Whalers Play Within West Division This Weekend

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


You could consider the final six games of the Plymouth-Saginaw season series to be a playoff series, with the winner probably winning the Ontario Hockey League's West Division.

The Whalers and Spirit start to get real familiar starting tonight at Wendler Arena at Dow Event Center in Saginaw, with a return match Saturday night at the Compuware Sports Arena. They meet again four more times after that - Feb. 26 in Saginaw, Mar. 3 in Plymouth, Mar. 15 in Saginaw and Mar. 18 in Plymouth.

You can listen to tonight's game from Saginaw starting at 6:55 pm by going to http://www.plymouthwhalers.com.

Fans on both sides know the Whalers have dominated since North Bay moved to Saginaw in 2002. In previous years, there was a good reason for Plymouth's dominance - the Spirit had just 45 wins in its' first three seasons in Saginaw.

But this year is markedly different, with first-place Plymouth (23-18-1-3) two points up on Saginaw (24-20-0-0).

Plymouth overage defenseman Mike Letizia broke in with the Whalers as a pup in 2002 and and has played nearly every game of the current Plymouth-Saginaw matchup.

Letizia was asked about Plymouth's historically good record within the West Division (Whalers currently stand 10-4-1-0 within the West):

"Divisional games are four-point games, so I think we get more prepared than usual," Letizia said. "We work hard before and during the game, too. It could be a mental edge, that in knowing our record, we'll come in and take care of business."

Even though Saginaw is much-improved this year, thie Whalers have won the first two games of the series, 7-2 on Sept.21 and 4-0 on Jan. 11.

Letizia emphasized a professional approach has been successful for Plymouth.

"Our game plan every time is we know we have a job to do and we do it," Letizia said. "Especially this year, with the way that Saginaw has improved, we know every game is going to be a dog-fight. We make sure we have our "A" game ready when we play them."

Letizia assesed the Spirit offense, led by forwards Ryan McDonough (24-38-62), Michal Birner (20-34-54), Patrick Asselin (21-13-34, Tom Pyatt (15-17-32), Jesse Gimblett (14-17-31) and defenseman Patrick McNeill (14-38-52).

"Saginaw's a pretty offensive team, so as a defenseman, I have to be on top of my game to try to shut down their best players," he said. "I think our forwards - with our skill and speed - have an advantage against their defenseman."

Plymouth's offense is led by John Vigilante (21-46-67), Evan Brophey (14-36-50), Dan Collins (26-23-49), James Neal (13-27-40) and Steve Ward (10-23-33).

Collins - who missed last Saturday's 2-1 loss with Windsor - is listed as day-to-day with a back problem.

Saginaw and Plymouth both come into this weekend at 4-6-0-0 in their last ten games and have lost two in a row - Plymouth losing 4-2 last Friday night in Guelph and 2-1 to Windsor last Saturday, while Saginaw lost in Kitchener, 6-1 last Saturday and suffered a 5-4 heartbreake in Toronto last Sunday.

Saginaw had a 4-2 lead against Toronto in the third period, only to see the lead slip away. Cory Vitarelli scored the game-winner for the Majors with 1.1 seconds left.

"Those are little things that lead to goals," Saginaw General Manager-Head Coach Bob Mancini told the Saginaw News. "You have to find a way to overcome them. It is a tough way to lose, but this is a very tough league and to win on the road you must have everybody contributing and that didn't happen on Sunday.

"Everyone has to play at the top of their game for us to be better and you're not going to win any other way."

With the revitalized Windsor Spitfires now six points back of Plymouth at 20-22-2-2, there appears to be a three-team race in the OHL West. Windsor hosts London on Thursday, plays in Barrie on Saturday night before playing in Owen Sound Sunday afternoon.

"At the beginning of the season, we would have pleased to just make the playoffs," Mancini said. "Now look where we are, that has got to make us feel good. But that's not good enough. We've got to win those games and continue to improve."

The Whalers will definitely have something to say about that, no question.

PLYMOUTH, SAGINAW HELP CELEBRATE HOCKEY DAY IN MICHIGAN on SATURDAY

An event that started in Canada has moved to Michigan in a big way this Saturday, as hockey organizations from all levels throughout the state celebrate Hockey Day in Michigan.

The Plymouth Whalers and Saginaw Spirit will contribute to the fun, excitement and celebration of hockey as they face-off Saturday night at 7:30 pm at the Compuware Sports Arena.

Fans looking for the Whalers-Spirit rivalry to start heating up will get their wish, as the two teams will meet six times over the final two months of the season in meaningful games.

Plymouth - in first place in the OHL's West Division with a 23-18-1-3 record, good for 50 points - comes into the weekend two points ahead of Saginaw (24-20-0-0).

Plymouth and Saginaw start the weekend by playing tonight in Saginaw at the Dow Event Center at Wendler Arena. After Plymouth hosts Sault Ste. Marie Friday, the Whalers and Spirit meet again Saturday at the Compuware Sports Arena.

In addition to playing Saturday, the Whalers and Spirit have teamed up for the following:

As part of the celebration, one lucky Whalers Fan - as well as one fortunate Saginaw Spirit fan - will each win a Whalers/Spirit Prize Pack including home and home tickets for two, overnight hotel accommodations to an upcoming Whalers/Spirit game, food and restaurant gift certificates and signed team memorabilia from each squad.

Two youth hockey players (one from Saginaw County and another from Metro Detroit) will be introduced as the Hockey Day Kids of the Game and treated to an-on ice introduction at the start of the game. Kids can sign up at any Whalers home game at the Kids Club table or register on-line at www.plymouthwhalers.com.

All fans in attendance will be treated to Michigan Hockey Trivia - announcements and an in-game contest focused on Michigan Hockey Heroes.

All Fans sporting a hockey jersey from any Michigan based squad (at any/all levels) will be given a discounted ticket voucher valid for select Whalers home hockey games.

The Whalers will continue a season-long celebration of playing their tenth season at the Compuware Sports Arena by honoring Whaler alumni Randy Fitzgerald (who played for the Whalers in 1996-97 when the building opened) and Jamie Lalonde.

Fox Sports Net-Detroit Shireen Saski recently interviewed Whalers John Vigilante, Derek Merlini and Ryan McGinnis - along with Plymouth President/GM/Head Coach Mike Vellucci - about their youth hockey days growing up in the area. The interviews are to be part of FSN-Detroit special Hockey Day in Michigan program, which will be aired at 10:00 pm on Saturday on Fox Sports Net-Detroit. If you're at the Whalers' game Saturday - please set you VCR's.

Tickets are going fast at the Compuware Sports Arena for Saturday's game, but are available by calling (734) 453-8400.

WHALERS RUN WITH THE GREYHOUNDS FRIDAY

In between Saginaw, the Whalers host the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds on Friday night. The 'Hounds (17-24-3-2) are battling Erie and Windsor for playoff positioning near the bottom of the Western Conference standings.

After a slow start, Sault Ste. Marie general manager Dave Torrie made the decision to get younger and has brought in newcomers Trevor Solomon and Scott Restoule from Sarnia, Dustin Jeffrey from Mississauga and Matthew Lyall and Josh Godfrey from Guelph in various deals. Sault Ste. Marie plays with enthusiasm under Head Coach Craig Hartsburg.

Sault Ste. Marie goaltender Kyle Gajewski (2.85 GA, .907 pct) was the first star in the 'Hounds 4-2 victory over Plymouth Sept. 30 at the Compuware Sports Arena and figures to be prominent Friday night. 'Hounds captain and leading scorer Tyler Kennedy (14-32-46) - a Pittsburgh draft - plays with energy and import David Kuchejda (13-13-26) has played well against the Whalers this season.

If you can't attend the game, it will be televised by Comcast Local starting at 7:30 pm, with the re-broadcast set for Saturday at 2:00 pm.

The Soo has beaten Plymouth in two of the three games so far. The teams will meet again on Sun. Mar. 5 in Sault Ste. Marie and Sun. Mar. 12 (Green Out) at the Compuware Sports Arena.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from January 26, 2006


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