Whalers Tyler Seguin Making the Rounds

September 30, 2009 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Plymouth Whalers News Release


One of local author Elmore Leonard's most recent novels is "The Hot Kid", a period piece set during the 1930's.

In the book, United States Marshall Carl Webster is a young lawman on the rise, chasing down Jack Belmont, an aspiring Public Enemy Number 1. Everything Webster touches turns to gold, or arrests.

Whalers center Tyler Seguin is the Ontario Hockey League's version of The Hot Kid. Everything he touches ends up on a linemates' stick, or in the net.

Through the end of September, Seguin has six goals and five assists for 11 points in just four games. Seguin scored his first-ever OHL hat trick in a 7-2 victory over London on Sept. 26.

The game was a bounce back effort for the Whalers, who were hammered, 6-1, in Saginaw a couple of nights earlier.

Seguin led the offensive charge against London, but he had plenty of help from his teammates. His hat trick goal was the result of an excellent three-way passing play. With the Whalers ahead, 3-2 in the second period and on a power play and in the offensive zone, Myles McCauley - on the left wing - found Beau Schmitz at the right point.

Schmitz had plenty of options and decided to shoot low towards the net. Seguin outfought a London defenseman for position in front of the Knights' goal and deflected the shot past goaltender Michael Hutchinson.

"We know London is a physical team and we wanted to match that," said Seguin. "We wanted to crash the net and battle. On the third goal, Beau and I talked ahead of time what we wanted to do. So I crashed the net and tipped his shot and luckily, it went in."

Seguin was named the first star in both Whalers home games in September. He is considered one of the OHL's top prospects for next summer's National Hockey League Entry Draft.

As such, he is the most interviewed Whaler so far this year. Ryan Kennedy, for the Hot List in The Hockey News? No problem. Dean Millard, for The Pipeline_092909_09_30.mp3, a radio show in Edmonth, television interviews in Windsor, print interviews for local media in the Detroit-area? Seguin has handled them all so far with poise.

Based on his professional demeanor, it's easy to overlook that Seguin is still a senior in high school at the Plymouth-Canton Education Park.

He was asked about the obligation of handling interviews around the OHL and elsewhere.

"It definitely doesn't bother me," Seguin said. "It's a dream come when you're growing up as a little kid to get all these interviews. I just try to get better and better at them."

Based on his early success, the Whalers Hot Kid is going to get many opportunities to improve.

OCTOBER: The Whalers hit the road for five straight games to open October - Oct. 1 in Barrie, Oct. 2 in Sudbury, Oct. 3 in Sault Ste. Marie, Oct. 7 in Owen Sound and Oct. 9 in Sarnia - before returning home Sat. Oct. 10 against Sudbury.

The Colts are loading up this year. They've acquired veteran scorers Luke Pither (eight goals in four games) and Bryan Cameron (2-2-4) from Belleville and Import Alexander Burmistrov has three goals and six assists for nine points in four games. With two excellent goaltenders around, Barrie traded goaltender Michael Hutchinson to London, while Peter DiSalvo remains as the leading man in goal.

Sudbury features current Boston Pizza Ontario Hockey League Player of the Week

Eric O'Dell, who currently lead the Wolves in scoring with three goals and seven assists for 10 points in five games.



Ontario Hockey League Stories from September 30, 2009


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