First-place Whalers hit the road for three games this weekend

Published on October 19, 2004 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Plymouth Whalers News Release


PLYMOUTH TOWNSHIP - After going 3-0-1 in a four-game home stand, the Ontario Hockey League's Plymouth Whalers hit the road for three games through the East Division starting this Thursday in Peterborough. Here is a closer look:

THURSDAY, OCT. 21 – PLYMOUTH (5-3-1-1) at PETERBOROUGH (4-4-1-2), 7:00 pm (6:45 pm WSDS 1480-AM) – Whalers are getting the job done with excellent overall balance. Defenseman Mike Letizia leads the Whalers in scoring with 2 goals and 7 assists for 9 points, but Plymouth has nine other players with at least five points. Veteran Tim Sestito leads the Whalers with 5 goals, but Dan Collins has 4 and James Neal, Jonas Fiedler and Vaclav Meidl all have 3 apiece. Plymouth goaltender Ryan Nie is second among the league leaders with a 1.89 goals against average and .942 save percentage over his first 9 games. Dan Ryder (2-8) and Liam Reddox (5-4) lead the Petes in scoring, while defenseman Trevor Hendrikx (4-2) keys the Peterborough power play. Finnish Import Eero Kilpelainen (2.90 GAA, .917 save %) has seen the bulk of the work in goal early in the season for Peterborough.

Plymouth and Peterborough split two games last season. Plymouth and Peterborough have split the all-time season series at 13-13-2- 0.

FRIDAY, OCT. 22 – PLYMOUTH at KINGSTON (3-6-0-1), 7:30 pm (7:15 pm WSDS 1480-AM) - Plymouth beat Kingston, 3-2, last Saturday at the Compuware Sports Arena with Andrew Fournier, Cory Tanaka (first OHL goal) and Meidl scoring. The Frontenacs' top line of Evan Kotsopoulos (4-7), Todd Griffith (6-3) and Anthony Stewart (4-6-10) – a first round pick of the Florida Panthers - is a threat any time they're on the ice. Cory Emmerton (4-2), Kingston's fifth round pick last spring, is off to a good start. Former Whalers Trevor Waddell (1-2) and Michael Kolarz (0-1) play on Kingston's defense. Matt Spezza (2.56, .911) – the brother of Ottawa Senators' center Jason Spezza – and Dayne Davis (4.00, .890) split time in goal for the Frontenacs.

Plymouth and Kingston split two games last season. Whalers have a 16-12-0-1 edge in the all-time series with Kingston dating back to 1990. Whalers have won the last four games at the Kingston Memorial Centre.

SUNDAY, OCT. 24 – PLYMOUTH at OTTAWA (4-5-1-0), 2:00 pm (1:45 pm, WSDS 1480-AM) – Although the 67's are uncharacteristically under .500, they have two wins and a tie in their last three games. Ottawa Hall-of-Fame Coach Brian Kilrea is jump-starting a rebuilding project with the help of talented rookie Imports Jakub Petruzalek (4-11) and Lukas Kaspar (7-4). Veteran center Peter Tsimikalis (2-8) has a history of playing well against the Whalers and Mark Mancari (5-0) and Bryan Bickell (3-4) are quality veterans. Second year goaltender Danny Battochio (3.14, .908) played well against Plymouth last season in a 3-1 victory at the Civic Centre last Dec. 12. Ottawa acquired overage center Brad Bonello from Peterborough for a draft choice and Bonello will be in the lineup against Plymouth.

Plymouth and Ottawa split a pair of games last season. Plymouth has a 16-10-2 edge over Ottawa in the all-time series dating back to 1990. Whalers and Ottawa will meet again in Plymouth's next home game, Fri. Oct. 29 at 7:30 pm at the Compuware Sports Arena.

AROUND THE ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE: After a 2-6-1 start, the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds fired head coach Marty Abrams on Monday. Abrams has been replaced on an interim basis by general manager Dave Torrie. According to published reports, former Sault Ste. Marie head coach Craig Hartsburg (currently under contract as an assistant coach for the Philadelphia Flyers) is a possible successor if the Greyhounds can get permission from the Flyers to talk to him.....Former United States National Developmental Team player Patrick O'Sullivan is this week's Ontario Hockey League Player of the Week after scoring 2 goals with 7 assists for 9 points in three games for the Mississauga Ice Dogs last week.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from October 19, 2004


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