Whalers & Spirit Eliminated!

#21 Ryan Hartman (in white) is a Chicago Blackhawks draft pick!  Hartman has a promising future in the NHL.

     The Plymouth Whalers, and the Saginaw Spirit each ran into buzz saws in their respective series, and both teams have been eliminated from the 2014 OHL (Ontario Hockey League) Playoffs.  The Guelph Storm eliminated the Plymouth Whalers, and the Erie Otters finished off the Saginaw Spirit.  The best of seven series ended in 5 games for both the Whalers, and the Spirit, and both teams won game 3 of their respective series.
     The Plymouth Whalers were a young team this year, and weren't expected to be a top team in the OHL.  The Whalers finished the regular season with 63 points, and an overall record of 28-40 (7 shootout losses).  The Whalers earned the final spot in this years OHL Playoffs, but were outscored 7-2 in game 4, and 8-3 in game 5. The Whalers will miss the contributions next season of players like #4 Nick Malysa, #9 Zach Lorentz, and #25 Carter Sandlak.  It is expected that #21 Ryan Hartman will be on a NHL (National Hockey League) roster next season, and #32 Gianluca Curcuruto has a chance to make it as well.  Hartman is a Chicago Blackhawks draft pick, and Curcuruto is a Columbus Bluejackets draft pick.  The Whalers will be lead next season by #39 Alex Nedeljkovic, #22 Matt Mistele, #16 Victor Crus Rydberg (VCR), and #23 Connor Sills.  Click on the link below for more information about the Plymouth Whalers.
     The Saginaw Spirit were a scrappy bunch, and were lead by their goaltender #57 Jake Paterson.  Paterson is a Detroit Red Wings draft pick, and certainly has a future in the NHL.  The Spirit finished the season with 71 points, and an overall record of 33-35 (4 overtime losses, and 1 shootout loss).  Saginaw earned a #3 seed in this years OHL Playoffs, but lost 3 games to the Erie Otters by 1 goal.  The Spirit will miss the contributions of #15 Eric Locke next season, but Saginaw will have several players returning to the team.  Click on the link below for more information about the Saginaw Spirit.
     Do you think that either Ryan Hartman, or Jake Paterson will have a successful career in the NHL?  You can always leave a comment, and you can email the Mitten State Sports Report directly at mittenstatesportsreport@rocketmail.com   Click on the links below for more information about the Ontario Hockey League, or the National Hockey League.  Click on past months to check out exclusive photos from several OHL games.

The Plymouth Whalers will be back next season!  Click on the links below!

 







For more information about the Plymouth Whalers click on  plymouthwhalers.com



For more information about the Saginaw Spirit click on  http://www.saginawspirit.com



For OHL stats, and standings click on  http://www.ontariohockeyleague.com



For NHL stats, and standings click on  http://www.nhl.com



Leave a comment!  Email the Mitten State Sports Report at mittenstatesportsreport@rocketmail.com 



Click on past months to check out all of the Mitten State Sports Report's archived material!  

OHL Playoffs: Local Preview

The Ontario Hockey League Playoffs kick off tonight for the Plymouth Whalers, and the Saginaw Spirit!

     The OHL (Ontario Hockey League) Postseason begins tonight for several teams throughout the Ontario area, and for two teams from the state of Michigan.  The Plymouth Whalers have qualified for the OHL Playoffs for the 23 consecutive season, and the Saginaw Spirit also find themselves eligible for postseason play.  Both teams will be underdogs in their respective series, but both teams are well coached, and each squad has the talent to compete against anyone in the Ontario Hockey League.
     The Saginaw Spirit have earned themselves a #6 seed in the Western Conference Playoffs, and will matchup against the #3 Erie Otters in a seven game series. Saginaw finished the regular season with 71 points, and an overall record of 33-35 (4 overtime losses, 1 shootout loss).  The Erie Otters finished the regular season with 106 points, and an overall record of 52-16 (2 overtime losses).  The Erie Otters are lead by a trio of talented players that lead the Ontario Hockey League in goals, points, and assists.  #74 Dane Fox lead the OHL in goals this season with 64, and was 2nd overall in points with 107.  #28 Connor Brown lead the OHL in points with 128, and assists with 83.  #97 Connor McDavid was 4th overall in points with 99, and 2nd overall in assists with 71.  If the Spirit are going to advance past Erie, they'll have to contain the trio of scorers that the Otters feature.
     The Plymouth Whalers have earned themselves an #8 seed in the Western Conference Playoffs, and will matchup against the #1 Guelph Storm in a seven game series.  Plymouth finished the regular season with 63 points, and an overall record of 28-40 (7 shootout losses).  The Guelph Storm finished the regular season with 108 points, and an overall record of 52-16 (2 overtime losses, 2 shootout losses).  The Storm are anchored by #17 Tyler Bertuzzi (nephew of Todd Bertuzzi), and lead by #24 Scott Kosmachuk.  #24 Kosmachuk was third overall in the OHL this season in points with 101. The Whalers must contain #17 Bertuzzi, and #24 Kosmachuk if they hope to advance into the second round of the Western Conference Playoffs.
     Do you think either the Plymouth Whalers, or the Saginaw Spirit will advance in the Ontario Hockey League Playoffs?  Leave a comment or email the Mitten State Sports Report directly at mittenstatesportsreport@rocketmail.com  Click on the links below for more information about the Saginaw Spirit, the Plymouth Whalers, or the Ontario Hockey League.  Scroll down to see when the Whalers, and Spirit are playing!  Click on past months to check out exclusive photos from several Ontario Hockey League games.











                                              Plymouth Whalers vs. Guelph Storm
                                                     Games 5-7 only if necessary




Game 1 - Plymouth at Guelph - Tonight - 7:30 p.m.  

Game 2 - Plymouth at Guelph - Tomorrow - 7:00 p.m.

Game 3 - Guelph at Plymouth - Tuesday - 7:00 p.m.

Game 4 - Guelph at Plymouth - Wednesday - 7:00 p.m.

Game 5 - Plymouth at Guelph - Friday, March 28th - 7:30 p.m.

Game 6 - Guelph at Plymouth -  Sunday, March 30th - 4:00 p.m.

Game 7 - Plymouth at Guelph - Tuesday, April 1st - 7:00 p.m.










                                                   Saginaw Spirit vs. Erie Otters
                                                    Games 5-7 only if necessary





Game 1 - Saginaw at Erie - Tonight - 7:00 p.m.

Game 2 - Saginaw at Erie - Tomorrow - 7:00 p.m.

Game 3 - Erie at Saginaw - Monday - 7:11 p.m.

Game 4 - Erie at Saginaw - Wednesday - 7:11 p.m.

Game 5 - Erie at Saginaw - Thursday - 7:11 p.m.

Game 6 - Saginaw at Erie - Sunday, March 30th - 6:00 p.m.

Game 7 - Saginaw at Erie - Monday, March 31st - 7:00 p.m.

The Saginaw Spirit will have to contain the trio of talented players from Erie including #97 Connor McDavid. 

For more information about the Ontario Hockey League click on  http://www.ontariohockeyleague.com



For more information about the Plymouth Whalers click on  plymouthwhalers.com



For more information about the Saginaw Spirit click on  http://www.saginawspirit.com



Leave a comment!  Email the Mitten State Sports Report at mittenstatesportsreport@rocketmail.com



Scroll down and vote in the monthly Poll Question!  UofM or MSU?  A&W or IBC?



Click on past months to check out all of the Mitten State Sports Report's archived material!

Whalers Playoff Push!

The Plymouth Whalers are trying to make the OHL (Ontario Hockey League) Playoffs for the 23rd straight season!

     The OHL (Ontario Hockey League) regular season is winding down, and the Plymouth Whalers are attempting to qualify for the Playoffs for the 23rd consecutive season.  The OHL Playoffs have included the participation of the Whalers since the 1991-1992, and the 22 year streak is an OHL record.  The Whalers are currently holding on to the 8th seed to qualify for the Western Conference Playoffs, and are 7 points ahead of the Kitchener Rangers for the final spot.  Although the Whalers have not mathematically clinched a postseason birth yet, the team has put themselves in good position to do so, with only 8 regular season games remaining.
     If the OHL Playoffs started tonight, the Plymouth Whalers would play a 1st round, best of seven series against the Guelph Storm.  The Storm are currently 14 points ahead of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds for the top overall seed in the Western Conference, and a first round matchup between the Whalers, and the Storm is almost inevitable.
     The Plymouth Whalers are currently in 8th place in the OHL Western Conference standings with 54 points, and an overall record of 24-36 (6 shootout losses).  Click on the links below for more information about the Plymouth Whalers, or the Ontario Hockey League.  You can always leave a comment, and you can email the Mitten State Sports Report directly at mittenstatesportsreport@rocketmail.com   Check out the Mitten State Sports Report's archived material to view exclusive photos from several Plymouth Whalers games.  Click on past months to check out all of the Mitten State Sports Report's archived material!      








For more information about the Plymouth Whalers click on  plymouthwhalers.com



For OHL stats, and standings click on  http://www.ontariohockeyleague.com



Leave a comment!  Email the Mitten State Sports Report at mittenstatesportsreport@rocketmail.com



Scroll down and vote in the monthly Poll Question!  There's a new question every month!



Click on past months to check out all of the Mitten State Sports Report's archived material!

Whalers First Round Photo Album

Whalers Matt Mistele left Tyler Bertuzzi (nephew of Todd Bertuzzi) battered and bruised!

  



      

Up close at Compuware Arena!

                                            

The Whalers on the penalty kill!

 

                                               

                                          

Dylan MacDonald gets ready to recieve the pass!

  



                             

Whalers putting the pressure on the Storm!

                                      

A race to the puck!

    



                                                          

Playoff Hockey!

                                                            


Click on the links below for more information about this stuff!

For more information about the Plymouth Whalers click on  plymouthwhalers.com



For more information about Compuware Arena click on  http://www.compuwarearena.com



For information about the Ontario Hockey League click on  http://www.ontariohockeyleague.com



Leave a comment!  Email the Mitten State Sports Report at mittenstatesportsreport@rocketmail.com