Plymouth Whalers
| Plymouth Whalers | |
|---|---|
| File:Plymouthwhalers.gif | |
| 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 |
| General manager | Mike Vellucci |
| Head coach | 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 are part of the Compuware Hockey program, which also includes the Compuware Amabassadors minor hockey program, and the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes. 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 2006-05 season. Plymouth is one of only two team 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.
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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-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.
Players
Pat Peake # 14 is the only number retired by the Whalers organization. Peake 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
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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 - 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.
2006-07 Squad
This list includes all possible returning Over-Agers, and will include newcomers as time progresses.
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 (2004-05 & previous), SL = Shoot Out Loss (2005-06 & onward)
| Season | Games | Won | Lost | T/SL | OTL | Points | Goals For |
Goals Against |
Standing |
| 1997-98 | 66 | 37 | 22 | 7 | - | 81 | 279 | 223 | 2nd West |
| 1998-99 | 68 | 51 | 13 | 4 | - | 106 | 313 | 162 | 1st West |
| 1999-00 | 68 | 45 | 18 | 4 | 1 | 95 | 256 | 172 | 1st West |
| 2000-01 | 68 | 43 | 15 | 5 | 5 | 96 | 253 | 162 | 1st West |
| 2001-02 | 68 | 39 | 15 | 12 | 2 | 92 | 249 | 166 | 1st West |
| 2002-03 | 68 | 43 | 14 | 9 | 2 | 97 | 259 | 174 | 1st West |
| 2003-04 | 68 | 32 | 24 | 9 | 3 | 76 | 220 | 204 | 2nd West |
| 2004-05 | 68 | 30 | 29 | 6 | 3 | 69 | 198 | 204 | 2nd West |
| 2005-06 | 68 | 35 | 28 | 1 | 4 | 75 | 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 quater-finals.
Lost to London Knights 4 games to 3 in conference semi-finals. - 1999-00 - Defeated Guelph Storm 4 games to 2 in conference quater-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 quater-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. It 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) 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 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 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