Newcomer Ryan Hayes Fits in With Plymouth

Published on January 16, 2008 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Plymouth Whalers News Release


On Jan. 12, 2001, free agent Chad LaRose scored the first two goals of his Plymouth career in a 9-2 rout of the Mississauga IceDogs. LaRose became one of the most popular players in Plymouth in recent memory and went on to break the Whalers single season record with 61 goals in 2002-03.

LaRose has worked his way up the hockey ladder and is playing for the Carolina Hurricanes.

Seven years later to the day, Plymouth rookie Ryan Hayes contributed the first three points - all assists - of his OHL career in the Whalers' 8-1 victory over the Erie Otters in a game played at Compuware Arena. Hayes was the game's first star on Monday with a goal and an assist in Plymouth's 3-2 shootout victory over Saginaw.

Although it's too early to tell if Hayes will measure up to LaRose, they're roughly the same size, shoot right handed and play a similar kind of game. Both started in Plymouth at a time when the team was searching for some instant offense.

"I'd describe myself as an offensive player," Hayes said. "I can shoot it and work the power play. I don't want to compare myself to anyone, but offense is where I'm at. I like to score goals."

Hayes played youth hockey with the Syracuse Stars Junior Program, the same program former Whalers Robert Esche, Dan Collins and Tim and Tom Sestito played for before coming to Plymouth.

"I'm a good friend of Danny Collins," Hayes said. "I know both Sestitos. Syracuse is kind of small and everyone knows everybody."

"Ryan has a great knack for scoring goals," said Syracuse Stars head coach Donn Kirnan in a 2006 interview. "From Bantam Majors on, I thought he improved immensely. He took his game to a totally new level. On and off the ice, Ryan is a competitor. He wants to win."

LaRose stated his junior career in the United States Hockey League before coming to the Whalers. Likewise, Hayes didn't start his Plymouth career right away.

Selected by Plymouth in the sixth round (109th overall) in the 2005 OHL Draft, Hayes played two seasons for the United States National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor. In 2005-06, Hayes scored 31 goals and 19 assists for 50 points in 51 games for the NTDP Under-17 Team and last season scored 19 goals with 28 assists for 47 points in 48 games for the NTDP Under-18 Team.

Hayes - 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds, from Syracuse, NY - started this season with BostonCollege and scored two goals and an assist in six games as a freshman for the Eagles. The Eagles were 8-5-5 at the time Hayes joined Plymouth.

Give Plymouth President and General Manager Mike Vellucci an assist for bringing Hayes to the Whalers. Vellucci regularly keeps in touch with drafted players, even though they may not report to Plymouth right away.

"I've been talking to Ryan for two years," Vellucci said. "I believe that the OHL is a great place for him to show how talented he is as a goal scorer while continuing to get an education in Plymouth."

"I just didn't feel I was fitting in with Boston College," Hayes said. "I felt I could really contribute to the success of this team. Plymouth has been doing really well over the past few years, so I thought; why not give it a shot?"

Hayes couldn't get off the ground with Eagles, but he's fit in swimmingly with the Whalers

SMITH, TERRY and CUNNINGHAM SELECTED FOR 2008 OHL ALL-STAR CLASSIC

Three Plymouth Whalers have been selected to play in the 2008 Ontario Hockey League All-Star Classic at the Steelback Centre in Sault Ste. Marie on Feb. 5-6.

Goaltender Jeremy Smith (Brownstown), defenseman Wes Cunningham and center Chris Terry will play for the Western Conference All-Stars, who will be coached by Plymouth general manager Mike Vellucci. Vellucci will be assisted by Saginaw head coach Todd Watson.

Plymouth Athletic Therapist Dennis MacDonald and Equipment Manager Marc Baron have also been selected to work the game.

Smith - a second round pick of the Nashville Predators - has a 2.54 goals against average and is second in the OHL with a .928 save percentage in 24 games. Cunningham is tied with Peterborough's Zack Bogosian for fourth place in defensemen scoring with five goals and 37 assists for 42 points. Terry - selected in the fifth round of the 2007 NHL Draft by Carolina - leads the Whalers with 31 goals and 41 assists for 72 points and is fourth in the OHL's scoring race.

At least one player from every team in the OHL was selected to play and rosters were limited to three overage players and two import players. Western and Eastern Conference rosters can be found here.

"It is always a challenge to select the rosters of players that will compete in this game," said OHL Commissioner David Branch. "There are so many players deserving of the honour of playing in the game and we're confident that our management teams have put together the very best rosters possible. We are fortunate to have another outstanding crop of players that will play in the OHL All-Star Classic this year and look forward to what is sure to be an outstanding event."

In the meantime, Plymouth (24-14-2-2) is preparing for a busy weekend. The Whalers play in Guelph (17-17-5-3) on Friday, host London (22-16-2-2) on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. at Compuware Arena and then play in Windsor (24-11-5-2) on Sunday afternoon.

Tickets can be purchased for all Plymouth games by calling the Compuware Arena box office at (734) 453-8400 or by going online to Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com.

OWN A PIECE OF HISTORY WITH A 2006-07 GAME-WORN JERSEY

There is one jersey remaining from last season's championship run. Chad Beal's white jersey is $150 since it does not have the Memorial Cup patch. If interested, please contact Whalers equipment manager Marc Baron at marcb@plymouthwhalers.com or

734-453-8400 ext. 62555.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from January 16, 2008


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