Plymouth Whalers

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Plymouth Whalers
City:	Plymouth Township, Michigan
League:	Ontario Hockey League
Conference:	Western
Division:	West
Founded:	1997-1998
Home Arena:	Compuware Sports Arena
Colours:	Navy blue, White, Green & Silver
Head Coach:	Mike Vellucci
General Manager:	Mike Vellucci

The Plymouth Whalers are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. They play out of the Compuware Sports Arena (seating capacity: 3,807) in Plymouth Township, Michigan, USA.

Franchise Identities:

• Detroit Compuware Ambassadors 1990 to 1992
• Detroit Jr. Red Wings 1992 to 1995
• Detroit Whalers 1995 to 1997
• Plymouth Whalers 1997 to Present

History

The Whalers can trace their roots back to the 1990-91 Detroit Compuware Ambassadors as an expansion team in the OHL. Since then the franchise has been the Detroit Jr. Red Wings and the Detroit Whalers. The Plymouth Whalers were born in 1997.

The franchise has been owned by Peter Karmanos since its inception. The Whalers have been part of the Compuware Hockey program since 1995, which also includes the Compuware Amabassadors minor hockey program and the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes, who were formerly the Hartford Whalers, the namesake of the Detroit Whalers. The Carolina Hurricanes tend to give preference to players from the Plymouth Whalers in the NHL Entry Draft, and coaches and executives are promoted from within the Compuware Hockey affiliation.

The Detroit Jr. Red Wings and Detroit Whalers were both successful incarnations of the franchise in their own rights, but the Plymouth Whalers have made a name for themselves as perennial winners. The club has never had a losing season since 1997.

The Whalers celebrated their 10th Anniversary playing at the Compuware Sports Arena during the 2005-06 season. Plymouth is one of only two teams to win 5 consecutive division titles (West division from 1999-2003, the other team being the Ottawa 67's (East division from 1996-2000). The team also produces the highest ranked goaltenders on an annual basis. Whalers goalies had the lowest goals against average in the OHL throughout the five consecutive division titles.

Championships

The Plymouth Whalers have won six divisional titles, five of them consecutively. Plymouth has also won three Hamilton Spectator Trophies, reached the OHL Championship Finals twice.

J. Ross Robertson Cup OHL Champion 1990-00 Finalists vs. Barrie Colts 2000-01 Finalists vs. Ottawa 67's Wayne Gretzky Trophy Western Conference Playoff Champion 2000 & 2001

Hamilton Spectator Trophy Season Champion 1998-99 51 wins, 4 ties, 106 pts 1999-00 45 wins, 4 ties, 1 OTL, 95 pts 2001-02 39 wins, 12 ties, 2 OTL, 92 pts Bumbacco Trophy West Division Champion 1998-99, 1999-00, 2000-01, 2001-02, 2002-03, 2005-06

Coaches

• 1995-01 Peter DeBoer (6 seasons) - DeBoer was promoted from assistant coach to beceme coach & general manager of the Whalers organization in 1995 when Paul Maurice went to the NHL. DeBoer previously played for the Compuware Spitfires (also owned by Karmanos) when they went to the Memorial Cup in 1988. He was twice voted the OHL Coach of the Year, winning the Matt Leyden Trophy in the 1998-99 & 1999-00 seasons.
• 2001-present Mike Vellucci (5 seasons) - Vellucci became coach & general manager in addition to being team president, after Peter DeBoer departed to the Kitchener Rangers. Vellucci is a former OHL defenceman with the Belleville Bulls, played two games with the NHL Hartford Whalers in 1988. Velluci's assistant coach and general manager is Todd Watson.

Players

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Pat Peake # 14 is the only number retired by the Whalers organization. Peake (who played in the Jr. Red Wings era) was the first MVP for the franchise in 1992-93, as well as Canadian Hockey League player of the year, and OHL Most Sportsmanlike player of the year.

Team Captains

1997-98 Andrew Taylor 1998-00 Randy Fitzgerald 2000-02 Jared Newman 2002-03 Nate Kiser

2003-04 James Wisniewski 2004-05 Tim Sestito (home) John Mitchell (away & playoffs) 2005-06 John Vigilante

Award Winners

• 1997-98 - David Legwand Canadian Hockey League Rookie of the Year, Emms Family Award OHL Rookie of the Year, Red Tilson Trophy Most Outstanding Player of the Year
• 1998-99 - Rob Holsinger & Robb Zepp Dave Pinkney Trophy Lowest Team GAA
• 1998-99 - Robb Zepp Canadian Hockey League Scholastic Player of the Year, Bobby Smith Trophy OHL Scholastic Player of the Year
• 1999-00 - Robb Zepp & Bill Ruggiero Dave Pinkney Trophy Lowest Team GAA
• 2000-01 - Robb Zepp & Paul Drew Dave Pinkney Trophy Lowest Team GAA
• 2001-02 - Jason Bacashihua & Paul Drew Dave Pinkney Trophy Lowest Team GAA
• 2001-02 - Jason Bacashihua F.W. 'Dinty' Moore Trophy Best Rookie GAA
• 2002-03 - Chad LaRose Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy Overage Player of the Year
• 2002-03 - Paul Drew & Jeff Weber Dave Pinkney Trophy Lowest Team GAA
• 2003-04 - James Wisniewski Canadian Hockey League Defenceman of the Year, Max Kaminsky Trophy OHL Defenceman of the Year

First Round Draft Picks

Players who were drafted in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft

• 1998: David Legwand, 2nd Overall, Nashville Predators
• 2000: Justin Williams, 28th Overall, Philadelphia Flyers
• 2001: Stephen Weiss, 4th Overall, Florida Panthers
• 2001: Jason Bacashihua, 26th Overall, Dallas Stars

NHL Alumni

Players who have played in the NHL Bold indicates having played in the 2005-06 NHL season.

Yuri Babenko Jason Bacashihua Jesse Boulerice Gregory Campbell Harold Druken

Robert Esche Cole Jarrett Tomas Kurka Chad LaRose David Legwand Paul Mara

Karl Stewart Damian Surma Chris Thorburn Nikos Tselios Kris Vernarsky

Jason Ward Stephen Weiss Justin Williams Chad Wiseman James Wisniewski

Current squad

#	Player	Pos.	Shot	Acquired	NHL Rights	Birthplace
Goalies
1	Justin Peters	G	L	Trade TOR	Carolina Hurricanes 2004
30	Jeremy Smith	G	L	2005	2007	Brownstown, Michigan
33	Justin Garay	G	R	2003	Free Agent	Monaca, Pennsylvania
Defencemen
2	Brett Bellemore	D	R	2005	2006	Windsor, Ontario
3	Wes Cunningham	D	L	Trade BLV	Free Agent	Dresden, Ontario
10	Ryan McGinnis	D	L	2003	Los Angeles Kings 2005	Fenton, Michigan
26	Steve Ward(A)	D	R	Trade SAR	Free Agent	Scarborough, Ontario
28	Zack Shepley	D	L	2003	Free Agent	Oakville, Ontario
34	Leo Jenner	D	L	2005	2007
Forwards
7	Jared Boll	R	RW	Trade KGN	Columbus Blue Jackets 2005	Oshawa, Ontario
11	Evan Brophey	L	C	Trade BLV	Chicago Blackhawks 2005	Kitchener, Ontario
15	Andrew Fournier	L	C	2003	2006	Amherstview, Ontario
17	Dan Collins	R	RW	2003	FloridaPanthers 100 2005	Carthage, New York
18	John Armstrong	R	C	2004	2006	Unionville, Ontario
19	James Neal	L	LW	2003	DallasStars 100 2005	Whitby, Ontario
20	Chris Terry	L	C	2005	2007	Brampton, Ontario
21	Tommy Sestito	L	LW	2003	2006	Rome, New York
23	Joe McCann	R	RW	Trade SAG	2006	Essex, Ontario
24	Gino Pisellini(A)	R	RW	2002	Philadelphia Flyers 2004	Itasca, Illinois
25	Joe Gaynor	L	LW	2005	2007	Goderich, Ontario
29	Ondrej Otcenas	L	C	2005	Carolina Hurricanes 2005	Piestany, Slovakia
39	Ryan Stephenson	L	LW	Trade KGN	Free Agent	Belmont, Ontario

Franchise Records

A complete list of team records can be found [here].

Team Records for a single season
Statistic	Total	Season
Most Points	106	1998-99
Most Wins	51	1998-99
Most Goals For	330	1992-93
Least Goals For	198	2004-05
Least Goals Against	162	1998-99 2000-01
Most Goals Against	378	1990-91

Individual player records for a single season
Statistic	Player	Total	Season
Most Goals	Sean Haggerty	60	1995-96
Most Assists	Kevin Brown	91	1992-93
Most Points	Bob Wren	145	1992-93
Best GAA (Goalie)	Robert Holsinger	2.08	1998-99
Goalies = minimum 1500 minutes played

Top Scorers

The following players are the top 10 players, sorted by points, of all-time by Whalers players. These statistics only include games played with the Whalers, not career OHL numbers.

Player	Years	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
Pat Peake	1990-92	162	138	181	319	162
Bob Wren	1991-94	182	115	188	303	220
Todd Harvey	1991-95	173	113	157	270	310
Kevin Brown	1992-94	113	102	167	269	161
Sean Haggerty	1993-96	187	131	132	263	136
John Vigilante	2002-06	254	93	153	246	107
Harold Druken	1996-99	187	123	120	243	60
John Mitchell	2001-05	258	80	150	230	158
Damian Surma	1998-02	241	105	120	225	286
Stephen Weiss	1999-02	172	89	134	223	149

Yearly Results

Regular Season

Legend:
T = Tie (1997-2005), SL = Shoot Out Loss (2005-06 onward), OTL = Overtime Loss

Season	Games	Won	Lost	T/SL	OTL	Points	Pct %	Goals For	Goals Against	Standing
1997-98	66	37	22	7	-	81	0.614	279	223	2nd Western
1998-99	68	51	13	4	-	106	0.779	313	162	1st West
1999-00	68	45	18	4	1	95	0.691	256	172	1st West
2000-01	68	43	15	5	5	96	0.669	253	162	1st West
2001-02	68	39	15	12	2	92	0.662	249	166	1st West
2002-03	68	43	14	9	2	97	0.699	259	174	1st West
2003-04	68	32	24	9	3	76	0.537	220	204	2nd West
2004-05	68	30	29	6	3	69	0.485	198	204	2nd West
2005-06	68	35	28	1	4	75	0.551	227	224	1st West

Playoffs

• 1997-98 - Defeated Sarnia Sting 4 games to 1 in division quarter-finals.
  Defeated Belleville Bulls 4 games to 2 in quarter-finals.
  Lost to Guelph Storm 4 games to 0 in semi-finals.
• 1998-99 - Defeated Windsor Spitfires 4 games to 0 in conference quarter-finals.
  Lost to London Knights 4 games to 3 in conference semi-finals.
• 1999-00 - Defeated Guelph Storm 4 games to 2 in conference quarter-finals.
  Defeated Windsor Spitfires 4 games to 1 in conference semi-finals.
  Defeated S.S.Marie Greyhounds 4 game to 1 in conference finals.
  Lost to Barrie Colts 4 games to 3 in finals.
• 2000-01 - Defeated Sarnia Sting 4 games to 0 in conference quarter-finals.
  Defeated Windsor Spitfires 4 games to 0 in conference semi-finals.
  Defeated Erie Otters 4 game to 1 in conference finals.
  Lost to Ottawa 67's 4 games to 2 in finals.
• 2001-02 - Lost to London Knights 4 games to 2 in conference quarter-finals.
• 2002-03 - Defeated Owen Sound Attack 4 games to 0 in conference quarter-finals.
  Defeated London Knights 4 games to 3 in conference semi-finals.
  Lost to Kitchener Rangers 4 games to 3 in conference finals.
• 2003-04 - Defeated Kitchener Rangers 4 games to 1 in conference quarter-finals.
  Lost to Guelph Storm 4 games to 0 in conference semi-finals.
• 2004-05 - Lost to Owen Sound Attack 4 games to 0 in conference quarter-finals.
• 2005-06 - Defeated Windsor Spitfires 4 games to 3 in conference quarter-finals.
  Lost to Guelph Storm 4 games to 2 in conference semi-finals

Uniforms & Logos

The Whalers colours are navy blue, white, green and silver. The Whalers logo was created in 1995 after the Jr. Red Wings were renamed. The colours and logo were derived from the NHL's Hartford Whalers who were also owned by Peter Karmanos. The logo features an angry hockey stick-wielding whale, blowing a puck and spout of water out its blow hole. The name Whalers is superimposed on the image surround by a circle of green and blue with waves in the background.

The Whalers home and away jerseys are either white or navy blue background, with green & silver trim. The Whalers third jersey (inset, bottom right), derived from the original 1979-92 green away jersey of the NHL Whalers, is a green background with the word "Whalers" spelled out in silver letters diagonally across the chest, and has the Whalers primary logo as a shoulder patch.

Whalers Blue home jersey	Whalers White road jersey	Whalers Green alternate jersey

Arena

Peter Karmanos arranged to build the Whalers a new home in Plymouth Township, Michigan as soon as the 1995-96 season ended. The Compuware Sports Arena was constructed in 6 months time, ready for the 1996-97 season. The arena is located at 14900 Beck Rd. in Plymouth, Michigan.

It is also home to the Plymouth Whalers ice hockey team and the Wayne State University ice hockey team, and the Compuware Ambassadors minor hockey program.

Capacity = 3,807 (seated), 4,500 (incl. standing)

Ice Size = 200' x 85'

• [Compuware Sports Arena] Official web site
• [Compuware Ambassadors] Official web site
• [Compuware Sports Arena]The OHL Arena & Travel Guide

External links

• [Plymouth Whalers] Official web site
• [Plymouth Whalers Booster Club] Official web site
• [Ontario Hockey League] Official web site
• [Canadian Hockey League] Official web site

Ontario Hockey League
Current Teams : Barrie Colts > Belleville Bulls | Brampton Battalion | Erie Otters | Guelph Storm | Kingston Frontenacs | Kitchener Rangers | London Knights | Mississauga IceDogs | Oshawa Generals | Ottawa 67's | Owen Sound Attack | Peterborough Petes | Plymouth Whalers | Saginaw Spirit | Sarnia Sting | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds | Sudbury Wolves | Toronto St. Michael's Majors | Windsor Spitfires
Canadian Hockey League>CHL: | Memorial Cup | OHL | QMJHL | WHL

 

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