Plymouth Whalers

Plymouth Whalers Win Third Straight On The Road, 4-2, Over Oshawa

Plymouth now 5-3-2-1.

OSHAWA - Cody Payne's second goal of the game at 8:15 of the third period snapped a 2-2 tie and the Plymouth Whalers defeated the Oshawa Generals, 4-2, in an Ontario Hockey League game played Sunday night before 4,046 at General Motors Centre. The Whalers won all three games on the road over the weekend (2-1 on Thursday in Petereborough, 8-3 in Kingston on Friday and 4-2 in Oshawa tonight) and improves 5-3-2-1.  Oshawa remains in first place in the East Division of the Eastern Conference of the OHL and is now 8-4-0-1. Besides Payne's pair (7th and 8th of the season), Rickard Rakell scored for the third consecutive game (7th) and Ryan Hartman scored his third of the year on the empty net with 18 seconds remaining in regulation.  Plymouth …

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Plymouth Whalers

Matt Mistele's Hard Work Paying Off For Whalers

Second year forward continues to improve.

Plymouth Whalers left wing Matt Mistele lives with a perpetual smile on his face. Beyond the fact that this week marked Mistele’s 17th birthday, he’s smiling if he’s reporting to practice, going to school at Plymouth-Canton Educational Park or boarding the Whalers bus to travel to a road game. “I love Plymouth,” Mistele said.  “Everyone has done so much for me – the coaches have really helped me to become a better hockey player.  All the guys, I love them to death.  There are a lot of great people here.  There’s no other place I’d rather be.” Mistele’s mother, Marg, is also smiling as the Whalers head to Eastern Ontario this weekend to play in Peterborough on Thursday (6:45 pm, 88.1FM WSDP), Kingston on Friday (6:50 pm, www.plymouthwhalers…

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Plymouth Whalers

Whalers Earn a Point With 3-2 OT Loss in Pink Out Game

Whalers now 2-3-2-1 in Breast Cancer Awareness game.

The Plymouth Whalers worked hard for a point in a 3-2 overtime loss to Sault Ste. Marie on Saturday night before 2,510 at Compuware Arena in the Whalers’ annual Pink Out game for Breast Cancer Awareness. Not only did they battle the Soo for 61:50, they also battled referees Ryan Hutchison and Mike Cairns.  In addition, the Whalers hit a couple of goal posts and had two goals disallowed because of video review. All of that made for a frustrating night during Plymouth's annual Pink Out for Breast Cancer Awareness in which the Whalers wore specially designed pink jerseys and had their hair died pink for a good cause. In the end, Andrew Fritsch’s second goal of the game at 1:50 of overtime proved to be the game-winner for the Greyhounds. …

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Plymouth Whalers

Hot Goaltending the Difference in Owen Sound's 4-2 Win Over Plymouth

Whalers now 2-2-1-1.

OWEN SOUND - The Plymouth Whalers deserved a better fate on Wednesday in Owen Sound. Attack goaltender Jordan Binnington stopped 42-of-44 shots as the game's first star to lead the Owen Sound Attack to a 4-2 victory over the Whalers before 2,577 fans and scouts from 18 National Hockey League teams at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre in Owen Sound. Owen Sound is now 6-1-0-1 and has the best record in the Ontario Hockey League.  Plymouth is now 2-2-1-1. Daniel Catenacci (4th), second star Kurtis Gabriel (2nd), Joseph Blandisi (3rd) and Cameron Brace (7th on the empty net) all scored for Owen Sound, who led 1-0 after one period and 3-1 after forty minutes. Rickard Rakell (4th) and Cody Payne (5th) replied for the Whalers. But …

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Plymouth Whalers

Plymouth Whalers Gearing Up for Pink Out! Week

Whalers host Sault Ste. Marie on Saturdat at 7:05 p.m. at Compuware Arena

The Plymouth Whalers will be wearing pink hair with specially designed jerseys this Saturday when they host the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds at 7:05 p.m. at Compuware Sports Arena during their annual Pink Out! for Breast Cancer Awareness. The team will be involved in the following activities this week in preparation for Saturday’s game: Tuesday - Team Pink Out – the Whalers were scheduled to get their hair dyed pink as a team in two shifts on Tuesday at the Lucky Hair Company in Canton.   Wednesday - Plymouth – in pink hair - plays in Owen Sound against the Attack at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast on 88.1FM WSDP The Park and on www.plymouthwhalers.com. Thursday – the Whalers will work as waiters from 5:30-8 p.m. at CJ’s Brewing Company, …

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Plymouth Whalers

Whalers Leash IceDogs, 6-3, For Mike Vellucci's 400th Career Win

Whalers now 2-1-1-1.

The Plymouth Whalers broke a 1-1 tie with four goals in the second period and the Whalers went on to defeat the Niagara Ice Dogs, 6-3, in an Ontario Hockey League game played Saturday night at Compuware Arena. Plymouth improves to 2-1-1-1 on the season; Niagara is 5-2-0-0. Tonight’s victory is Plymouth head coach Mike Vellucci’s 400th career win.  Vellucci is the winningest coach in Whalers franchise history and ranks third among active OHL coaches behind Belleville’s George Burnett (519) and Brampton’s Stan Butler (506). Plymouth rookie goaltender Riley Corbin made his OHL debut a success as the game’s third star.  Corbin stopped 27-of-30 shots for his first OHL victory.   In a game that featured 14 National Hockey League draft choices (…

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Plymouth Whalers Head Coach Mike Vellucci One Win Shy of 400

Whalers play in Guelph on Friday, host Niagara on Saturday

As the Whalers prepare to play in Guelph on Friday and host Niagara on Satuday, Plymouth head coach Mike Vellucci is one win shy from a milestone in his coaching career. The winningest coach in Plymouth franchise history, Vellucci comes into the weekend with 399 wins. A look at at Vellucci's path to 399 wins since taking over as head coach in 2001 shows some interesting players:   Plymouth assistant coach Don Elland has known Vellucci for a long time. “I don’t know if there’s any one thing that makes Mike an excellent coach,” said Elland.  “He’s very detail oriented, he’s great at X’s and O’s and knows what he wants from his players.  He demands a lot, but he also has the ability to make the players play for him.  They all want to play …

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Extra Effort Nets Whalers a 6-2 Victory Over Sudbury

Plymouth now 1-0-1-1 to start 2012-13 season.

Mike Vellucci’s 399th career victory as head coach of the Plymouth Whalers was memorable for a number of reasons. The Whalers played with a shorthanded bench all night but outworked the Sudbury Wolves, 6-2, in an Ontario Hockey League game played Saturday night before 3,144 at Compuware Arena in Plymouth Township. Plymouth (now 1-0-1-1) extended a 1-0 lead after one period to lead 5-0 after forty minutes. Two of Plymouth's first-round National Hockey League draft picks led the way offensively. Rickard Rakell (first round, Anaheim, 2011) was the game's first star, scoring his first two goals of the year along with an assist.  Tom Wilson (first round, Washington, 2012) was the game's second star with his first two goals of the year.  Matt …

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Plymouth Whalers

Plymouth Alumni Skate With Whalers During NHL Lockout

NHL players John Mitchell, Jared Boll and James Wisniewski skate with team.

Hockey players crave ice.  As the Ontario Hockey League season starts and the National Hockey League lockout continues, more and more locked out NHL players return to the OHL to skate with their old teams. When the Whalers played in Sault Ste. Marie last week, Dallas Stars defenseman Trevor Daley was skating all alone at Essar Centre.  An excellent defenseman for the Greyhounds from 1999-03 when they played at the Soo Memorial Gardens, Daley was skating at Essar Centre for the first time under odd circumstances. Once he finished his workout, Daley greeted the Whalers Stefan Noesen – from Plano, TX – warmly.  Daley and Noesen trained together in the past. Whaler alums James Wisniewski (2000-04) and Jared Boll (2005-07) skated with the …

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Plymouth Whalers

Steady D-Man Colin MacDonald Appointed Whalers Captain

MacDonald was selected by Plymouth in the 14th round of the 2009 OHL Draft.

The Plymouth Whalers have a new captain for the 2012-13. Colin MacDonald has scored only three goals in 180 career games.  But as his career has moved on, he’s developed into one of the better stay-at-home defenseman in the Ontario Hockey League.  On a team full of first-round National Hockey League draft choices and 10 NHL picks, the Whalers appreciate MacDonald’s maturity, on and off the ice. As a result, Plymouth head coach Mike Vellucci announced MacDonald’s captaincy to the team at practice on Sept. 19. “He (MacDonald) brings work ethic, maturity and leadership off the ice and on the ice, he’s just steady,” Vellucci said.  “He’s one of those guys you can always count on.  He understands how to play the game.” The Whalers also …

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