Former Whalers In Carolina

 

Alex Nedeljkovic has seen time in net this season with the Carolina Hurricanes.

     Alex Nedeljkovic, and Vincent Trocheck were teammates on the Plymouth Whalers during the 2012-2013 OHL (Ontario Hockey League) season.  Both players are now having success in the NHL (National Hockey League) with the Carolina Hurricanes.  Alex Nedeljkovic has seen time in net this season due to the injury of former Detroit Red Wings Goalie Peter Mrazek.  Vincent Trocheck is playing in his first full season in Carolina after the Hurricanes acquired him in a trade with the Florida Panthers in February of 2020. 

     Alex Nedeljkovic has started 7 games this season, and currently has an overall record of 4-2-1 (1 overtime loss).  Nedeljkovic earned one of his four victories this season against the Detroit Red Wings.  Vincent Trocheck has played in 23 games this season, and currently has 22 points with 13 goals, and 9 assists.  Trocheck has scored 125 goals so far during his NHL career. 

     Alex Nedeljkovic also spent time with the Flint Firebirds during the 2015-2016 OHL season before he was traded to the Niagara IceDogs.  Vincent Trocheck spent over three seasons with Saginaw Spirit before he was traded to the Plymouth Whalers during the 2012-2013 OHL season.  

     Leave a comment, or email the Mitten State Sports Report at mittenstatesportsreport@rocketmail.com  Click on the links below for more information about the National Hockey League, or the Ontario Hockey League.  Click on past months to see all of the Mitten State Sports Report's archived material.  Check out Game Notes. 

Trocheck is playing in his first full season in Carolina. The Hurricanes traded for him last season.

                                                                                             Game Notes   

-  Alex Nedeljkovic wore #39 with the Plymouth Whalers.  Nedeljkovic also wears #39 for the Carolina Hurricanes.

-  Vincent Trocheck wore #25 with the Plymouth Whalers.  Trocheck wears #16 for the Carolina Hurricanes.    

-  The Ontario Hockey League has yet to start their 2020-2021 season. 

-  The Plymouth Whalers were sold in 2015.  The team relocated to Flint to become the Flint Firebirds. 

 

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

For more information about the OHL click on  https://ontariohockeyleague.com  

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Click on the arrow next to previous months to see the Mitten State Sports Report's archived material. 

2013 Plymouth Whalers Photo Album

Pete Krupsky "The Krupper", and Sean Baligian called the action at Compuware Arena for another Whalers season!

#25 Vincent Trocheck was a great addition for the Plymouth Whalers!

Alex Nedeljkovic played outstanding in net for the Plymouth Whalers!

The Whalers celebrated several victories along their journey to the Western Conference Finals!

#13 Michael Whaley, #23 Connor Sills, and #7 Austin Levi congratulate their goalie after a win!

The Whalers against the Spitfires!

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Trocheck Named OHL's Most Valuable Player

#25 Vincent Trocheck played for the Saginaw Spirit, and the Plymouth Whalers!

   
     Vincent Trocheck was named the Ontario Hockey League's (OHL) Most Valuable Player (MVP)
today after leading the league in scoring during the regular season.  Trocheck recieved the Red Tilson Trophy, which is awarded to the OHL's Most Valuable Player just weeks after recieving the Eddie Powers Trophy, which is awarded to the OHL's leading goal scorer during the regular season.  Trocheck played three and a half seasons with the Saginaw Spirit, and became the Spirit's Captain before being traded to the Plymouth Whalers this season at the trading deadline.  Trocheck scored 50 goals, and added 59 assists during the 2012-2013 regular season, and should be a welcome addition to the Florida Panthers.  The Panthers selected Trocheck in the third round of the 2011 NHL draft. 

#25 Vincent Trocheck should become a welcome addition to the Florida Panthers.

 





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Whalers Playoffs 2nd Rnd. Game 2

On Sunday, April 7th, the Plymouth Whalers hosted the Owen Sound Attack.

Mitchell Heard got into a fight !

Alex Nedeljkovic sprawls on his belly to cover the loose puck!

Whalers #11 Stefan Noesen slides around the boards behind the net!

Owen Sound celebrated the 3-1 victory to even the series!

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Whalers vs Spirit Photo Album

On March 10th, 2013, the Plymouth Whalers hosted the Saginaw Spirit

The Saginaw Spirit celebrated an early goal!

Vincent Trocheck was the Spirit's captain before being traded to Plymouth earlier this season!

In the end the Whalers celebrated the 7-5 victory!

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Colts Race Past Whalers 6-3

New York Islanders draft pick Mitchell Theoret took the faceoff for Barrie.



     On Friday night, the OHL (Ontario Hockey League) Eastern Conference leading Barrie Colts outlasted the Plymouth Whalers 6-3 while scoring five unanswered goals after the first period.  Vincent Trocheck scored two early goals for the Whalers to give them an early lead.  The Whalers lead 3-1 after the first period, and lead for most of the contest, trailing for the first time with just under five minutes left in the game.  Detroit Red Wings draft pick Andreas Athanasiou added one of two empty net goals in the final moments to secure the win for Barrie.  The Colts featured six NHL draft picks including Mark Scheifele, who just returned to Barrie following a stint with the Winnipeg Jets.  Barrie improved their overall record to 34-17, but suffered a loss the following night against the Saginaw Spirit. The Whalers dropped to 26-25, but earned a victory the following night at home against the Owen Sound Attack.  The Whalers will play their next game today at 2:00 p.m. at the Brampton Battalion.
     The OHL Western Conference West Division continues to be a tight race with several teams close in the standings.  Sault Ste. Marie, Sarnia, and Plymouth have been exchanging the division lead all season long, and Windsor, and Saginaw remain within striking distance. The Whalers will play eleven of their final sixteen regular season games away from Compuware Arena. 

Detroit Red Wings draft pick Andreas Athanasiou scored an empty net goal for Barrie.

       





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



For more information about the Barrie Colts click on  www.barriecolts.com



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

           

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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



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Spirit Eliminated From Playoffs!

The Saginaw Spirit have been eliminated from the Ontario Hockey League Playoffs!

    The 2011-2012 campaign came to end for the Saginaw Spirit on Saturday.  The London Knights were the top overall seed in the Western Conference, and they eliminated Saginaw from the OHL (Ontario Hockey League) Playoffs. The Spirit lead the series 2 games to 1, but Saginaw lost games 4 through 6.
    The Spirit may have entered the Postseason with a bit of a controversy in net.  Clint Windsor, and Jake Paterson split the goaltending duties during the regular season, but Jake Paterson became the "go to guy" once the OHL Playoffs began.
     The 2011-2012 Spirit featured four players from our local area including defenseman Brad Walch who resides in Saginaw.  Six NHL (National Hockey League) clubs have already drafted seven Saginaw players including Center Vincent Trocheck (Florida Panthers) who lead the Spirit in points during the regular season with 85. Spirit Left Wingers John Shalla, (Nashville Predators) and Brandon Saad (Chicago Blackhawks) both contributed 76 points during the regular season, and both players are expected to achieve success at the next level.
     The Spirit season got off to a rough start, and as a result Head Coach Todd Watson was fired.  Greg Gilbert took over the roll, and really got the team rolling.  The future looks bright for the Saginaw Spirit as Greg Gilbert has installed a winning attitude to go along with much support from the Tri-Cities.
     The London Knights will face the winner of a game 7 Conference semifinals matchup between Kitchener and Plymouth.  In the Eastern Conference, the Niagara Ice Dogs have already advanced to the Conference finals, and await the winner of a game 7 Conference semifinals matchup between the Ottawa 67's and the Barrie Colts.








Click on the link below for more information about the Saginaw Spirit!

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



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



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