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!  

Whalers vs. Greyhounds

The Plymouth Whalers (in white) hosted the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (in red), at Compuware Arena last night!

Both teams are divisional rivals, and compete in the West Division of the OHL (Ontario Hockey League)!

Sault Ste. Marie defenseman #25 Darnell Nurse has already been drafted by the Edmonton Oilers of the NHL!

Plymouth defenseman #27 Yannick Rathgeb got into a fight with #39 Jean Dupuy!

There were a pair of fights at last nights game!  The Whalers are a scrappy bunch! 

#9 Zach Lorentz scored twice for the Whalers last night!  #9 Lorentz now has 13 goals this season!

Games become physical when divisional foes square off against each other!

Plymouth center # 21 Ryan Hartman checks a Greyhounds player into the boards!

Sault Ste. Marie built a 3-0 lead over the Whalers!  Plymouth fought hard to get back into the game!

#31 Brandon Halverson (from Traverse City) started in net for the Greyhounds!  #31 Halverson made 36 saves!

The Whalers pulled goaltender #39 Alex Nedeljkovic with a minute and a half left in regulation!



Sault Ste. Marie defeated the Whalers 4-3.  The Greyhounds are in 1st place in the West Division of the OHL!

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



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



For info about upcoming events at Compuware Arena click on  http://www.compuwarearena.com



Leave a comment or email the Mitten State Sports Report directly at mittenstatesportsreport@rocketmail.com



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Click on past months to see photos from previous Plymouth Whalers games!  



This is the 3rd season in a row that the Plymouth Whalers have been on the Mitten State Sports Report! 



Be sure to check out all of the Mitten State Sports Report's archived material!     

Greyhounds 4 - Whalers 3

The Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (in red) came into Compuware Arena last night, and defeated the Plymouth Whalers 4-3.

     The Plymouth Whalers fell behind 3-0 to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds last night, and weren't able to overcome the early deficit.  Plymouth fought hard to get back into the game, and outshot the Greyhounds 39-37.  Whalers left winger #9 Zach Lorentz scored 2 goals in the second period, and Plymouth trailed 3-2 after two.  The Greyhounds added a goal in the third period to make it 4-2, but Whalers defenseman #24 Mathieu Henderson scored his third goal of the season with just under five minutes left in regulation.  The Whalers pulled goaltender #39 Alex Nedeljkovic with a minute and a half remaining, but they could not score the equalizer, and lost to the Greyhounds 4-3.
     Sault Ste. Marie is currently in 1st place in the West Division with 43 points, and an overall record of 19-6-0-3.  The Whalers are currently in 4th place in the West Division with 25 points, and an overall record of 11-16-0-3.  The Whalers are at home tonight to face the Guelph Storm at 7:05 for their annual "Teddy Bear Toss" game.  Fans will toss stuffed animals onto the ice after the Whalers score their first goal.  The toys will be collected, and distributed to their future homes with the help of the "Fallen & Wounded Soldiers Fund", and the Plymouth Community United Way.
     Click on the links below for more information about the Plymouth Whalers, the Ontario Hockey League, the "Fallen & Wounded Soldiers Fund", the Plymouth Community United Way, and upcoming events at Compuware Arena.  You can always leave a comment, and you can email the Mitten State Sports Report directly at mittenstatesportsreport@rocketmail.com  Click on past months to access all of the Mitten State Sports Report's archived material.  Be sure to check out exclusive photos from last nights OHL showdown only on the Mitten State Sports Report!

#19 Jared McCann scored his 15th goal of the season last night.  His 3rd period goal proved to be the game winner.

The Whalers hope to celebrate tonight at home against Guelph!  Click on the links below for more information!

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



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



For info about events at Compuware Arena click on  http://www.compuwarearena.com



For info about the Plymouth Community United Way click on  www.plymouthunitedway.org



For info about the Fallen & Wounded Soldiers Fund click on  www.fwsf.org



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



Scroll down and vote in the monthly Poll Question!  What do you want to see more of?



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



Check out exclusive photos from last nights Whalers game only on the Mitten State Sports Report!   



            

Whalers Win 2-1 in Shootout!

Last Friday, the Plymouth Whalers (in white) defeated the Mississauga Steelheads (in blue) 2-1 in the shootout!





 

 

     The Mississauga Steelheads came into Compuware Arena last Friday night, and left with a 2-1 loss in the shootout!  The game was scoreless until about five minutes into the second period when #23 Dylan Smoskowitz scored to give the Steelheads the lead.  The score was 1-0 midway through the third period, and I remember thinking to myself that I have never seen an OHL (Ontario Hockey League) game end 1-0 before.  The Whalers tied the score with just under three minutes left in the game when #20 Josh Wesley scored his first career OHL goal.  Both teams were cautious in the scoreless overtime period, and the Whalers won it in the shootout behind goals by #27 Yannick Rathgeb, #11 Connor Chatham, and #9 Zach Lorentz.  Rathgeb was credited with the game winning goal. 
     The Whalers lost to the Sarnia Sting 4-2 on Saturday night at Compuware Arena, and are on the road tonight to battle the Saginaw Spirit at the Dow Event Center (puck drops at 7:11 p.m.).  The Whalers are currently in fourth place in the West Division with 19 points, and an overall record of 9 wins, 13 losses, and 1 shootout loss.  Click on the links below for more information about the Ontario Hockey League, the Plymouth Whalers, or upcoming events at Compuware Arena.  Click on past months to check out archived material regarding the Plymouth Whalers.  This is the third season in a row that the Plymouth Whalers have appeared on the Mitten State Sports Report.  You can always leave a comment, and you can email the Mitten State Sports Report directly at mittenstatesportsreport@rocketmail.com  Be sure to check out exclusive photos from last Fridays game between the Mississauga Steelheads and the Plymouth Whalers only on the Mitten State Sports Report!

#23 Dylan Smoskowitz scored the Steelheads only goal!  The Whalers won 2-1 in the shootout!

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



For info about events at Compuware Arena click on  http://www.compuwarearena.com



For information about the OHL click on  http://www.ontariohockeyleague.com 



Leave a comment or email the Mitten State Sports Report directly at mittenstatesportsreport@rocketmail.com



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Be sure to check out exclusive photos from last Fridays Plymouth Whalers game!            

Whalers Look to Keep Division Lead

#9 Zach Lorentz was aquired from Windsor for Alex Aleardi! 

     The Plymouth Whalers look to stay on top of the West Division as they prepare to host the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds on Friday (tonight at 7:05 p.m.), followed by a visit from the Peterborough Petes on Saturday (tomorrow at 7:05 p.m.).  The Sault. Ste. Marie Greyhounds feature Detroit Red Wings prospect Ryan Sproul, along with the current OHL player of the month Nick Cousins.  The Whalers currently have 59 points through 48 games, and were able to gain sole possession of the division lead last Saturday with a 6-2 victory over the Sarnia Sting.  The Sting entered Compuware Arena tied with Plymouth (57 points each) for first place in the tightly bunched West Division.  There was a scrum between the Whalers own Colin MacDonald, and the Sarnia Sting's Reid Boucher, and the Mitten State Sports Report was up close to capture every tooth rattling blow.  Although Boucher leads the OHL in goals, he was no match in his battle with MacDonald.
     Whalers President, General Manager, and Head Coach Mike Velucci made several moves before the trading deadline in hopes of improving the roster.  One unpopular decision amongst Whalers fans was a move involving Farmington Hills native, and hometown favorite Alex Aleardi.  Aleardi was sent to Windsor in a trade for left winger Zach Lorenz (pictured above).  The rules in the OHL allow teams to keep only three overage players after the trading deadline.  The Whalers decided to keep Colin MacDonald, Austin Levi, and Garrett Meurs who have all been drafted by NHL teams (Levi- Carolina, Heard and Meurs - Colorado). Velucci made a more popular trade amongst Whalers fans the day of the OHL trading deadline, when he maneuvered a blockbuster deal with the Saginaw Spirit.  Former Spirit Captain Vincent Trocheck was aquired from Saginaw in exchange for center Zach Bratina, and three future draft choices.  Trocheck is a bonified star in the OHL, a Florida Panthers draft pick, and was a key contributor in the USA's gold medal win in The (under 20) 2013 World Junior Championships in Ufa, Russia.  The Whalers also aquired Sebastian Uvira, and a future draft pick from the Oshawa Generals, in exchange for defenseman Simon Karlsson.  Anaheim draft pick, and Whalers Center Rickard Rakell made the Mighty Ducks squad right out of training camp, and will enjoy some much earned time in the show.  It is unclear whether or not he will return to play with the Whalers again. 

 Vincent Trocheck's first game with the Whalers! 

 




   

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



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