Mike Vellucci Returns as Plymouth Whalers Head Coach

Published on November 10, 2008 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Plymouth Whalers News Release


PLYMOUTH - The winningest coach in the history of the Plymouth Whalers is behind the bench again.

Plymouth Whalers President and General Manager Mike Vellucci announced that Greg Stefan has resigned as head coach of the Whalers and will take a job as Special Assignment Coach for the National Hockey League's Carolina Hurricanes, reporting to Hurricanes' General Manager Jim Rutherford. Vellucci will move back behind the Whalers bench as head coach for a second term.

Vellucci - who continues as the President and General Manager of the Whalers - practiced with his team today. Plymouth Associate Coach Joe Stefan and Assistant Coach Brian Sommariva remain with the team in their current positions.

Stefan became Plymouth's head coach last Dec. 11 when Vellucci was promoted within Compuware's hockey organization to concentrate on the growth of Compuware Arena. Before that, Stefan served as an assistant coach for the Whalers from 1993 until 1998, and rejoined the organization in 2003 as assistant coach and director of player development where he worked until joining the Carolina Hurricanes in 2005. Stefan, 47, served two-plus seasons on the Hurricanes' coaching staff as goaltending coach/pro scout prior to taking over as Plymouth's head coach in December 2007.

Vellucci, 42, was originally hired as Plymouth's head coach in 2001 and led the Whalers to their second championship over the team's 19-year history in 2007. Plymouth has won four West Division titles and never finished lower than second place during Vellucci's tenure behind the bench

Vellucci became the winningest coach in Plymouth history last season while compiling a record of 246-132-37-22, good for a .630 winning percentage, second in franchise history behind Paul Maurice (.681), who has coached in the National Hockey League with the Carolina Hurricanes and Toronto Maple Leafs. Vellucci became the first American to win the Ontario Hockey League's Matt Leyden Award as Coach of the Year in 2007.

Plymouth is currently 6-11-2-0, in fifth place in the OHL West and tenth in the Western Conference. The Whalers are home this weekend, hosting Saginaw on Friday and London on Saturday at Compuware Arena during the team's annual Scout Weekend. Both games start at 7:05 pm. Tickets are going fast, but are still available by calling Compuware Arena at (734) 453-8400.

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