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Dan Collins' Fast Start Fuels Plymouth Offense

October 18, 2005 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Plymouth Whalers News Release


Last summer, the International Scouting Service wrote the following report about Plymouth Whalers' right wing Dan Collins prior to the 2005 National Hockey League Entry Draft:

"Collins has been maddening to watch over the past years because he has so much potential but yet hasn't put it all together. He is very adept at finding seams in the offensive zone making him very dangerous however his willingness to compete at time continues to concern us. He also has a tendency to avoid contact or go into traffic, which also raises some red flags. He has nevertheless improved his play away from the puck and his skill set makes him an intriguing prospect."

In spite of ISS's hot-and-cold evaluation, the Florida Panthers selected Collins in the third round (90th overall) of last summer's draft.

And if the first month of this Ontario Hockey League schedule is any indication, Florida has picked a beauty of a prospect in Collins, now in his third year with the Whalers.

Collins has blossomed into a well-rounded player this season on a team with a lot of depth. Collins leads the Whalers with 13 goals, to go with 8 assists for 21 points through nine games.

"Dan deserves a lot of credit," said Plymouth President, General Manager and Head Coach Mike Vellucci. "He's always had skill, but he's also worked very hard on and off the ice to become a well-rounded player. He was one of our top penalty killers last year and continues to improve in that role. He's using his skill with experience and hard work, and that makes him dangerous in all situations."

After a 1-2-1-0 start, Plymouth has run off a five-game winning streak and Collins has played a major role. He was the first star in three consecutive games - a 7-2 victory in Mississauga Oct. 12, a 4-2 victory over Oshawa last Friday and a 5-3 win over Sarnia last Saturday. Collins scored seven goals and added an assist for eight points in those games and was directly responsible for 50 percent of the Whalers' offense last week.

Collins has been nominated for Ontario Hockey League Player of the Week honors twice this year. Kitchener's Evan McGrath scored nine points over the first weekend of the season to edge out Collins earlier. If not for London center Rob Schremp - who put up Sega-like numbers of 7 goals with 11 assists for 18 points in three games during the same time - there's a good chance Collins would be this week's OHL Player of the Week.

Collins' attitude towards his own success is typical of the Whalers' Team First attitude, which has played a major role in Plymouth's 6-2-1-0 start.

"You can't say enough about the coaching staff and what they've help us accomplish here so far," Collins said. "The coaching staff has helped in showing the little things. Even my linemates (James Neal and John Vigilante) have helped."

Collins was asked specifically how the Plymouth coaching staff - head coach Mike Vellucci and assistant Todd Watson - have helped him.

"One of the main things they've taught me is to limit blue line turnovers, getting the puck out and winning the one-on-one battles," Collins said. "If I'm winning those battles, then they're gaining confidence in me to put me on the ice in key situations."

Although he's always had an excellent shot, Collins is learning to score in other ways. A goal he scored last Friday against Oshawa's Kevin Couture is typical. Stationed at the left point on a Plymouth power play, the natural tendency is to rip a shot hard towards the net. But on this goal, Collins took his time and beat Couture with a low, accurate shot.

The goal shows Collins' overall maturation as a player.

"I was trying to read what was going on (so) I just shot it and it went in," Collins explained. "I'm really trying to develop my game and use my skill to try to find other ways to score goals so I can be more useful at the next level."

Collins' attitude mirrors many of his teammates. After a couple of seasons around the.500 mark, the Whalers are poised to move towards their accustomed spot near the top of the Western Conference standings.

Although Plymouth has their share of young veterans, Collins pointed towards the contribution of overage veterans Ryan Nie, John Vigilante, Mike Looby and Mike Letizia as major factors towards bringing the young Whalers together as a team.

"It's very exciting, not only knowing that we can have a good year this year, but we can have a good team for years to come," Collins said. "You can't say enough about the older guys - they've helped the younger guys come along to where we are now."

WHALERS PLAY IN KITCHENER FRIDAY, HOST BELLEVILLE SATURDAY.

The first place Whalers (6-2-1-0) put their five-game winning streak on the line Friday night in Kitchener (5-4-0-0) against the Rangers. The game can be heard on www.plymouthwhalers.com beginning at 7:20 pm.

A sellout crowd is expected Friday at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium to see two rivals continue their long-time battle.

The Rangers broke a three-game winning streak Sunday when they defeated the Kingston Frontenacs, 3-1, before 5,716 at the Memorial Auditorium. Overage goaltender Dan Turple was the game's first star for the Rangers, stopping 53 of 54 shots. Turple comes into Friday's game with a 3.32 goals against average and .911 save percentage in 8 appearances so far this season.

Kitchener is led offensively by Red Wing draft Evan McGrath (12-14-26), grinder Mike Duco (5-11-16) and Detroit-native Patrick Davis (7-4-11). Defenseman Matt Lashoff - a first round pick of the Boston Bruins in last summer's NHL Entry Draft - has been hurt much of the season with a shoulder problem and could be out indefinitely. Detroit-draft Jakub Kindl (1-7-8), Atlanta-draft Boris Valabik and captain Mark Fraser are the leading Kitchener defensmen.

On Tuesday, the Rangers announced the signing of 2002 draft pick Matt Auffrey, a right wing from the Syracuse, NY-area who was taken 52nd overall by the Rangers.

Auffrey, 19, played two seasons with the United States National Team Developmental Program in Ann Arbor before moving to the University of Wisconsin last year, where he scored 3 goals and 5 assists for 8 points in 25 games in an injury-filled season.

Belleville comes to Plymouth Saturday night after playing in Windsor on Thursday night. The Bulls will finish up a three-game swing through the OHL West in Saginaw Sunday afternoon.

The Bulls started the season 1-6-0-0, but come into this weekend with a modest two-game winning streak - a 3-2 victory over Kingston last Friday and a 4-2 win over Ottawa last Saturday night. Both victories came late in regulation.

Leading scorer Evan Brophey (3-6-9) scored the game-winner last Friday with six seconds left in regulation in Kingston. Then Brophey set up captain Ryan Rorabeck for the game-winner with 1:34 left against Ottawa.

On the game-winning goal, Brophey faked going behind the Ottawa net with the puck and found Rorabeck in the slot, who beat Ottawa goaltender Dan Battochio with the shot.

"I was yelling and yelling for it (the puck)," Rorabeck told the Belleville Intelligencer. "Broph had found me before for a couple of shots and he did it again. He made a great play."

Saturday's game will be broadcast on www.plymouthwhalers.com starting at 7:20 pm. Video streaming of the game by INSINC.com can be see by going to http://www.ontariohockeyleague.com.

INTERMISSION SKATE OPENINGS: There are still opening for teams to participate in intermission skates this season during Whaler games. Please call Natalie Shaver at (734) 453-8400 to reserve your team's intermission skate.

LABATT/WRIF POST-GAME PARTY SATURDAY: Labatt USA and WRIF 101.1-FM will be teaming up to sponsor their first post-game party at Ginopolis on the Ice after the Whalers' game against Belleville Saturday night. The party will go from 10:00 pm to midnight.

During the event, they'll be plenty of specials on Labatt products, including Labatt USA swag and wearables; WRIF wearables, movie passes and concert tickets; and Whalers swag as well.

WINDSOR, MANTHA HIT WITH FINE, SUSPENSION: Ontario Hockey League Commissioner Dave Branch has hit the Windsor Spitfires and General Manager-Head Coach Moe Mantha with fines totaling $35,000 and a suspension after investigating incidents involving the Spitfires on Sept. 9 and Sept. 28.

Mantha has been suspended for one year as a general manager by the Ontario Hockey League and will sit out 40-games as a coach.

For more information, please go to http://www.ontariohockeyleague.com/news/?id=1346

ROB SCHREMP ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Click http://www.ontariohockeyleague.com/news/?id=1343 for the release.

LET'S DO BRUNCH: Comcast Local will be televising the Whalers-Owen Sound game on Sunday, October 30 at 2:00 pm on Channel 8.

Dan Collins will receive a gold medal from USA Hockey in a pre-game ceremony for his participation in the United States' Gold Medal performance in the World Under-18 championships in the Czech Republic last spring. National Team Development Program coach Ron Rolston will be participating in the ceremony.

The Sunday matinee also marks the return of Sunday Brunch at Ginopolis on the Ice.

Bob Bannatz and his staff will be serving Brunch at the restaurant from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. The buffet includes, eggs, ham, sausage, potatoes (homestyle) with green peppers and onions, roasted chicken, salad, fruit and coffee/pop.

You can purchase tickets for the brunch at the Compuware Sports Arena Box Office for $10 in advance or $12 the day of the event. You can call the Compuware Sports Arena Box Office at (734) 453-8400.

WHALERS, MADONNA UNIVERSITY TEAM UP TO SPONSOR CAREER and PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SPORT CONFERENCE OCTOBER 21: While the Whalers head to Kitchener to play the Rangers Friday, they'll also be teaming up with Madonna University to sponsor the Career and Professional Development Sports Conference at Madonna's Kresge Hall.

The all-day event costs $25. Lunch will be provided.

Among the topics discussed:

- Sports Agenting.

- Managing a Profitable Professional Sports Franchise

- Sports Psychology in Youth Sports

- Sports Journalism

Speakers include - Jennifer Hammond of Fox-2; Tom Brooks, Assistant Athletic Director, University of Michigan; Kevin Poston of Professional Sports Planners, Inc.; Duane MacLean, Senior Vice President, Sales and Stephen Quinn, Vice President of Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer for the Detroit Tigers.

For more information, please go to http://www.plymouthwhalers.com or http://www.madonna.edu

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