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| Plymouth Whalers | |
|---|---|
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| City: | Plymouth, Michigan |
| League: | Ontario Hockey League |
| Conference: | Western |
| Division: | West |
| Founded: | 1997-1998 |
| Home Arena: | Compuware Arena |
| Colors: | Navy blue, White, Green & Silver |
| Head Coach: | Mike Vellucci |
| General Manager: | Mike Vellucci |
| Affiliate(s): | Compuware Ambassadors |
| Franchise history | |
| 1990-92: | Detroit Compuware Ambassadors |
| 1992-95: | Detroit Junior Red Wings |
| 1995-97: | Detroit Whalers |
| 1997-Present: | Plymouth Whalers |
The Plymouth Whalers are a major junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. They play out of Compuware Arena in Plymouth, Michigan, USA.
Contents |
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 Junior Red Wings and the Detroit Whalers. In 1998 they were officially called the "Plymouth Whalers" after the local municipality gave generous tax breaks to the team and venue. 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. Chad LaRose is the only player to have played at every level of Compuware hockey; Compuware AAA Ambassadors, Plymouth Whalers, Florida Everblades, Lowell Lock Monsters, and the Carolina Hurricanes. The Detroit Junior 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, finishing first or second in their division for every season of their existence. The team also produces the highest ranked goaltenders on an annual basis, with multiple winners of the Dave Pinkney Trophy and the F. W. "Dinty" Moore Trophy. Whalers goalies had the lowest goals against average in the OHL throughout the five consecutive division titles. 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). Plymouth has made the playoffs 16 consecutive seasons, since the 1991-92 season. The Whalers reached the OHL finals two consecutive seasons in 1999-2000, and 2000-2001, losing to the Barrie Colts and Ottawa 67's. These seasons included futuer NHLers David Legwand, Justin Williams, Robert Esche, and Stephen Weiss.
In recent history, the Whalers have been a dominating team in the OHL. Through the last five years, the team built itself into an OHL champion. In 2003, led by team record 61-goal scorer Chad LaRose, Karl Stewart, David Liffiton, Ryan Ramsay, and acquired former North Bay Centennials captain Chris Thorburn, the Whalers lost in the conference finals to the eventual Memorial Cup winner Kitchener Rangers. This was arguably the best Whalers team ever, even better than the 1995 championship team. The following season, team captain James Wisniewski, won a gold medal playing for the USA World Junior team, and voted CHL & OHL defenceman of the year. Celebrating their 10th Anniversary playing at the Compuware Arena during the 2005-06 season, all current Whalers players had been brought into the system by head coach and general manager Mike Vellucci. This created the build-up for the next year. Headed by overage captain John Vigilante, the team's rookies in 2003 and 2004 came to fruition in James Neal, Dan Collins, and Tommy Sestito. Vellucci acquired the Belleville Bulls' leading scorer Evan Brophey and the Toronto St. Michael's Majors goaltender Justin Peters, who had an extensive resume. On the last game of the season, the Whalers played the Saginaw Spirit, with the division title on the line, in what has been proven to be one of most exciting OHL games in recent history. With the Whalers' 2-0 lead going into the third period, the Spirit fought back and managed the tying goal just before time expired. However, Brophey scored in overtime to clinch the Whalers' 9th division title. During the 2006-07 season, rookie goaltenders Jeremy Smith and Michal Neuvirth, combined for the lowest goals against average in the OHL, with only 173 goals against in total. The Whalers had a number of high prospects signed or drafted by NHL teams, including former Wayne Gretzky 99 Award winner Daniel Ryder, who was acquired, with him already having been signed with the Calgary Flames. After a very inconsistent start, the team improved to fall short of the London Knights by one point for the Hamilton Spectator Trophy. During the second half of the season and through the playoffs, the Whalers featured a 23 game winning streak at home, lasting three and a half months, falling at Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals to London. The Whalers, although seeded #2, easily won the Wayne Gretzky Trophy as Western Conference playoff champion, sweeping #7 Guelph, and winning in 5 against both #3 Kitchener and #1 London. In the final, the Whalers defeated the Sudbury Wolves in six games to win the J. Ross Robertson Cup, thus earning the right to represent the OHL in the 2007 Memorial Cup. In the Memorial Cup, the team suffered a rough start, losing to the Vancouver Giants 4-3 in overtime on May 18, and again to the Medicine Hat Tigers 4-1 on May 21. Their fortunes would change, however, on May 22, when they would defeat the Lewiston MAINEiacs 2-1 in overtime, thus putting them in the tiebreaker game on May 24, in which they would defeat Lewiston again, 5-1, eliminating the MAINEiacs from the Memorial Cup and advancing to the semifinal. However, on May 25th, the Whalers would lose again to the Vancouver Giants in the semifinal round, this time in dramatic fashion by a score of 1-8. This way, the Whalers finished the 2007 Memorial Cup in third place.
Championships
The Plymouth Whalers have won seven divisional titles, five of them consecutively. Plymouth has also won three Hamilton Spectator trophies and reached the OHL Championship Finals three times, winning during the 2006-07 season.
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J. Ross Robertson Cup
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Hamilton Spectator Trophy
Bumbacco Trophy
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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.
- 2001-2007 Mike Vellucci (7 seasons) - Vellucci is working in his eighth season as President of Compuware Arena and the Plymouth Whalers and seventh as Whalers general manager. He was promoted to President of the Plymouth Whalers in 2000 and was appointed the team's general manager and head coach in 2001, after DeBoer left for the Kitchener Rangers. Vellucci played for the Belleville Bulls of the OHL and was drafted by the Hartford Whalers in 1984, making his NHL debut during the 1987-88 season. Vellucci concluded his playing career in Europe for Lusteau, Austria in 1989 before turning to hockey management and coaching. During Vellucci's term, his long-time assistant Todd Watson became head coach of the Saginaw Spirit. Plymouth went 246-132-37-22 over six season-and-a-half seasons for Vellucci for a .630 winning percentage. The Whalers won four West Division titles - never finishing below second place - and an Ontario Hockey League championship during Vellucci's tenure behind the bench. In 2007, Vellucci won the Matt Leyden Trophy as Ontario Hockey League Coach of the Year - the first American ever to win the award. In the middle of the 2007-08 OHL season, Vellucci stepped down from coaching to focus on his GM position, and work on managing the arena and franchise.
- 2007-present Greg Stefan (in first season) - Stefan re-joined the Plymouth Whalers after more than two seasons with the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, first as Goaltending Coach/Pro Scout, and more recently as Assistant Coach/Goaltending Coach. Stefan began his coaching career in 1993 with the Detroit Junior Red Wings (now Plymouth Whalers) and contributed to the team’s first OHL championship in 1995. He served as an assistant coach in Plymouth until 1998, and re-joined the Whalers as director of player development and assistant coach in 2003. After moving around the Carolina Hurricanes system as a scout and even as an assistant coach, he returned to coach Plymouth when Vellucci's time restraints prevented his entire focus. Stefan played goaltender for the Oshawa Generals from 1978-81 before being drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in 1981, eventually retiring in 1991.
Players
Pat Peake # 14 is the only number retired by the Whalers organization. Peake (who played in the Junior Red Wings era) was a two-season captain, 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
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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 - Robert Holsinger & Rob Zepp Dave Pinkney Trophy Lowest Team GAA
- 1998-99 - Rob Zepp Canadian Hockey League Scholastic Player of the Year, Bobby Smith Trophy OHL Scholastic Player of the Year
- 1999-00 - Rob Zepp & Bill Ruggiero Dave Pinkney Trophy Lowest Team GAA
- 2000-01 - Rob 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
- 2006-07 - Michal Neuvirth & Jeremy Smith Dave Pinkney Trophy Lowest Team GAA
- 2006-07 - Michal Neuvirth F.W. 'Dinty' Moore Trophy Best Rookie GAA
First round NHL Entry Draft picks
Players who were drafted in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft while playing for the Whalers franchise.
- 1991: Pat Peake, 14th Overall, Washington Capitals
- 1993: Todd Harvey, 9th Overall, Dallas Stars
- 1995: Bryan Berard, 1st Overall, Ottawa Senators
- 1998: David Legwand, 2nd Overall, Nashville Predators
- 2000: Justin Williams, 28th Overall, Philadelphia Flyers
- 2001: Stephen Weiss, 4th Overall, Florida Panthers
NHL alumni
List of Plymouth Whalers alumni who have played in the National Hockey League.
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Current roster
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Player | Catches | NHL Rights | Place of Birth | |
| 30 |  |
Jeremy Smith♠ | L | NSH 2007 | Brownstown, Michigan |
| 31 |  |
Matt Hackett | L | 2008 | London, Ontario |
| 39 | |
Kyle Jendra | L | 2008 | Bolingbrook, Illinois |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Player | Shoots | NHL Rights | Place of Birth | |
| 2 | |
Brett Bellemore | R | CAR 2007 | Windsor, Ontario |
| 3 | |
Wes Cunningham - A/OA | L | -- | Dresden, Ontario |
| 4 | |
Leo Jenner | L | 2008 | Mossley, Ontario |
| 6 | |
Josh Bemis | L | 2009 | Clarkston, Michigan |
| 8 | |
Christian Steingraber | L | 2008 | Oregon, Ohio |
| 21 | |
Anthony Donati | R | 2010 | London, Ontario |
| 25 |  |
Jozef Sladok | L | 2008 | Zvolen, Slovakia |
| 32 |  |
Michal Jordan♣ | L | 2008 | Zlin, Czech Republic |
| 34 | |
Jordon O'Neill | L | 2008 | London, Ontario |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Player | Position | Shoots | NHL Rights | Place of Birth | |
| 7 | |
Kaine Geldart | RW | R | 2008 | Kingston, Ontario |
| 9 | |
Vern Cooper | C | L | 2009 | Sudbury, Ontario |
| 10 | |
Tyler G. Brown | C | L | 2008 | Wasaga Beach, Ontario |
| 11 | |
RJ Mahalak | LW | L | 2010 | Monroe, Michigan |
| 15 | |
Andrew Fournier - C/OA | C | L | -- | Amherstview, Ontario |
| 16 | |
Brett Valliquette | LW | L | 2008 | Newmarket, Ontario |
| 19 | |
Patrick Lee | RW | R | 2008 | Sharon, Ontario |
| 20 | |
Chris Terry - C | C | L | CAR 2007 | Brampton, Ontario |
| 22 | |
AJ Jenks - A | LW | L | 2008 | Wolverine Lake, Michigan |
| 23 | |
Joe McCann - OA | RW | R | -- | Essex, Ontario |
| 24 | |
Joe Gaynor | LW | L | 2008 | Goderich, Ontario |
| 27 | |
Taylor Carnevale | C | R | 2009 | Mississauga, Ontario |
| 29 | |
Tyler J. Brown | LW | L | 2009 | Westland, Michigan |
| 33 | |
Mike Yovanic | LW | L | 2008 | Highland, Michigan |
♠: Jeremy Smith will participate in the 2008 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships for the United States. ♣: Michal Jordan will participate in the 2008 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships for the Czech Republic.
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 | Chad LaRose | 61 | 2002-03 |
| Most Assists | Kevin Brown | 91 | 1992-93 |
| Most Points | Bob Wren | 145 | 1992-93 |
| Most Points, rookie | David Legwand | 105 | 1997-98 |
| Most Points, defenseman | Bill McCauley | 102 | 1994-95 |
| Most PIM | David Benn | 305 | 1991-92 |
| Best GAA (Goalie) | Robert Holsinger | 2.08 | 1998-99 |
| Most Wins (Goalie) | Rob Zepp | 36 | 1999-00 |
| Goalies = minimum 1500 minutes played | |||
Top scorers
Top scorers in the history of the franchise.
| 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 |
Top active scorers
| Player | Years | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Terry | 2005- | 167 | 56 | 100 | 156 | 216 |
| Andrew Fournier | 2003- | 193 | 72 | 66 | 138 | 157 |
| Wes Cunningham | 2005- | 133 | 10 | 70 | 80 | 224 |
| AJ Jenks | 2006- | 103 | 29 | 26 | 55 | 107 |
| Joe McCann | 2005- | 116 | 18 | 26 | 44 | 75 |
| Kaine Geldart | 2006- | 77 | 11 | 24 | 35 | 79 |
| Vern Cooper | 2006- | 91 | 16 | 16 | 32 | 62 |
| Brett Bellemore | 2005- | 119 | 3 | 22 | 25 | 99 |
| Joe Gaynor | 2005- | 111 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 88 |
| Patrick Lee | 2007- | 29 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 26 |
Yearly results
Regular season
Legend: OTL = Overtime loss, SL = Shoot Out Loss
| Season | Games | Won | Lost | Tied | OTL | SL | 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 | 0.507 | 198 | 204 | 2nd West |
| 2005-06 | 68 | 35 | 28 | - | 1 | 4 | 75 | 0.551 | 227 | 224 | 1st West |
| 2006-07 | 68 | 49 | 14 | - | 2 | 3 | 103 | 0.757 | 299 | 173 | 1st West |
| 2007-08 | Season in progress. See 2007-08 OHL season. | ||||||||||
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 Sault Ste. 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 - 2006-07 - Defeated Guelph Storm 4 games to 0 in conference quarter-finals.
Defeated Kitchener Rangers 4 games to 1 in conference semi-finals.
Defeated London Knights 4 games to 1 in conference finals.
Defeated Sudbury Wolves 4 games to 2 in finals. OHL CHAMPIONS
Finished tied for third place in Memorial Cup round-robin.
Defeated Lewiston MAINEiacs in tiebreaker round.
Lost to Vancouver Giants in semi-finals.
Uniforms and 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.
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 Arena was constructed in 6 months time, ready for the 1996-97 season. The arena is located at 14900 Beck Rd. in Plymouth with a seating capacity of 3,807. In addition to the NHL-sized rink, there is an Olympic sized rink also in the building. CSA, as it is known for short, is home to not only the Whalers, but also the Compuware Ambassadors, a series of major midget teams and lower, according to age.
- Compuware Arena Official web site
- Compuware Ambassadors Official web site
- Compuware ArenaThe 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
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| East Division | Belleville Bulls • Kingston Frontenacs • Oshawa Generals • Ottawa 67's • Peterborough Petes |
| Central Division | Barrie Colts • Brampton Battalion • Mississauga St. Michael's Majors • Niagara IceDogs • Sudbury Wolves |
| Midwest Division | Erie Otters • Guelph Storm • Kitchener Rangers • London Knights • Owen Sound Attack |
| West Division | Plymouth Whalers • Saginaw Spirit • Sarnia Sting • Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds • Windsor Spitfires |
| Defunct teams | Brantford Alexanders • Cornwall Royals • Detroit Compuware Ambassadors • Detroit Junior Red Wings • Detroit Whalers • Guelph Platers • Hamilton Dukes • Hamilton Steelhawks • Kingston Canadians • Kingston Raiders • Mississauga IceDogs • Newmarket Royals • Niagara Falls Thunder • North Bay Centennials • Owen Sound Platers • Toronto Marlboros • Toronto St. Michael's Majors |
| CHL • Memorial Cup • J. Ross Robertson Cup • OHL history • OHL seasons • OHA standings • CHL Awards • QMJHL • WHL | |
