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Whalers Sign Stefan Noesen, Colin MacDonald

May 29, 2009 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Plymouth Whalers News Release


PLYMOUTH - Plymouth Whalers President, General Manager and Head Coach Mike Vellucci announced the signing of 16-year-old center Stefan Noesen, who was selected by the Whalers in the fourth round (64th overall) of the 2009 Ontario Hockey League Draft, held May 2.

(Above) Stefan Noesen spent last season with the Compuwater U-16s, who won the USA Hockey National U-16 Championship. (Below) Noesen will continue playing at Compuware Arena after signing an OHL contract to join the Plymouth Whalers next season.

"I feel ready to play," Noesen said. "I feel like I can contribute to the team. I'm excited to sign and become a member of the Whalers."

Noesen - originally from Texas, but who now lives in Northville - scored 24 goals with 24 assists for 48 points and 57 PIMs in 53 games last season for the Compuware U-16's. Noesen's team won the USA Hockey National Under-16 Championship earlier this spring.

"We've always put a premium on finding character players with skill," said Vellucci. "Stefan fits that mold. He played on a championship team last year. I skated with his team in practices last year and love his potential. If Stefan continues to work hard and improve his conditioning, he has a chance to become an excellent player. It's exciting to work with a player with his combination of skill, size and grit."

Noesen and his family moved to Northville after being attracted to the Compuware Youth Program.

"About four or five years ago, I played for the Dallas Ice Jets and we faced Compuware in the semi-finals of the Nationals," Noesen said. "We beat them, 8-3. I knew couple of guys on that (Compuware) team and they talked to (head coach) Derek Szajner about me playing for them. A couple of years later, I came up, tried out for the team and made it."

The Whalers have a long history of drafting or signing local players from the Compuware Youth Program, going all the way to the team's first-ever selection in 1990, Pat Peake, the Whalers all-time leading scorer with 319 points in 162 games between 1990-93. Other players include James Wisniewski (now with the National Hockey League's Anaheim Ducks), David Legwand (Nashville), Chad LaRose (Carolina), John Vigilante, Nate Kiser, Jared Newman, Damian Surma, Kevin Holdridge, current Whaler Austin Levi, and others. Now Noesen joins the fold.

Noesen (pronounced NAY-sen) is expected to report Plymouth's Training Camp in late August. He will be attending school at the Plymouth-Canton Educational Park.

Earlier this month, Vellucci signed center and 2009 first round pick Garrett Meurs and defenseman Colin MacDonald, Plymouth's 14th round pick in 2008. He remains in conversation with other draft choices.

Last season, the Whalers finished fourth overall in the OHL's Western Conference with a record of 37-26-5-0. Plymouth returns a strong group of players in 2009-10, including goaltender Matt Hackett, defensemen Michal Jordan (a Carolina Hurricanes draft pick), Beau Schmitz (Howell), Josh Bemis (Clarkston) and Austin Levi (Farmington Hills) and forwards Tyler Seguin, AJ Jenks (a Florida Panthers draft pick), RJ Mahalak (Monroe), Tyler J. Brown (Westland), Tyler G. Brown and Jamie Devane. Potential overage candidates include defenseman Leo Jenner and forwards Ryan Hayes, Joe Gaynor and Kaine Geldart.

PLYMOUTH - Plymouth Whalers President, General Manager and Head Coach Mike Vellucci announced the signing of 17-year-old defenseman Colin MacDonald, who was selected in the 14th round (270th overall) of the 2008 Ontario Hockey League Draft.

MacDonald - from London, ON - played last season for the London Jr. Knights midgets and scored 8 goals with 16 assists for 24 points in 76 games. MacDonald led the Knights with a +39 rating. MacDonald added two goals with four assists for six points and was +5 in nine playoff games for London.

Colin MacDonald is all smiles after signing his OHL contract to play with the Plymouth Whalers.

"We're always looking for quality players in the later rounds of the draft," said Vellucci. "Rick Boyle (Plymouth's scout from London) really liked Colin two years ago and suggested we take him.

"You're always looking for diamonds in the rough and we've had success in selecting players late like Brett Bellemore (12th round, 2004), Andrew Fournier (11th round, 2003), Josh Bemis (14th round, 2006) and John Vigilante (11th round, 2001). Based on what we've seen so far, Colin has a chance to become a solid player in Plymouth."

MacDonald is expected to compliment a solid Plymouth defense next season which includes returning veterans Michal Jordan (a Carolina Hurricanes draft pick), Beau Schmitz (Howell), Austin Levi (Farmington Hills) and Bemis (Clarkston). In addition, Leo Jenner could return as an overage player and Jordon O'Neill and Jan Látal could return as well.

"I'm really excited about it," MacDonald said about signing. "I think we're going to have a great team and I'm looking forward to helping as much as I can. I play a stay-at-home, defensive game, while trying to make a good first pass. I want to make sure our end is good before I move up the ice."

MacDonald credits his grandfather - Ralph Patterson, who works at the John Labatt Centre in London - for helping to get his OHL career started.

"He was the one who first introduced me a few years ago," said MacDonald. "He loves his job and it's always nice to see him at the rink. He does a great job. It really helped me understand what the OHL is all about - to see how the players get prepared before a game."

While playing in Plymouth, MacDonald will be attending school at the Plymouth-Canton Educational Park.

Earlier this month, Vellucci signed center Garrett Meurs, Plymouth's first round selection (13th overall) taken in the 2009 OHL Draft. Vellucci remains in conversation with other Plymouth draft choices.

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