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Whalers Break For Christmas Tied for First Place

December 20, 2006 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Plymouth Whalers News Release


It's fair to say that the Whalers are playing with a quiet confidence.

Plymouth swept through an Eastern Ontario road swing last weekend, winning three games by identical 5-1 scores last Thursday in Peterborough, Friday in Oshawa and Sunday in Brampton.

The Whalers' victory - coupled with Saginaw's 5-3 loss to Oshawa on Sunday - moved Plymouth into a first place tie in the OHL West Division with Saginaw, each with 46 points. Plymouth (22-10-1-1, for a .676 winning percentage) is percentage points ahead of Saginaw (22-11-0-2, .657).

Plymouth has gone 14-1-1-1 over its' last 17 games, picking up 30 out of a possible 34 points since Nov. 10. The Whalers' ascent up the OHL standings caught the attention of National Hockey league scouts today as Plymouth cracked the CHL Mosaik MasterCard Rankings for the first time this season at #10 overall in the Canadian Hockey League.

Evan Brophey's power play goal at 14:04 of the second period snapped a 1-1 tie on Sunday as the Whalers pulled away from Brampton. Besides Brophey, Vern Cooper, Dan Collins, Joe McCann and Andrew Fournier scored for the Whalers in the victory.

Brophey had another hot weekend with two goals and six assists for eight points over the three games. Brophey - with 14 goals and 46 assists for 60 points in 34 games - is tied with London's Sam Gagner for the league lead in assists and is fifth in the OHL in scoring.

Plymouth is currently playing without James Neal (18-21-39), who made Canada's National Junior Team for the World Junior Championships and will be committed to that team through early January.

Plymouth handled a physical Oshawa team, 5-1, last Friday night at the General Motors Centre. Brophey - one of the most improved players for the Whalers over the last twelve months - figured in on all five goals with a goal and four assists as the game's first star.

Chris Terry and Tom Sestito scored two power play goals each for the Whalers. Terry has hit double figures with 10 goals and Sestito now leads Plymouth with 22.

The Whaler power play continues to be a factor over the last month. Plymouth scored three power plays goals Thursday night in the victory over Peterborough, added four more power play goals against Oshawa and had a power play goal against Brampton.

The Whalers have moved up to 12th overall in the OHL on the power play at 18.5 percent.

The Whalers continue to lead the league in penalty killing, going into the Christmas Break with an 86.9 percent success ratio.

Plymouth captain Steve Ward says the Whalers are playing with confidence.

"The key for us is we're play with a lot of confidence," Ward said. "We're going into games now with a bit of a swagger knowing we should win if we work hard. That's been the key - we know if we work hard, we have enough skill to win most of the time."

On Friday, Oshawa was as physical a team as the Whalers have seen this season, but the Whalers handled the Generals, pulling away after leading 2-0 after one period of play.

"I don't think we've seen a team hit us like that before," Ward said. "We're usually known as the team that hits. Oshawa gave us a different look in that they finished all their checks. We struggled a bit in the first period and were lagging in the second, but we stuck with our game plan and buried a couple of goals and kept going."

Although Brownstown's Jeremy Smith and Neuvirth are rookies, they've provided Plymouth with strength in goal. Plymouth leads the OHL in team defense, allowing 93 goals through 34 games.

"Right now, we have a ton of confidence in them," Ward said. "They're both playing unbelievably well, and they're both a huge part of our success. We've been playing great team defense and they've been coming up with the big saves when we need them. I think that's been a big key."

The Whalers are getting improved play from defensemen Zack Shepley, Brett Bellemore and Leo Jenner.

"Everyone's stepped up huge," Ward said. "Shepley's been an unsung hero on this team the way he can defensively shut down the other team."

Ward is a big part of the power play and feels it was just a matter of time before it started to click.

"I think we were getting chances earlier in the season," Ward said. "They weren't going in and that was frustrating for everyone. We knew we had to keep going. Right now, we're getting some rebounds and finding those seams and scoring."

The Whalers open up after Christmas with a pair of home games, hosting much-improved Windsor on Thursday, December 28 at 2:00 p.m. on Kids' Day, then hosting Guelph on Saturday, December 30 at 7:05 p.m., before playing on New Year's Day in Owen Sound.

Tickets for all Whalers games are available by calling the Compuware Sports Arena box office at (734) 453-8400 or by going to Ticketmaster at http://www.ticketmaster.com.

WHALERS' SCHOOL VISIT IS COOL WITH STUDENTS It's always an event when the Plymouth Whalers go on a school visit.

A recent example was the Whalers' trip to Forest Elementary School in Riverview, tucked in the middle of a subdivision of the Downriver Detroit Community.

In a normal OHL setting, it could be taken for granted how big Whaler players are. But in an elementary school setting, Tom Sestito or Zack Shepley seem like gentle giants to second graders.

At first glance, the mood was very quiet when a dozen Whalers in their green jerseys walked to the front of Brenda Said's (pronounced Side) second-grade class.

"The kids were real quiet at first," Said said. "I've never seen them so quiet, because the players are so big. But I think it's good for our kids to see people who set goals for themselves and have reached those goals and what it takes to achieve them.

"That's the kind of things we try to instill in them. It's nice to see someone like the Whalers coming back and showing them."

Each player gave a brief introduction, including their name, position and where they grew up. Again, in a normal OHL setting, it may be taken from granted that the Whalers come from all over Ontario, the United States and Europe. But it's fascinating for students and teachers seeing the Plymouth Whalers for the first time.

The Whalers answered questions about a variety of topics - where they live, if they go to school, when they practice and other topics.

"The players did an excellent job answering the questions," Said said. "The players are role models and they explained the good parts of hockey and how it can help them."

Although the Whalers answered the questions seriously, there's always a chance for some comedy. Some of the students perked up when Jared Boll admitted he drops the gloves every once in awhile.

"I don't fight all the time," Boll admitted with a smile. "I score goals, too."

After the question-and-answer period, the Whalers broke up into smaller groups with the students for reading sessions.

Said feels it's important for her students to see and experience people first-hand from a variety of jobs. She liked the fact the Whalers took the time out for the visit.

"I wish other teams would visit, because sports are a big part of these kids' lives," Said reported. "We bring the mayor in, a police officer, firefighter - as many different professions as possible."

After visiting the second-grade class, the Whalers made a brief visit to the fifth grade class before heading back to Plymouth.

The Whalers' visit to Forest Elementary School lasted no more than an hour, but it had a positive impact on students and teachers.

Although the Whalers are away now to enjoy Christmas with their families, the team is interested in visiting schools throughout the surrounding community once the second half begins.

Visits are arranged based upon the Whalers' playing, practice and school schedules. Please call the Plymouth Whalers at (734) 453-8400 to arrange your school's visit.

WHALERS HOST COMPUWARE 92's

Recently, the Whalers continued their program of practicing with Compuware youth teams within the organization when they hosted the Compuware 92's.

The 92's (13-4-2 in the Midwest Elite Hockey League) are not much younger than many of the current Whaler players. Plymouth's first round pick from last spring - Vern Cooper - will be 16 on Dec. 30.

Plymouth Assistant General Manager and Associate Coach Todd Watson runs an upbeat practice with very little wasted time.

The practice was an eye-opener for the Compuware 92's players, parents and coaching staff.

"I think it's a great opportunity to come out and skate with the Whalers," said Compuware 92's head coach Todd Jenkins. "It's an opportunity for our guys - who see themselves as potential NHL'ers someday - to see where their level is compared to the Whalers. We're fortunate to have to opportunity to see the Whalers and now practice with them."

Although the 92's practiced with older players, Jenkins said they practice hard all the time on their own.

"We go at it pretty hard most of the time," Jenkins admitted. "We wouldn't expect anything less. Even though they had kind of a fun practice today, I think they got a lot out of it. Our players got a chance to see with their skill level is compared to player two or three years older."

Coaches watch other practices all the time, so Jenkins was asked what he learned from the session.

"The intensity level," Jenkins said. "The intensity that coach Watson has when he's on the ice with kids. It doesn't matter whether you're having a light skate or going hard, the intensity level often starts with the coach."

Jenkins feels although his team is talented, it's talent that is being developed.

"We have a good work ethic," Jenkins said. "And along with the other bigger teams in Detroit - teams like Little Caesars, Honeybaked and Compuware - there's going to be talent there, but what are you going to do with that talent? Are you going to develop it, or are you going to let it get stagnant. I think we're going to continue to grow as a team as the season goes on."

The Compuware 92's include goaltenders Matt Mahalak and Chad Bartle; defensemen Dan Milan, Nolan Vallau, Michael Gunn, Austin Levi, Carter Foguth and Dave Torchia; and forwards Royale Letourneau, D.J. Hastings, Easton Powers, Josh Dangel, Jeff Heuerman, Jared Knight, Austin Czarnik, George Wilkinson and Austin Watson.

The Compuware 92's coaching staff includes Head Coach Todd Jenkins, with assistants Jeff Zunich, Dan Hastings and Randy Paquette. The 92's Team Manager is Maribeth Dangel.

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