Plymouth Whalers

Whalers Swat Sting, 5-2, to Take 3-0 Series Lead

Whalers one game from advancing in first round of OHL playoffs.

SARNIA, Ontario - A precision skating group performed during the second intermission Monday night at RBC Centre in Sarnia during Game 3 of the Plymouth Whalers-Sarnia Sting Ontario Hockey League playoff game. A crowd of 2,427 enjoyed the performance.  The crowd did not enjoy the performance of the Whalers, who were far more precise than the skating group. Plymouth dominated much of the first two periods en route to a 5-2 victory over Sarnia to take a three-games-to-none lead in the best-four-of-seven OHL Western Conference quarterfinal series. Game 4 of the series is Wednesday at 7 p.m. at RBC Centre (6:45 p.m., 88.1 FM WSDP). Game 5 (if necessary) will be played Friday at 7:05 p.m. at Compuware Arena. Rickard Rakell and Ryan Hartman …

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Whalers Grind Out 3-2 Playoff Win Over Sarnia, Lead Series, 2-0

Games 3 and 4 are in Sarnia on Monday and Wednesday.

The Plymouth Whalers battled on several fronts in a 3-2 victory over Sarnia on Saturday night before 2,893 at Compuware Arena. Not only did they battle the Sting and their potent power play to take a two-games-to-none lead in the best four-of-seven OHL Western Conference quarterfinal series, at times they battled referees Ryan Hutchison and Scott Ferguson and penalty issues. No playoff run is easy and the Whalers - after blowing out the Sting in Game 1, 11-2 on Friday - worked through a ton of adversity tonight to win their tenth straight game and 18 out of 19 dating back to Feb. 9. Plymouth started the game without Matt Mistele, who was suspended for a checking to the head penalty in the first period in Game 1. Mistele played the rest of …

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Plymouth Whalers

Whalers Win Fifth in a Row and 13 of 14 in 7-5 Win Over Saginaw

Whalers now 39-17-5-4.

Rick Pracey is the Director of Amateur Scouting for the National Hockey League’s Colorado Avalanche and has been a regular at Compuware Arena for years watching the Plymouth Whalers. Sunday afternoon – before a good crowd of 3,094 at Compuware Arena - Pracey saw Colorado-drafts Garrett Meurs and Mitchell Heard lead Plymouth to a 7-5 victory over Saginaw for the Whalers’ fifth straight victory and their 13th win in their last 14 games. The Whalers improve to 39-17-5-4, good for 87 points and first place in the OHL West Division and second overall in the Western Conference. First star Garrett Meurs (taken by Colorado in 5th round in the 2011 National Hockey League Entry Draft) led Plymouth with a hat trick (28-29-30) and an assist and was +2…

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Plymouth Whalers

First-Place Plymouth Whalers Win Seventh Straight Game, 9-1, Over Windsor

Whalers improve to 33-16-5-4, six points ahead of Sault Ste. Marie.

Cody Payne and Rickard Rakell scored hat tricks as the Plymouth Whalers won their seventh straight game, 9-1, over the Windsor Spitfires in an Ontario Hockey League game play Friday night at Compuware Arena before 2,604. The Whalers’ seven-game winning streak is the team’s longest this season. Plymouth improves to a season-best record of 33-16-5-4, good for 75 points and six points ahead of Sault Ste. Marie (32-21-3-2, 69 points) and Sarnia (33-24-0-3, 69 points).   The Soo lost, 4-3, in overtime to London on Friday; Sarnia pounded Erie, 13-3, on Friday. Windsor is now 23-29-1-6, good for 53 points and 11 points behind Saginaw for the last playoff spot in the Western Conference with nine games left. Plymouth has scored 26 goals over its …

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Plymouth Whalers

Whalers' Five-Goal Explosion Leads to Fifth Straight Win, 7-4, Over Guelph

Whalers come back from 0-3 deficit to Storm.

It was logical to assume that Plymouth Whalers head coach Mike Vellucci wasn't happy Saturday night after the Guelph Storm took a 3-0 lead over the Whalers after one period on Saturday at Compuware Arena. And it is logical to assume that Vellucci would let the Whalers know how he felt about the period, on no uncertain terms. According to veteran Plymouth defenseman Austin Levi, that's not what happened. "Mike really didn't say anything," Levi said.  "He left it up to us to decide what we wanted to do and how we wanted to respond." The Whalers responded in a big way in the second period, roaring back with five unanswered goals in the second period to defeat the Storm, 7-4, in an Ontario Hockey League game played Saturday night before 2,970 …

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Plymouth Whalers

Whalers Put the Clamps on Saginaw in 5-1 Victory

Plymouth (29-16-5-4) remains in first place, three points ahead of the Soo.

SAGINAW - First star Sebastian Uvira scored two goals and added an assist, while second star Vincent Trocheck scored twice as the Plymouth Whalers led from start to finish in a 5-1 victory over the Saginaw Spirit on Wednesday evening before 2,766 at the Dow Event Center in Saginaw. AUDIO - Sebastian Uvira interview. Matt Mistele scored the other goal for the Whalers, who won their third straight game to improve to 29-16-5-4, good for 67 points and three points ahead of second place Sault Ste. Marie (30-21-2-2, 64 points), who hammered Sarnia, 8-0, on Wednesday at Essar Centre. Saginaw is 26-22-3-3, with 58 points and fourth in the West Division. While the Whalers scored five goals, Plymouth's stifling team defense dominated the game.  The …

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Plymouth Whalers

Whalers Hold On to First Place With 4-1 Win over Petes

Whalers rout Petes, 4-1, in Plymouth.

Gianluca Curcuruto and Matt Mistele scored two goals each and Vince Trocheck added three assists as the Plymouth Whalers led from start to finish in a 4-1 victory over the Peterborough Petes in an Ontario Hockey League game played Saturday night before 2,669 at Compuware Arena. Plymouth (now 26-15-5-4, 61 points) remains in first place in the Ontario Hockey League’s West Division.  The Whalers are one point ahead of Sault Ste. Marie (28-19-2-2, 60 points).  The Greyhounds beat Saginaw, 5-4 in a shootout, on Saturday. Peterborough (now 16-28-3-4, 39 points) remains in ninth place in the Eastern Conference, trailing Kingston by six points for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Whalers unleashed a devastating forecheck over…

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Plymouth Whalers Offer Free Tickets for Fans' Blood

Blood drive donors will receive a Whalers ticket.

On Friday, the Plymouth Whalers will be out for blood. The Whalers are teaming up with the American Red Cross to host a blood drive from noon-6 p.m. Friday at Compuware Arena. According to a news release from the team, anyone who tries to donate will receive a free ticket to see the Whalers take on the Soo Greyhounds, valued at $12, that night. The Whalers (25-14-5-4) and Greyhounds (26-19-2-2) face off at 7:05 p.m. at Compuware Arena The game will be broadcast on WSDP-FM, 88.1, beginning at 6:45 p.m., and on Comcast 900/Xfinity television starting at 7. The Whalers are back in action Saturday, facing the Peterborough Petes (14-27-3-4) at Compuware Arena with faceoff at 7:05 p.m. The game will be broadcast on WSDP-FM, 88.1, starting at 6:…

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Plymouth Whalers

Sarnia Beats Plymouth, 5-4, in Friday Shootout

Plymouth, Sarnia tied atop OHL's West Division standings.

SARNIA - Charles Sarault scored the only goal of the shootout and the Sarnia Sting defeated the Plymouth Whalers, 5-4, in an Ontario Hockey League game played Friddy before 3,184 at RBC Centre. Plymouth (24-14-5-4) and Sarnia (27-17-0-3) are each tied at the top of the OHL's West Division with 57 points.  The Whalers and Sting have an identical .606 winning percentage over 47 games.  The Sting have more victories. The Whalers and Sting meet 7:05 p.m. Saturday at Compuware Arena (6:45 p.m., 88.1 FM WSDP; 7 p.m., Comcast 900). Garrett Meurs scored twice (21-22) and added an assist as the game's second star.  Cody Payne (15) and Sebastian Uvira (4th of the season and first as a Whaler) scored the other Plymouth goals.  Stefan Noesen recorded …

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Plymouth Whalers

Stefan Noesen, Tom Wilson Return to Plymouth Whalers From NHL Training Camps

Whalers host Mississauga on Friday, the Soo on Saturday, Erie on Monday afternoon.

Stefan Noesen came to the Plymouth Whalers' front office Thursday morning in a hurry. He was looking for a package of hockey sticks shipped from the Ottawa Senators' National Hockey League training camp.  The package arrived  - on time - and Noesen went down to the Whalers' locker room to prepare for this weekend's upcoming action. It's a Whalers Wrap-Around Weekend this weekend as Plymouth (21-13-5-3) hosts Mississauga on Friday at 7:05 p.m., Sault Ste. Marie on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. and Erie on Monday at 2 p.m. at Compuware Arena. Noesen's sense of urgency is understandable.  He was suspended for ten games on Dec. 5 against Oshawa and hasn't played since.  Because of the suspension, he also missed a chance to play for the United States …

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