Plymouth Hits the Christmas Break in First Place

Published on December 20, 2005 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Plymouth Whalers News Release


The Whalers went into their final five games before the Christmas Break with two goals in mind - win all five games and, more importantly, finish the pre-Christmas portion of the schedule in first place in the West Division.

"We want to be in first place in our division when we go home for holidays," Plymouth President, General Manager and Head Coach Mike Vellucci said before last Sunday's game in Toronto. "When you're sitting around the house during the holidays, you want to go out with a win."

Plymouth didn't win all five games, but winning four of the five - coupled with Saginaw losing four of their last five games - gives the Whalers a two-point lead over the Spirit at the top of the division. The Whalers lead the division with a record of 18-11-1-3, good for 40 points; Saginaw has a record of 19-13-0-0, two points behind.

Plymouth started the segment winning, 6-3 in Sarnia Dec. 8 and 6-3, at home against Owen Sound on Dec. 10.

Then after losing, 5-4, in Peterborough last Thursday to the league's top team, Plymouth came back to defeat Oshawa, 7-4 on Friday and - in their best effort of the trip - defeated Toronto, 4-1 on Sunday.

Balanced scoring was one of the highlights of the trip. Plymouth scored 15 goals over the last three games and nobody scored more than one goal per game in four of the five games of the segment.

"Our team has always been evenly matched in terms of scoring," Vellucci said. "We don't count on one particular guy. That speaks volumes for our depth."

Plymouth has scored 133 goals so far this season, third overall in the Western Conference, with just one player - John Vigilante - in the OHL's top ten scoring. Plymouth's leading scorers for December are defenseman Steve Ward (6-8-14) and center Evan Brophey (2-12-14). James Neal (5-6-11), Dan Collins (4-5-9), Gino Pisellini (3-5-8) and Jared Boll (3-4-7) all add to the Whalers' mix of balanced scoring for the month.

The Whalers also got a lift from rookies last weekend from Joe Gaynor and Ondrej Otcenas, who scored single goals in successive games in the victories in Oshawa and Toronto. Both are waiting for a chance for more ice time and may get it in the second half.

"Joe's progressed well for us so far," Vellucci said of Gaynor, Plymouth's second round pick (37th overall) last spring. "He hasn't received the ice time he'd like because of our numbers, but he's worked hard in practice and he's a future top player in our league. All the credit goes to Joe - he's worked very hard in practice."

New goaltender Justin Peters won three of his first four games for Plymouth, posting a 3.25 goals against average and .921 save percentage. He was named the third star in the loss in Peterborough and the second star in the Toronto victory. Peters is a big goaltender who moves well. He is talking all the time out of the ice and is not shy about moving the puck.

"Peters is a character guy who is already respected around the locker room," Vellucci said. "We knew before making the trade that he was a great person and a leader-type. We're happy to have him. He's played pretty well so far and needs to keep going."

"It's good to have someone like Peters behind you," said new Plymouth defenseman Derek Merlini. "As a defenseman, he gives you some confidence and really helps you out."

Merlini - acquired from the Erie Otters and a native of Clinton Township - added to Plymouth's depth on the blue line and is an excellent penalty killer. He also contributed two goals and an assist over the five-game segment.

"Before the trade happened, if anyone would have asked me my number one choice (to play), it would have been Plymouth," Merlini said. "I feel good about coming in and helping and showing that I belong here. Because of the numbers game, it was hard to get going in Erie - playing one game, then sitting the next - so now I'm just trying to get into a rhythm and play sound defense.

"I definitely like this team so far. I think we have a good team here that plays with good intensity and toughness and can score."

Still, the Toronto game was strange as both goaltenders - Ryan Nie for Toronto and Peters for the Whalers - faced their old team for the first time since being traded for each other Dec. 9. Peters - who played 154 games for Toronto - was cheered by many of his old fans.

"Ryan's a great kid," Vellucci said of Nie. "It was very difficult to move him, but we had to do what we thought was best for the team. It's going to be very strange seeing him on the other end (of the ice). Usually when a goaltender is moved like that, guys know what his weak spots are and vice-versa. He'll be up for the game, too."

"During the warm-up I had mixed emotions," Peters told Canadian Press. "It was exciting and emotional."

Plymouth built a 2-0 lead after two periods on Neal's 13th goal of the year in the first period and Gaynor's second of the year in the second period. Third period goals by Otcenas and Boll gave the Whalers a 4-0 lead before Toronto's Matt Halishuk ruined Peters' shutout bid with 37 seconds left.

Saginaw fans asking for a rivalry with Plymouth are going to get just that, with the Spirit and Whalers meeting seven times over the second half of the season. It should be fun.

NEXT UP FOR THE WHALERS: Plymouth resumes action Wednesday, Dec. 28 at 2:00 pm at the Compuware Sports Arena against the Windsor Spitfires. It will be Kids' Day at the Arena with all kinds of activities planned for children. Plymouth then hosts the Erie Otters on Friday, Dec. 30 at 7:30 pm. The Erie game will be Jersey Night - fans wearing a jersey to the game will receive a voucher for the Wed. Jan. 11 game at the Compuware Sports Arena against the Saginaw Spirit.

SPEND YOUR WHALERS GAME NIGHT IN STYLE IN THE LABATT HOSPITALITY ROOM

The Labatt Hospitality Room is now available for private parties and special events during Whalers' games.

For $25 per person, you'll receive:

Tickets to the game.
Watch the game from the privacy of the Hospitality Room.
Use of a 50-inch Plasma Screen Television.
Beef and Chicken Kabob dinner.
Non-alcoholic beverages.

To book your special event in the Labatt Hospitality Room, please call Bob Bannatz or Char Merckel at (734) 453-8400

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from December 20, 2005


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