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Williams, LaRose Contribute In Carolina's Cup Run

June 8, 2006 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Plymouth Whalers News Release


One of the fun aspects of following the Ontario Hockey League is watching players grow into effective National Hockey League players.

If you are a fan of the Plymouth Whalers, you're having a blast watching ex-Whalers Justin Williams and Chad LaRose play key roles on a team that's just a couple of wins away from the Stanley Cup.

Although Williams (with the Whalers from 1998-00) and LaRose (2000-03) didn't play together in Plymouth - LaRose made his Plymouth debut Jan. 5, 2000 - they teamed up in a big way Monday night on Williams' shorthanded goal in the Carolina Hurricanes' 5-4 victory over Edmonton in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals at Raleigh, NC.

Williams' goal gave Carolina their first lead of the game at 4-3 and set the stage for Rod Brind'Amour's winner with 31 seconds remaining.

"When I got into the clear I was thinking, 'Don't force the shot,' Williams said in nhl.com of the goal. 'Wait for (Edmonton goaltender Dwayne Roloson) to make the first move.'"

While there's no doubt Brind'Amour is giving an Steve Yzerman-like performance in the playoffs and rates an excellent chance to win the Conn Smythe Trophy, he took time to praise Williams, who usually skates with Brind'Amour on the right wing.

"He showed up every game and played the same way," Brind'Amour said. "Obviously he's got skill and can skate, but he plays every shift of every game. To me, that's why he's had the numbers he's had. You've never saw him go 10 games without points. He was there every night. That's a sign of a great, young hockey player."

Williams has six goals and 11 assists for 17 points through 20 playoff games and is second to Brind'Amour among Hurricane forwards in average ice time with 21.42 minutes per game.

"I am not a big comparison type of guy," said Carolina head coach Peter Laviolette of Williams after Carolina's 5-0 victory in Game 2. "I don't see Willie as a real pest, I see him as a really good hockey player. He's strong on the puck. It's not that he's a mouthy or he plays dirty -- I don't think anyway.

"But I do think he's a really good two-way player. That's why his minutes are where they are at. Really they are short of Rod Brind'Amour. It's because of he's a situational player. When you start playing in all situations your minutes go up and I think in order to play in those situations you have to have the confidence of the coach that those situations will get handled in the right way and he does that."

Williams is playing now the way he did in 1999-00 for Plymouth, when he led the Whalers in scoring with 37 goals and 46 assists for 83 points in 68 games and then led the OHL Playoffs in scoring with 14 goals with 16 assists for 30 points in 23 games. Plymouth lost seven games in the OHL Championship Series to Barrie, but Williams was selected in the first round (28th overall) by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.

Williams literally burst on the scene in 1999-00 after playing a reserve role on the team as a rookie in 1998-99 and spending some time that season with the Detroit Compuware Ambassadors of the North American Hockey League.

"I would take Williams first of all the Whalers," said New York Rangers scout Herb Hammond back in 2000. "I'm a real skill guy. And Williams has great skill. He has unbelievable hands, soft hands. He has good vision and work ethic. The one thing that had to come on is his skating, and it has. And his confidence level is terrific. From the start of the year, to now, when he steps on the ice, he's dangerous. He makes everybody around him better."

Williams was slated to return to Plymouth on 2000-01, but burst on the NHL scene and made the Flyers. After two seasons in Philadelphia - and overcoming a knee injury - Williams was acquired by Carolina in 2003-04 for defenseman Danny Markov.

"I had asked (Flyers General Manager) Bob Clarke about Justin several time before, but there was no way he was going to trade him," said Carolina President and General Manager Jim Rutherford. "The Flyers had big plans for him. It was just our luck that the Flyers ran into some injuries on their defense. Bob Clarke called to see if I'd part with Markov. I paused for just a second and then said, 'I will if you give me Justin Williams.' I know Bob didn't want to part with Justin. But his call came at the right time for us, because of the injuries the Flyers had on their back line."

LaRose is one of the most popular players to wear a Plymouth uniform. As Whalers' Assistant General Manager and Associate Coach Todd Watson points out, he's the only current player to skate at every level of the Compuware hockey program and then move on to the Hurrcianes.

Sent back twice by the Detroit Red Wings in tryouts when playing in Plymouth, LaRose signed with Carolina in 2003 as a free agent and has worked his way up the pro ladder. LaRose scored 16 goals with 19 assists for 35 points in his first stop in pro hockey in 2003-04 with the Florida Everblades of the East Coast Hockey League and head coach Gerry Fleming.

"Wherever he goes he seems to have an impact on teams," Fleming told naplesnews.com . "The kid's a winner for sure. He's playing with tremendous heart like he always does and I'm happy for him. He's always wanted to make himself better, so when you see a guy make himself better, come down to the ECHL level and work his way to the NHL level and now be contributing on a team that is playing in the Stanley Cup Finals, it's fantastic to see."

LaRose has taken a different role with Carolina as an energy player and penalty killer. The Hurricanes have plenty of offensive firepower.

"At every level he's been at he's had to go through different steps to get where he's at and he's passed every step," Rutherford said. "Now he's got to the level he was working towards and as time goes on he'll just work towards becoming an even more prominent player."

It may take a little time, but you get the feeling in time LaRose may turn into a scorer at the NHL level, too.

In any case, it's fun to watch the Hurricanes' run to the Stanley Cup.

IT'S COOL TO STAY IN SCHOOL...WHALERS HOCKEY SCHOOLS START JULY 10

Summer is a time for breaks, vacations and having fun. The Plymouth Whalers and Compuware Sports Arena are offering an opportunity to have fun this summer while learning from Whaler players and staff during the Plymouth Whalers Hockey Schools.

Click http://www.compuwarehockey.com/camps_ clinics.html to find out about the Plymouth Whalers Summer Hockey Schools.

Running in one-week segments starting July 10 through August 18, Plymouth Whalers Hockey School Director Todd Watson and Whaler players inject fun and enthusiasm to each clinic.

"I think we offer a lot for the money," said Watson. "We'll keep the kids moving throughout the sessions. The Whalers seem to have fun, too. We try to offer something for everyone. We're excited about our new High School camp (Aug. 14-18)."

Parents should note that last season's Whaler Christmas and Spring Clinics featured one instructor for nearly two students. Depending upon enrollment, the instructor-to-student ratio this summer could be similar.

Plymouth players schedule to work the summer hockey schools include Florida Panther draft choice Dan Collins, former Plymouth captain John Vigilante (now with Nashville), Los Angeles Kings draft choice Ryan McGinnis and Whaler players Chris Terry, Joe McCann, Jeremy Smith and Tom Sestito.

FORMER WHALER TROY SMITH HIRED AS KITCHENER ASSISTANT

The Kitchener Rangers have hired former Whaler Troy Smith as an Assistant Coach in charge of player development. Smith, 27, joins the Rangers after a two-year professional career that saw him make stops in Louisiana (ECHL), Quad City (UHL), Danbury (UHL) and London (EIHL).

Prior to his professional career Smith played his junior hockey in the Ontario Hockey League with Plymouth under current Rangers Head Coach Peter DeBoer and Assistant Steve Spott. After junior he played 5 years at St. Francis Xavier University (CIS).

Smith played in Plymouth from 1995-99 and scored 11 goals with 47 assists for 58 points and 239 PIM's in 230 career games.

"It will be an easy transition with Troy joining our organization. He has worked several of our main training camps here in Kitchener and is obviously very comfortable with Peter and I having played for us four years in Plymouth," Spott said in a Kitchener Rangers' release.

DEALS AROUND THE ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE

Windsor sends two potential overages - C Ryan Garlock and D Mitch Maunu - to Saginaw for LW Anthony Sobocynski and a conditional draft choice. The Spits also sent another potential OA in D Peter Aston to Oshawa for a conditional draft choice.

Sault Ste. Marie acquires LW Payton Liske from Owen Sound for a draft choice.

Toronto acquires C Scott Baker and a second round draft choice from Belleville for LW Tyler Donati.

Sarnia acquires D Chris Mifflen from Oshawa for RW Kody Mussleman.



Ontario Hockey League Stories from June 8, 2006


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