th overall) of the 2012 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection and Riley Corbin, who was acquired from the Sudbury Wolves in a trade earlier this month.

Both will be attending high school at the in the fall.

“We think Nedeljkovic and Corbin have a chance to be a big part of our success,” said Plymouth assistant general manager Brian Sommariva.  “We like Riley’s athleticism and Alex’s technical skill.  We hope to help both young men take their careers to the next level.”

Nedeljkovic – from Parma, OH – played last season the for Belle Tire U-16s, where he recorded a 1.88 goals against average, .903 save percentage, three shutouts and a 12-1-4-3 won-loss record. He is a student of the Bandits Goaltending School, which is run the Plymouth goaltending coach Stan Matwijiw.

Nedeljkovic attended the Whalers Rookie Orientation in May and played well.

“It’s exciting to be drafted by the Plymouth Whalers,” Nadeljkovic said.  “It looks like we’ll be a young team this year with a lot of skill.  Stan (Matwijiw) really helped me last year with the way I approach the game, mentally – both in practice and in games.  I can’t wait to get started.” 

More media - See more about Nedeljkovic in a feature from the Bandits Hockey School.

Originally selected by the Wolves in the fifth round (102nd overall) of the 2011 OHL Priority Selection, Corbin played for the Thunder Bay Kings midgets last season, where he posted a 1.72 goals against average, .924 save percentage, three shutouts and an 8-3-2 won-loss record.

“I love the fact that Plymouth is an organization that has made the playoffs 21 straight years,” Corbin said.  “The goalie coach (Stan Matwijiw) has done a good job developing goaltenders.  I’m not big or tall (5-feet-11, 170 pounds), so I have to make the most of my talent.  I’m sure Stan will help me.”

Nedeljkovic and Corbin are expected to report to the Whalers training camp in late August.

Earlier this spring, the Whalers signed 17-year-old center Ryan Hartman, who was selected by Plymouth in the fifth round (95th overall) of the 2010 OHL Priority Selection.  Plymouth also signed left wing Zach Bratina, who was taken in the first round (19th overall) in the 2012 OHL Priority Selection and defenseman Alex Peters, the team’s second round pick in the 2012 OHL Draft.