Plymouth Whalers Open 2005-06 Training Camp August 31

August 22, 2005 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Plymouth Whalers News Release


PLYMOUTH TOWNSHIP - When the Plymouth Whalers start training camp August 31, they'll be looking to build on a 30-29-6-3, 200405 season in which a host of skaters in their first or second year in the Ontario Hockey League saw major ice time.

Scrimmages run Thursday, September 1 and Friday, September 2 from 9:00 am to 11:00 am and 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm. The public is invited to attend. Rosters will be provided at the scrimmages.

Something Plymouth President, General Manager and Head Coach Mike Vellucci said at the beginning of last season holds true now.

"Our average age is just under 18, so we're a real young team compared to some around the Ontario Hockey League," said Vellucci at the start of last season. "Just because you're young doesn't mean you're not going to be good. We have a lot of skill with our young guys. The skill is what's going to make us a better team.

"We're counting on young guys to produce. It's going to be a long haul here and we need to just get better and better as time goes on."

Although the Whalers have some quality veterans returning like goaltender Ryan Nie, forward John Vigilante and defensemen Mike Letizia and Mike Looby - all overage candidates - the bulk of the team is starting their third season or are younger.

And if the adage holds that it often takes OHL players a couple of years to fully develop, then several Whalers could have career seasons.

Want proof?

18-year-old right wing Dan Collins - who was taken in the 3rd round of this summer's National Hockey League Entry Draft by the Florida Panthers - went from 22 points as a rookie in 2003-04, to 46 points last season.

18-year-old left wing James Neal - who just turned 18 in September and was selected in the 2nd round this summer in the NHL Entry Draft by the Dallas Stars - went from 6 points in 9 games in a brief appearance with Plymouth in 2003-04, to 44 points last season.

18-year-old center Andrew Fournier scored a goal in three games with Plymouth in 2003-04 and then scored 15 points in 34 games last year before suffering a season-ending injury.

18-year-old defenseman Ryan McGinnis - who was taken in the 6th round of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft by the Los Angeles Kings - suffered through an injury-plagued rookie season in 2003-04, playing just 32 games before rebounding with a solid season last year.

19-year-old defenseman Steve Ward - after languishing on the bench for the Sarnia Sting from 2002-04 - received a new lease on life after being acquired by the Whalers at the start of last season and responded with 18 points in his first chance at regular ice time.

"All five are important members of this team," said Vellucci. "To their credit, they worked hard last year to become good players in this league. We look for them to continue to improve this year."

The Getting Better Every Year Theory didn't hold true for every Whaler last season. Two forwards selected in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft look to rebound in 2005-06. RW Gino Pisellini (Philadelphia) and LW Vaclav Meidl (Nashville) went from 30 points and 42 as rookies in 2003-04, to 10 and 28 points respectively last season. In fairness, Pisellini was in and out of the lineup last season with injuries. Both Pisellini and Meidl need to rebound this year if they want to be signed by their NHL teams within their two-year signing period.

Two younger players who should improve in their second season with Plymouth are 17-year-old forwards John Armstrong and Cory Tanaka. Armstrong - taken by the Whalers in the first round (13th overall) of the 2004 OHL Draft - scored 6 goals with 13 assists for 19 points last year and has a well-rounded game. Armstrong patterns his game after the Red Wings' Steve Yzerman and showed the makings of an excellent face-off man. Tanaka - taken in the second round (29th overall) in the 2004 Draft - picked up the pace dramatically over the second half of last season with regular ice time and scored 10 goals with 11 assists.

Here's a look at the Whalers, by position, at the start of training camp. Stats are from last season.

GOALTENDING: Veteran Ryan Nie (2.56 GA, .914 %) returns to claim one of the overage spots. There's no questioning Nie's work ethic and preparation to do the job every night. Nie made the OHL All-Star team and was among the league leaders in all important goaltending categories for much of last season. If he plays fewer minutes this season, he should be more effective as the year wears on. Justin Garay (3.63, .880 %) returns for his second season and had a typical year for a rookie OHL goaltender in 2004-05. Garay picked up his play over the second half. Quick and athletic, Garay should benefit by a year's experience in the OHL. 2005 Draft picks Jeremy Smith (2.44) and Kyle Jendra (2.28) will use this year's training camp as a learning experience. Both look like they have the ability to be good OHL goaltenders with experience.

"Nie did everything we expected last year, and more as a Western Conference All-Star," said Vellucci. "Hopefully, Garay will use last season as a learning experience and come to camp ready to play."

DEFENSE: Letizia and Looby come in as overage candidates and both should stick around through pre-season and into the start of the season Sept. 21 in Saginaw. When he's on his game, Letizia plays with intelligence and could quarterback the power play. Looby gave the Whalers a lift last year after coming over from Sault Ste.Marie. Known as a stay-at-home defenseman for much of his OHL career with Brampton and the Soo, Looby showed the ability to jump in the offensive flow at times with the Whalers. Looby has an excellent shot from the point. As mentioned, Steve Ward comes into this season as one of the best skating defenseman in the Western Conference. Ward's offensive totals should improve. If being selected in the NHL draft instills confidence, than look for Ryan McGinnis to continue to improve. Now in his second full season with Plymouth, Zack Shepley bided his time at the start of 2004-05 as a sixth and seventh defenseman. Once he got into the lineup, he played so well he stuck. More will be expected from Shepley and two late additions last year, Jake Helmick and Ryan Lee. Among the newcomers, Scott Madden is a smooth skating, puck rushing defenseman, while Brett Bellemore and Leo Jenner are steady. Scouts expect Jenner to pick things up offensively with experience. Nick Petrecki - Plymouth's first round pick in the 2005 draft will start the season in the United States Hockey League and Kyle Lawson (acquired from Saginaw this summer) will either play at Notre Dame or the USHL.

FORWARDS: As mentioned, Collins, Neal, Tanaka, Armstrong, Fournier, Meidl and Pisellini will all be expected to pick up the pace. Add to the mix veteran John Vigilante (24-38-62), back as an overage and the team leader with 199 regular season games played, veterans Ryan Stephenson (7-8-15) and Mike Martinelli and second-year player Tom Sestito. Among the rookies, Import center Ondrej Otcenas is worth watching. Not considered much of a prospect at the start of last season, Otcenas improved by leaps and bounds last season in Slovakia and was taken in the 4th round of last summer's NHL Entry Draft by the Carolina Hurricanes. Second round pick Chris Terry (47-57-104) comes to the Whalers from the Markham Islanders with the reputation of a scorer who plays with grit. LW Joe Gaynor was also taken in the second round and adds size to the lineup. He'll be expected to contribute offensively with experience. RW Jared Boll (24-23-47) led the USHL in penalty minutes last year and comes to the OHL older than your average rookie.

"We drafted for scoring and grit in the 2005 draft," Vellucci said. "Our scouts projected Terry and Gaynor as potential first-round picks in the OHL Draft. Our scouts really like Otcenas. We think Boll can contribute right away."

Plymouth's preseason schedule is as follows:

Sat. Sept. 3 - Windsor at Plymouth, 2:00 pm, Compuware Sports Arena.
Mon. Sept 5 - Plymouth at Windsor, 2:00 pm, Windsor Arena.
Fri, Sept. 9 - Plymouth at Sarnia, 7:30 pm, Sarnia Sports and Entertainment Centre.
Sat. Sept. 10 - Sarnia at Plymouth, 7:30 pm, Compuware Sports Arena.

Plymouth completes the pre-season in a four-team OHL tournament in Erie, PA Sept. 16-17:

Fri, Sept. 16 - Toronto vs. Plymouth, 5:00 pm, Tullio Arena.
Fri, Sept. 16 - Saginaw vs. Erie, 7:45 pm, Tullio Arena.

Sat. Sept 17 - Losers of Sept 16 at 5:00 pm.
Sat, Sept. 17 - Winners of Sept. 16 at 7:45 pm.

WHALERS AT PRO CAMPS: Boll (Columbus), Collins (Florida), McGinnis (Los Angeles), Meidl (Nashville), Neal (Dallas), Otcenas (Carolina), Pisellini (Philadelphia) and Stephenson (free-agent invitation to Florida) are all expected to miss part of Plymouth's training camp because they are participating in Nation Hockey League training camps.

WHALER BROADCASTING: The team should be announcing 2005-06 radio, television and internet plans during training camp.



Ontario Hockey League Stories from August 22, 2005


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