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Sports

Plymouth Whalers Conclude Season With Banquet

Rookie Orientation is May 19-20 at Compuware Arena.

The Plymouth Whalers concluded the 2011-12 season with an annual awards banquet held Thursday at at . The following players received awards:

LEADING SCORER and MOST VALUABLE PLAYER, REGULAR SEASON: For the second consecutive year, left wing Stefan Noesen, who scored a career-best 38 goals with 44 assists for 82 points in 63 games.

REGULAR SEASON LEADING SCORER: Noesen, who scored a career-best 38 goals with 44 assists for 82 points in 63 games.

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MOST VALUABLE PLAYER in the PLAYOFFS:  Second-year forward Tom Wilson, who scored seven goals with six assists for 13 points and was +10 in 13 playoff games.  Wilson is rated 15th overall for the 2012 National Hockey League Entry Draft.

BEST DEFENSEMAN: For the second consecutive season, Whalers captain Beau Schmitz, who scored a career-high 14 goals with 40 assists for 54 points and was +37 over 62 games.

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Schmitz signed a free-agent contract with the National Hockey League's Carolina Hurricanes.

MOST IMPROVED PLAYER:  Veteran forward Alex Aleardi, who scored a career-high 36 goals with 29 assists for 65 points and was +28 in 65 games.

UNSUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR:  Defenseman Dario Trutmann, who scored six goals with 18 assists for 24 points and was +10 in 62 games.

BLUE COLLAR, HARDEST WORKING PLAYER:  Schmitz, who received votes as in the Most Underrated Player, Best Offensive Defenseman and Best Defensive Defenseman in the annual OHL Western Conference Coaches Poll.

ROOKIE of the YEAR: Rookies Danny Vanderwiel and Matt Mistele share the award.  Vanderwiel scored six gosl with three assists for nine points in 42 games; Mistele scored three goals with two assists for five points in 33 games.

HUMANITARIAN of the YEAR:  Defenseman Colin MacDonald, who led the Whalers Community Relations efforts with over 30 appearances.

ACADEMIC PLAYERS OF THE YEAR: For the second consecutive year, Goaltender Matt Mahalak and right wing Tom Wilson.

ALICE IAFRATE AWARD (Off-Ice Officials Overage of the Year): Defenseman Beau Schmitz.

Whalers Booster Club Awards:

BARBARA MOHRLOCK MEMORIAL AWARD as FAN FAVORITE: Left wing Stefan Noesen.

SCHOLASTIC PLAYER of the YEAR: Goaltender Matt Mahalak and right wing Tom Wilson share the award.

GRINDER of the YEAR: Veteran center Michael Whaley

PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Goaltender Scott Wedgewood.

NEXT UP FOR THE WHALERS:  Two Whalers – Tom Wilson and Cody Payne – are up for the National Hockey League Entry Draft, held June 22-23 in Pittsburgh, PA.

Before that, the Whalers will be holding their annual Rookie Orientation on May 19-20 at

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