True Grit: Sestito's Hat Trick Leads Plymouth Over Brampton

Published on October 26, 2006 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Plymouth Whalers News Release


If you've followed the Whalers over the last three seasons, you can appreciate how hard Plymouth right wing Dan Collins shoots the puck.

Tom Sestito's up-close-and-personal experience with a Collins shot in Erie on Friday, Oct. 13 wasn't so lucky.

Sestito was parked in front of the Erie net during a Whaler power play when he took Collins' hard shot from the point in the face. Sestito wobbled to the Plymouth dressing room, missed the rest of that game and two more games after that - Plymouth's 5-2 loss to London on Oct. 14 and the Whalers' 4-0 shutout in Windsor five days later.

But Sestito came back with a vengeance, scoring a hat trick and adding an assist in a 6-3 Plymouth victory over Brampton on Oct. 20.

"I was just crashing the net," Sestito remembered about meeting Collins' shot. "There were a couple of seconds left in our power play. All I know is, Dan has a hard shot."

Sestito didn't take missing the London and Windsor games lightly and lobbied with the coaching staff and team doctors to get back into the lineup as soon as possible. He almost didn't play against Brampton, getting clearance from the doctors moments before pre-game warmup.

"I didn't want to take any games off," Sestito admitted. "I wasn't going to shy away from anything because that's how you get hurt."

It's fair to say that Sestito is one of the most improved players in the OHL over the last two seasons. Although he doesn't shy away from dropping the gloves, Sestito is also one of the Whalers best penalty killers and can score as he gets older.

It's Sestito's all-around grit, skill and intelligence on the ice that prompted the Columbus Blue Jackets to take him in the 3rd round (85th overall) of last summer's National Hockey League's Entry Draft.

As Sestito has gotten older, he's earned his space on the ice.

"I've worked hard for that space," Sestito said. "The first two years, I took my share of beatings and gave some out. But I have my space out on the ice now and I like it."

Whalers assistant coach Todd Watson prepares the Plymouth penalty killing units in a variety of ways.

"He does keep us very prepared," Sestito said. "Killing penalties is about blocking shots and keeping the (passing and shooting) lanes closed. It's something we take pride in."

If there's one thing that is clear for everyone on the hockey club, it's the fact that the Whalers have a lot of depth up front. Plymouth has been able to overcome injuries so far this season without a lot of difficulty.

"The depth we have is ridiculous," Sestito said. "We really don't have a first line or a fourth line, for that matter. That's how deep we are."

Sestito suffered a sprained knee during the Columbus Blue Jackets' training camp, but cherished the experience anyway.

"It's just a different atmosphere," Sestito explained. "It definitely puts a jump in your step when you see how hard they work up there. The (NHL) experience gives you the incentive to work that much harder here."

Sestito was asked if his brother Tim - who played for the Whalers from 2001-05 and was captain his final season - had an influence on him.

"Everyone knows how hard he worked here," Tom Sestito said. "I just try to keep up with him, both on and off the ice. He's definitely a role model."

Although Tim Sestito is currently making his mark with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League, Tom Sestito is earning his own way up the ladder, too.

ARMSTRONG, NEAL SELECTED FOR 2006 ADT CHL-RUSSIA CHALLENGE

The Ontario Hockey League - in collaboration with the Canadian Hockey League - announced the composition of players and coaching staff who will lead Team OHL against the Russian National Junior Team in the 2006 ADT Canada Russia Challenge games held in Sarnia (November 23) and Oshawa (November 27).

The OHL team includes forwards Steve Downie (Peterborough Petes), Marc Staal (Sudbury Wolves), Ryan Parent (Guelph Storm), Ryan O'Marra (Erie Otters), and Tom Pyatt (Saginaw Spirit) who all helped Canada win a gold medal at the World Junior Championships in January. Plymouth Whalers James Neal and John Armstrong also received invitations. Team OHL also includes 12 players who were invited to this past Summer Evaluation Camp for the National Junior Team. Craig Hartsburg (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds) will lead the OHL team as head coach.

PLAY MINIATURE GOLF WITH THE WHALERS.

Join the Whalers' Booster Club for their second annual Glow in the Dark Miniature Golf Tournament. On November 30th, your team will pair with at least one Plymouth

Whaler player and compete for prizes. Sign up soon, space is extremely limited.

For complete information, visit http://www.whalersboosters.com/content/golf.htm.

JAMES NEAL SIGNS WITH DALLAS STARS

Plymouth left wing James Neal recently came to the Whalers office looking for a package.

He wasn't looking for sticks or skates. He was looking for a package FED-exed from the Dallas Stars - an entry-level National Hockey League contract. And as it turned out, the Stars signed Neal to three-year-deal. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

If you are new to the Ontario Hockey League, Neal will remain with Plymouth this season even though he has signed with Dallas. Neal is in the same situation as Owen Sound's Bobby Ryan, who is signed by the Anaheim Ducks but is still playing with the Attack. Whaler alumni have been signed by NHL teams in the past. Stephen Weiss (Florida) and Karl Stewart (free agent signing by Atlanta) are recent examples of Whalers who signed NHL contracts with their respective teams and stayed with Plymouth for the remainder of the season.

Neal, 19 and from Whitby, ON, has nine goals with six assists for 15 points in 11 games this season for the Whalers. He leads the team with a +9 rating. Neal has been a consistent scorer for the Whalers this season, registering at least one point in 10 of the 11 Plymouth games.

Last season, Neal scored 21 goals and 37 assists for 58 points and 109 penalty minutes in 66 appearances. Neal was named the OHL Player of the Week on Dec. 12, 2005, after recording six points (1 goal, 5 assists) in two games. In 13 OHL Playoff games a season ago, Neal recorded nine goals and seven assists for 16 points with 33 penalty minutes, earning Whalers' Playoff Most Valuable Player honors.

Neal was honored as Plymouth's Rookie of the Year in 2004-05 after notching 18 goals and 26 assists for 44 points. He also played in the 2005 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in Vancouver in his first full season at the OHL level.

The 6-foot-3, 205-pound left wing attended the 2007 Team Canada National Junior Team development camp in Calgary, and won a silver medal with Team Canada at the 2005 World Under-18 Championships in the Czech Republic.

Although forward lines aren't always kept intact for very long in the OHL, Neal has played the whole season with Brophey with excellent results. Playing most of the first 11 games with rookie Kaine Geldart, the line is playing with excellent chemistry. The line has been consistent and persistent, winning a lot of battles for loose pucks.

"That's all second effort," Brophey explained. "You have the first battle to start and if you win or lose it, you keep working hard. We're a determined team this year to go far. You're not going to go very far if you're not determined."

With so many veteran forwards, Plymouth head coach Mike Vellucci and assistant Todd Watson operate with a lot of options.

"We have a ton of different options up front," Jared Boll said. "If one line isn't going, we have two or three other lines going."

The Whalers have four other players in the same situation as Neal. NHL teams have a two-season window to sign draft choices and Ryan McGinnis (Los Angeles), Dan Collins (Florida), Boll (Columbus) and Brophey (Chicago) were all selected in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

McGinnis, Collins, Boll and Brophey are looking for FED-ex packages of their own.

WHALERS HOST TORONTO, KITCHENER THIS WEEKEND

The Whalers (7-4-0-0) host Toronto (7-7-0-0) this Friday at 7:05 p.m.

Friday is Pepsi Product Promotion Night, as Pepsi Corporation will be promoting their products and handing out free samples to fans throughout the night.

Saturday is Trick or Treat Night against Kitchener (5-6-0-2). The Whalers and their corporate sponsors will hand out goodies to all kids in attendance during the intermissions and select Whalers players will sign autographs. Also, former captain Jared Newman will be on hand to drop the ceremonial first puck as well as sign autographs.

We'll also have another Post-Game Party after the game at Ginopolis in the Ice Restaurant from 10:00 p.m. and midnight. Meet Whaler players Wes Cunningham, AJ Jenks, Kaine Geldart and Frank Grzeszczak. Enjoy great food, specials on Labatt Blue and mingle with Whalers players, coaches and the chance to spin the Whale of Fortune for great post-game prizes. Plymouth completes a busy weekend by playing in Saginaw this Sunday at 2:00 p.m.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from October 26, 2006


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