Whalers Drop Season Opener, 6-2, to Owen Sound

OWEN SOUND - The Owen Sound Attack extended a 1-0 first period lead with three goals in a span of 2:06 in the second period and the Attack went on to defeat the Plymouth Whalers, 6-2, in the opening game of the 2011-12 season Wednesday night in Owen Sound.

2,288 watched the game at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre in Owen Sound.

Brnedan Childerley led the Attack with a pair of goals as the game's first star. Daniel Catenacci, Gemel Smith, Zach Nastasiuk and Joseph Blandisi all scored one each for Owen Sound.  Mitchell Heard - just back from the Toronto Maple Leafs - and Andy Bathgate replied for Plymouth.

Owen Sound outshot Plymouth, 9-4, in the first period.  Childerley scored at 15:41 of the period when he got several attempts at the puck on the right wing side of the Plymouth goal and finally jammed it by Whalers goaltender Matt Mahalak.

Plymouth's best chance to score in the first period doesn't count as a shot, as Bathgate hit the outside of the right goal post at about the six minute mark.

The Whalers had their best sustained offense early in the second period, outshooting Owen Sound, 7-0, but did not score.  The Attack then took a decisive lead on goals by Smith at 7:26 (backhand on a scramble at the right side of the net), Childerley at 7:58 (scramble just outside the Plymouth blue paint) and Catenacci at 9:32 (one-timer from the slot).

Heard scored the Whalers first goal of the season at 18:07 of the second period on a play that was set up by Stefan Noesen, who skated by an Owen Sound defender to the right circle in the Attack zone and pass across to Heard, who snapped the shot from the left circle.  But Nastasiuk scored for the Attack at 18:35 when Chris Bigras' shot from the left point caromed off the end wall in the Plymouth zone and pinballed directly to the Attack rookie at the right side of the Whalers goal.

After Blandisi scored a shorthanded goal on a partial breakaway at 2:13 of the third period, Bathgate finished the scoring at 7:11 of period, picking off a loose puck at center, moving into Owen Sound territory on a partial breakaway and scoring with a back-hand, five-hole on Owen Sound goaltender J.P. Cesario.

Cesario stopped 29-of-31 Plymouth shots to record his first-ever OHL victory.  Mahalak stopped 25-of-31 shots for the Whalers.

Plymouth played without goaltender Scott Wedgewood (still with the New Jersey Devils), Austin Levi (Carolina Hurricanes), J.T. Miller (NY Rangers), Rickard Rakell (Anaheim Ducks), Garrett Meurs (Colorado Avalanche), Nick Malysa and R.J. Mahalak (both injured) and Tom Wilson (suspension - back Saturday). Levi was returned to Plymouth Wednesday night and will report to practice on Thursday.

Jared Dennis made the trip and played for the Whalers.  Goaltender Darien Ekblad - acquired Tuesday from London - dressed as Mahalak's back-up.

Owen Sound scratches included goaltender Jordan Binnington (St. Louis Blues), Brayden Rose, Brett Appio, Holden Cook, and Kurtis MacDermid.

Here's more game coverage from Bill Walker of the Owen Sound Sun-Times.

More audio: Toronto Maple Leafs Director of Amateur Scouting Dave Morrison chats about Mitchell Heard and Jamie Devane.