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Whalers Sign First Rounder Garrett Meurs

May 21, 2009 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Plymouth Whalers News Release


Plymouth Whalers President, General Manager and Head Coach Mike Vellucci announced the signing of 16-year-old center Garrett Meurs, who was selected in the first round (13th overall) of the 2009 Ontario Hockey League Draft, held on May 2.

Meurs - from Ripley, ON - is a skilled centerman who scored 52 goals with 43 assists for 95 points in 67 games last season for the Huron-Perth Lakers. Meurs showed his skill during the Whalers Rookie Orientation Camp held last Saturday and Sunday.

See Garrett Meurs in a video.

"This is great," Meurs said. "Plymouth seems like such a great place. I've met all the coaches, trainers and everyone else. I'm looking forward to having a good year."

"I thought Garrett played well this weekend," Vellucci said at the Orientation Camp. "He showed the skill and tenacity our scouts talked about when they watched him last year. He's also a mature young man, and that's a credit to his parents (Jack and Tracy). Garrett should fit in well with our program."

"He's the kind of kid who can take everything on his shoulders in a pressure situation," Huron-Perth coach Kevin Meriam told the Lucknow (ON) Sentinel. "And it's something he'll bring to the OHL with him."

Meurs is expected to join a Plymouth team on the rise next year after finishing 37-26-5-0 last season. Although the Whalers will miss graduates Chris Terry, Matt Caria, Scott Fletcher and Brett Bellemore, the bulk of last year's team returns, including centers Tyler Seguin and AJ Jenks (Wolverine Lake), forward Jamie Devane, goaltender Matt Hackett and defensemen Michal Jordan and Beau Schmitz (Howell).

Meanwhile, Vellucci remains in conversation with other Plymouth draft picks and may be announcing more signings over the next couple of weeks.

Bob Miller writes a heart warming story about former Plymouth landparent Bev Moore, who has decided to retire after 14 years of service to the Whalers:

Bev Moore never realized when she made the decision to accept a young hockey player into her home that it would change her life in such a positive way.

After 14 years serving as a billet for young hockey players passing through the area, Moore will "retire" this season from the practice that she entered into hesitantly, but grew to love so much.

Over those 14 years, Moore has housed 14 players permanently and six temporarily for the Whalers and other Compuware teams.

Whaler fans will recognize names like Robert Esche, Shawn Gallant, Mike Looby, and Scott Madden among the players she's hosted over the years. But, Moore developed a special rapport with import players like Libor Ustrnul, Tomas Kurka, Jonas Fiedler, Vaclav Meidl, Jan Látal, Lukas Krajicek and Jozef Sladok, just to name a handful of the international talent who've passed through her doors over the years.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from May 21, 2009


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