Plymouth Captain Steve Ward Catches the Attention of Scouts

Published on November 1, 2006 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Plymouth Whalers News Release


It's always informative to talk to the National Hockey League scouts who come to the Compuware Sports Arena to watch the Plymouth Whalers and the Ontario Hockey League.

Don Boyd has been around the OHL for a long time, first as a head coach in Sault Ste. Marie and London and now as the Director of Player Personnel for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the NHL.

With current Whalers Jared Boll and Tom Sestito already drafted by the Blue Jackets, Boyd has a vested interest in becoming a regular at Whaler games this season.

But scouts being evaluators by trade, everyone gets looked at. Boyd found a potential diamond in the rough Oct. 28 in Plymouth's 3-0 loss to Kitchener at the Compuware Sports Arena.

Whaler fans have come to appreciate the play of captain Steve Ward. Ward logs a lot of critical minutes for the Whalers and when defenseman Zack Shepley left in the first period with an injury, his work load increased in the loss to Kitchener. Although Ward didn't score, he was voted the Third Star in the game.

"I look at your captain (Steve Ward) last night, and you say 'Where did he come from?'" Boyd said the next day in Saginaw. "There is such a thing as a late bloomer and this kid had a great game last night. His ability to beat the first forechecker last night was uncanny."

Ward came to the Whalers two seasons ago from the Sarnia Sting in a trade for left wing Jordan Grant. Languishing on the bench with Sarnia, Ward has flourished in Plymouth, a fact not lost on Boyd.

"Everybody has a different learning curve in this league, no question about that," Boyd said. "Some are faster than others, but you never want to put players where they can't succeed."

Ward's mobility and good puck handling make him a natural for the new-OHL. He's not afraid of mucking it up when he has to and hits as hard as anyone in the league.

He seems to be adjusting to the new role as captain as smoothly as he make a good first pass out of the Plymouth defensive zone.

"I was a captain in youth hockey, but that was a long time ago," Ward said. "There's a lot more responsibility now, but it's a great honor."

The key for Plymouth, according to Ward, is hard work.

"We're deep, but the one thing we still have to worry about working hard," Ward said. "Because you know what? Hard work will beat skill. So I think we can be a great team if we work hard with the skill we have."

Ward likes the skill level of Whaler pups AJ Jenks, Vern Cooper, Jeremy Smith and Kaine Geldart.

"They're all real good players and they all have the ability to step in (and contribute)," Ward said. "They all have the tools and they'll all come along."

Ward is active in the community and participates around the area for Plymouth in public appearances. He's easy to talk to, approachable and has become one of the more popular current Whalers.

"I said it from Day 1 when I came here, coming to Plymouth is a breath of fresh air," Ward said. "I couldn't ask for anything more than coming here."

SCOUT SAYS: Although Plymouth's 3-0 loss last Saturday to Kitchener was disappointing to Whaler fans, that's not how Boyd saw it when we spoke the next day in Saginaw:

"You watch last night's game and I'd have to challenge anybody that you won't see a better combination - certainly in junior hockey - of contact and speed than in the game last night," Boyd said. "In my mind, it was a game where the referee (Ryan Carroll) didn't have to make a lot of close calls. It was a game in which the kids went out and laid their hearts out on both sides. They played with speed and a tremendous amount of contact and a tremendous amount of urgency on both sides."

Plymouth hits the road all of this weekend, playing in Ottawa (6-8-0-0) on Friday at 7:30 p.m., Belleville (9-6-0-0) on Saturday at 7:15 p.m. and Kingston (4-9-0-1) on Sunday at 2:00 p.m.

All Whalers games can be heard on the internet on www.plymouthwhalers.com starting ten minutes before game time.

Plymouth is back home on Fri. Nov. 10 against Owen Sound and then plays a home-and-home series with Sarnia, starting Sat. Nov. 11 at the Compuware Sports Arena at 7:05 p.m. and then Sun. Nov. 12 at 2:00 p.m. in Sarnia at the Sports and Entertainment Centre.

PLAY MINIATURE GOLF WITH THE WHALERS.

Join the Whalers' Booster Club for their second annual Glow in the Dark Miniature Golf Tournament. On November 30th, your team will pair with at least one Plymouth

Whaler player and compete for prizes. Sign up soon, space is extremely limited.

For complete information, visit http://www.whalersboosters.com/content/golf.htm.

WHALERS LEND A HAND TO COMPUWARE 94's

After playing three games in less than three days last weekend, it would seem reasonable to give the Plymouth Whalers a day off.

Instead, the team went back to work Monday - with a twist.

Plymouth Whalers, meet the Compuware 94's of the Midwest Elite Hockey League.

The 94's met the Whalers, dressed in the Plymouth dressing room and participated in the full practice with the Ontario Hockey League team Monday afternoon at the Compuware Sports Arena.

The Whalers are making an effort to get involved with youth hockey programs this season. Plymouth Assistant General Manager and Assistant Coach Todd Watson recently took most of the Whaler team to run a practice for the Trenton Youth Hockey Association at Trenton's Kennedy Arena, some 25 miles southeast of Plymouth. The response was overwhelmingly positive.

Working with younger hockey teams is a way of giving back to the community for the Whalers. No matter what the age group, hockey players usually find a way to get along in a positive, productive manner.

"It's a good way to break things up," Watson said. "Hopefully, the 94's got something out of it, while our guys enjoyed themselves, too."

The Compuware 94's currently have a record of 6-3-1 in MWEHL play. Many young hockey players at that age group are beginning to get the inkling that they may want to play hockey on a serious level when they get as old as the Whalers.

"It's a good experience for our kids," said Compuware 94's Head Coach Andy Copp. "They're all very serious about hockey and they all want to make it to the next level. So it's a good opportunity for them to see how the Whalers run their program, see how committed they are and see what it takes to get to the OHL level."

The practice session was eye-opening to the parents of the Compuware 94's.

"I think this is great," said Susan Vail, the mother of left wing Brady Vail. "I think it's great that the Whalers took the time out to work with the younger guys. I think it's an excellent motivational tool for our kids to come out here and skate with some of the same guys they've been watching at the games and they look up to.

"You wonder if the Whalers feel like this is a chore, but it looks like everyone is having a good time out there."

The Whalers made an effort to make their younger guests feel comfortable.

"Watching the Whalers interact with our kids, it was good for the kids, because they were a little nervous at first," Copp said. "But the Whalers started joking around with them and it looked like everyone was fitting in real well."

Watson runs a high-tempo practice and expects energy and effort from the players. Work hard, take a break and then go at it again. As the 94's found out, there's not much wasted time or energy in a Plymouth Whalers practice.

One interesting drill involved a three-on-three scrimmage with both nets in an offensive zone cut in half, limiting space and time for the players. Players had to carry the puck through traffic to try to score on the goaltender. Watson split the teams up so the Whalers skated with the 94's. The bigger Whalers held up on their guests, but not by much. Quick puck movement is a plus in this drill, no matter the size of a particular player.

"One of the great benefits of doing something like this is to see how the Whalers go about their business," Copp said. "The kids see that when it comes to do doing a drill how serious Whalers take it. There's also a time to relax in practice and keep things in perspective.

"But it's really good for them to see the commitment and the focus of the older kids."

After the practice, both teams convened for a pizza party at the Compuware Sports Arena's Labatt Room.

And while the Whalers are getting ready to hit the road this weekend in Ottawa on Friday, Belleville on Saturday and Kingston on Sunday, the Compuware 94's take on Victory Honda on Wednesday - perhaps a little more prepared than usual.

The Whalers are looking to get involved with other youth teams as the season wears on. Your team can come to Plymouth to participate in a practice and - like the Compuware 94's - dress in the Whalers' dressing room. Or, the Whalers can come to your rink and run a practice for your team.

For more information, please call the Whalers at the Compuware Sports Arena at (734) 453-8400.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from November 1, 2006


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