Plymouth Whalers' Vincent Trocheck Wins OHL's Red Tilson Trophy as Most Outstanding Player

Trocheck is the fourth player in franchise history to win the award.

The Ontario Hockey League today announced that forward Vince Trocheck of the Plymouth Whalers is the 2012-13 recipient of the Red Tilson Trophy awarded to the OHL’s Most Outstanding Player of the Year as voted by the writers and broadcasters that cover the league. Trocheck captured the Eddie Powers Trophy as Top OHL Scorer this season with 50 goals and 59 assists for 109 points in 63 games and produced a league-high plus-minus rating of plus-49. “It’s definitely an honor to win this award,” Trocheck said.  “To have my name with so many (other) prestigious names up there, it’s an honour.  Coach Vellucci helped me a ton, especially to win this award.  He did a lot for me individually and I learned a lot in the time I was in Plymouth.  It was…

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Plymouth Whalers' Mike Vellucci Wins Matt Leyden Trophy as OHL Coach of the Year

Vellucci wins trophy for the second time.

The Ontario Hockey League announced that Plymouth Whalers Head Coach Mike Vellucci is the 2012-13 recipient of the Matt Leyden Trophy awarded annually to the OHL’s Coach of the Year. Vellucci guided the Whalers to their 12th division title in franchise history with a 42-17-5-4 record for 93 points.  The 2012-13 West Division title marks his sixth in 12 years behind the bench for the Whalers who made the playoffs for a record 22nd consecutive season. "I'm proud of our kids,” said Vellucci.  “They competed very hard and didn't give up.  I believe in these guys and they believe in themselves. They're not quitters and they wanted to win a championship.” Vellucci earns Coach of the Year honours for the second time in his career winning …

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Whalers' Brilliant Comeback Ends in Overtime Elimination

Plymouth rebounds from a 4-0 deficit only to lose.

LONDON, ON. - Max Domi's second goal of the game at 0:20 of overtime gave the London Knights a 5-4 victory and eliminated the Plymouth Whalers from the Ontario Hockey League's Rogers Western Conference Championship Series. The customary sellout of 9,046 watched the game Friday at Budwesier Gardens. London takes the series, four-games-to-one, wins the Wayne Gretzky Trophy and advances to the OHL's Rogers Championship Series against the winner of the Barrie-Belleville Eastern Conference Final. But make no mistake, the series was far closer than a four-games-to-one final result would indicate. Trailing, 4-0 in the second period, Plymouth came all the way back to tie the game at 4-4 only to lose in heartbreaking fashion just as the sellout …

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Whalers Come Back Three Times, Beat London in Double OT to Even Series

Rickard Rakell's game-winner finishes longest game in Whalers' playoff history.

LONDON, ON - Rickard Rakell's goal at 10:06 of double overtime gave the Plymouth Whalers a dramatic, come-from-behind 4-3 victory over the London Knights to even the Ontario Hockey League's Rogers Western Conference Championship series at one-game-each. Games 3 and 4 move to Compuware Arena on Tuesday and Wednesday at 7:05 pm. Sunday's game is the longest overtime in Whalers playoff history.  On March 22, 1997, Mike Morrone scored at 10:02 of double overtime for the Whalers in a 4-3 win against Joe Thornton and the Sault Ste. Marie Gryehounds.  The game was played at Compuware Arena. The game-winning goal came on a Plymouth power play after London's Alex Broadhurst was called for hooking at 9:40 of the second overtime - the first power …

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Whalers Punch Ticket to OHL Western Conference Finals With 3-1 Win Over Owen Sound

Plymouth and London start Western Final Friday in London

  OWEN SOUND, ON - Although a self described forward line of Three Beauties led the Plymouth Whalers offensively, it was defense that carried the Whalers past Owen Sound and into the Rogers Western Conference Championship Series. Matt Mistele scored twice and linemate Mitchell Heard added an empty-netter and assisted on both Mistele tallies as the Whalers defeated Owen Sound, 3-1, to eliminate the Attack in six games. A near-sellout crowd of 3,225 watched the game Sunday afternoon at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre in Owen Sound. Plymouth advances to the Rogers Western Conference Championship series against London, with Game 1 set for London on Friday. Here is the schedule: Friday 4/19 - Plymouth at London, 7:05 pm Sunday 4/21…

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Whalers' Comeback Falls Short in 4-3 Loss to Owen Sound in Game 4

Game Five is set for Compuware Arena on Friday at 7:05 pm.

OWEN SOUND, ON. -  Artur Gavrus' goal at 5:14 of the second period stood as the game-winning goal as the Owen Sound Attack built a 4-0 lead into the second period and weathered a Plymouth comeback to defeat the Whalers, 4-3, on Wednesday in Game 4 of the best- of-seven Ontario Hockey League Western Conference Semi-Final series. A raucous crowd of 3,151 at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre saw the Attack even the series a two-games-each in another intense, in-your-face, blue-collar battle. Game 5 is set for Friday at 7:05 pm at Compuware Arena (Comcast 900, 7 pm); Game 6 will be played Sunday at 4:05 pm in Owen Sound; Game 7 (if necessary) will be played Tuesday at 7:05 pm at Compuware Arena. Gavrus emerged as the first star of the…

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Whalers Four-Goal Third Period Overcomes Owen Sound, 4-1

Plymouth wins 13th in a row and leads the series, 1-0.

PLYMOUTH, MI – During this season's Ontario Hockey League Trade Deadline, most observers felt the Plymouth Whalers acquired the best player available when Whalers' General Manager Mike Vellucci picked up Vince Trocheck from Saginaw. Many Plymouth fans cringed when fan-favorite Alex Aleardi was traded to Windsor for Zach Lorentz. Moments before the noon deadline on Jan. 10, most people hardly noticed a third deal, when Vellucci acquired import left winger Sebastian Uvria from Oshawa in exchange for import defenseman Simon Karlsson. If Plymouth fans didn't know anything about Uvira then, they sure know about him now. Uvira scored twice in the third period Friday - including the game winning goal - as the Whalers overcame a 1-0 deficit beat …

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Plymouth Whalers Meet Owen Sound in OHL Western Semi-Finals

Game 1 goes Friday at 7:05 pm at Compuware Arena

The Plymouth Whalers will play the Owen Sound Attack in the best four-of-seven Ontario Hockey League Western Conference semifinal series starting Friday at 7:05 pm at Compuware Arena.  Here are the dates for the series: Game 1 – Friday, April 5 – Owen Sound at Plymouth, 7:05 pm, Compuware Arena. Game 2 – Sunday, April 7 – Owen Sound at Plymouth, 4:05 pm, Compuware Arena. Game 3 – Tuesday, April 9 – Plymouth at Owen Sound, 7 pm, Bayshore Community Centre. Game 4 – Wednesday, April 10 – Plymouth at Owen Sound, 7 pm, Bayshore Community Centre. (*) Game 5 – Friday, April 12 – Owen Sound at Plymouth, 7:05 pm, Compuware Arena. (*) Game 6 – Sunday, April 14 – Plymouth at Owen Sound, 4:05 pm, Bayshore Community Centre. (*) Game 7 – Tuesday, April …

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Plymouth Whalers

Excellent March Powers Whalers to OHL Semi-Finals

Plymouth opens WC Semi-finals on Fri. Apr. 5 at Compuware Arena at 7:05 pm

After a day off on Thursday, the Plymouth Whalers skated again at practice Friday at Compuware Arena. Plymouth doesn’t know who they’re going to be playing in the Ontario Hockey League semi-finals yet and may not know until next Tuesday evening. The Whalers have home ice in the Western Conference semi-finals in a 2-2-1-1-1 format.  #3 Owen Sound and #6 Sault Ste. Marie are tied at two-games-each, with Game 5 going tonight in Owen Sound.  #4 Kitchener has a three-games-to-one lead over #5 Guelph, with Game 5 happening tonight in Kitchener. #1 London eliminated #8 Saginaw on Thursday, so the Knights will play the lowest remaining seed in the second round. BREAKING NEWS - Game 1 of the next series will be played on Friday, April 5 at 7:05 p.m…

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Whalers Grind Out 3-2 Playoff Win Over Sarnia, Lead Series, 2-0

Games 3 and 4 are in Sarnia on Monday and Wednesday.

The Plymouth Whalers battled on several fronts in a 3-2 victory over Sarnia on Saturday night before 2,893 at Compuware Arena. Not only did they battle the Sting and their potent power play to take a two-games-to-none lead in the best four-of-seven OHL Western Conference quarterfinal series, at times they battled referees Ryan Hutchison and Scott Ferguson and penalty issues. No playoff run is easy and the Whalers - after blowing out the Sting in Game 1, 11-2 on Friday - worked through a ton of adversity tonight to win their tenth straight game and 18 out of 19 dating back to Feb. 9. Plymouth started the game without Matt Mistele, who was suspended for a checking to the head penalty in the first period in Game 1. Mistele played the rest of …

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