Saginaw continues to add young talent

The Saginaw Spirit have signed defenseman Alex Lepkowski, a 1993-born prospect that was drafted by the Spirit 66th overall in the 2009 OHL Priority Selection.

The West Seneca, N.Y., native played with St. Francis Prep of the MPHL last season.

“Alex is a young kid that we’re bringing in to develop,” stated Spirit director of scouting Jim Paliafito. “He has tremendous character and he has a lot of upside with his size and skating ability.”

Lepkowski is expected to attend Saginaw’s August training camp.

Spirit captain Chappell inks with Rangers

Outgoing Saginaw Spirit captain Chris Chappell signed with the New York Rangers this week.

The 21-year-old signed a three-year, two-way contract that could see him play for the Rangers or their AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack.

Chappell spent four seasons with the Spirit, aging out of the Ontario Hockey League following the 2008-2009 season.

“I had some idea that the Rangers were looking at me during the season, but they waited until after the NHL draft before approaching me,” stated Chappell. “This has been very exciting and I look forward to attending the Traverse City training camp in the fall.”

Chappell led Saginaw in scoring with 38 goals and 38 assists in 68 regular-season games. The Pickering, Ont., native led the Spirit to their first second-round playoff appearance in team history and tallied two goals and six assists in eight playoff games. Chappell also represented Saginaw at the 2009 OHL All-Star Classic in Windsor.

Metro signs two more '09 draft picks

Two more 2009 draft picks are in the fold for the Metro Jets.

This past Tuesday, forward Anthony Marrocco and defenseman Jonathan Wickersham, teammates last season on the Summit Plastics Midget AA team out of Fraser, signed on the dotted line.

Both should pay immediate dividends in Waterford.

"Rocco is a grinding-type forward," said Metro assistant coach Ryan Skop. "Not the quickest guy in the world, but he'll put a body on you if he gets the chance. He's a guy that isn't afraid to go to the net and can be pretty crafty when he gets there.

"Wick is a guy who can help us at both ends of the ice. He's got good size and is a very smart hockey player. He's another guy who's got good leadership qualities and I look for him to be a big contributor in the dressing room as well."

The Jets now have nine of their 2009 draft picks signed for the upcoming 2009-2010 season, have also signed five free agents and brought back tough defenseman Steve Lockwood from last year's team.

Saginaw picks Czech goalie, Russian forward

The Saginaw Spirit drafted the rights to two highly-touted prospects in the 2009 CHL Import Draft Tuesday.

The Spirit plan to have both players attend their training camp in August.

Goalie Tadeas Galansky was drafted by the Spirit 33rd overall. The 1992-born Czech Republic native is eligible for the 2011 NHL Draft and is a prospect for Team Czech and the upcoming Memorial of Ivan Hlinka Under-18 Tournament in August.

“He brings good size to the position and he has a lot of upside,” stated Spirit director of scouting Jim Paliafito. “He had close to a .930 save percentage on a team that struggled in his home league.”

Russian forward Ivan Telegin was selected 42nd overall by the Spirit. The '92-born winger represented Team Russia at the 2009 World Under-17 Challenge, where he recorded two goals and two assists in five games. He is eligible for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

“Ivan plays hard and goes to the net with authority, courtesy his big size," said Paliafito. "He has the potential to bring a lot to a team’s offense.”

Whalers draft Swedish forward Landeskog

The Plymouth Whalers selected Swedish right wing Gabriel Landeskog with the third overall pick in today's Canadian Hockey League Import Draft.

The 16-year-old Landeskog is described as "an offensively skilled forward with good speed, technical skills and hockey sense. Landeskog likes to shoot the puck and finish plays himself. Scoring touch is pretty good, but he could pass the puck more often. Does not shy away from physical contact and is a decent penalty killer."

The Whalers also had the 39th (traded to Sudbury for a fifth-round OHL draft pick in 2012) and 102nd pick (will probably pass) in the draft.

Landeskog played for Djurgarden this season, starting in the Under-18 league with four goals and five assists for nine points in five games before being promoted to the U-20 team where he had seven goals and 14 assists in 31 games. He also has international experience, tallying 13 goals and an assist in 20 international games for the Team Sweden U-17 and U-18 teams.

Whalers move up in Import Draft, deal Cooper

The Plymouth Whalers announced the acquisition of the third overall pick in today’s Canadian Hockey League Import Draft from the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in exchange for veteran center Vern Cooper and the sixth overall selection in today’s Import Draft.

Plymouth also acquires 18-year-old defenseman Kevin Albers in the trade. Albers, from Lake Orion, was originally drafted by Sault Ste. Marie in the 12th round (233rd overall) of the 2007 Ontario Hockey League draft. Albers played last season for Green Bay of the United States Hockey League, scoring two goals with five assists for seven points, 71 penalty minutes and was plus-28 in 46 games for the Gamblers.

Cooper was originally selected by Plymouth in the first round (13th overall) of the 2006 OHL draft and played three seasons for the Whalers. He enjoyed his best offensive season last year for Plymouth, scoring 17 goals with 20 assists for 37 points. In all, Cooper scored 44 goals with 48 assists for 92 points in 189 games for the Whalers.

“This move gives Cooper (from Sudbury, Ont.) a chance to play closer to home,” Plymouth coach-GM Mike Vellucci said.

Yesterday, Vellucci acquired the sixth pick overall from the Kingston Frontenacs in exchange for overage right wing Kaine Geldart and third- and fifth-round selections in the 2011 OHL draft.

The Whalers also have the 39th and 102nd selections in today’s Import Draft. CHL teams can play two imports. Plymouth has veteran defensemen Michal Jordan (a Carolina Hurricanes draft pick).

The Whalers dropped Jan Látal today from the active roster to make room for the third pick.

Geldart, who turns 20 in August, has an opportunity to play his overage season in his hometown of Kingston, Ont. Originally selected by Plymouth in the 12th round (229th overall) of the 2005 OHL draft, Geldart developed into a fan favorite for the Whalers and was awarded the team’s Labatt Blue Collar Player of the Year in 2007-08 for his in-your-face, hard forechecking checking style of play. In three years in Plymouth, Geldart scored 30 goals with 52 assists for 82 points, 280 PIMs and was +3 in 178 games.

Geldart’s trade also brings Plymouth to three overage players and frees up a spot on the roster for returning overagers Joe Gaynor, Ryan Hayes and Leo Jenner. OHL teams can play three overage players at one time.

“We made a commitment to Joe, Ryan and Leo to play this season as our overages and this trade gives Kaine a chance to play at home,” Vellucci said. “Geldy was a wonderful player for the Whalers, so we decided to do things right and let him finish his OHL career in his hometown.”

Vellucci’s acquisition of the third pick in today’s Import Draft gives the Whalers their highest selection ever in the Import Draft. Plymouth’s previous highest selection in the Import Draft came in 1996 when Sergei Fedotov was taken fourth overall. The CHL started the Import Draft in 1992.

Photo by Walt Dmoch

Plymouth trades Geldart to hometown Fronts

The Plymouth Whalers announced today the acquisition of the sixth pick in Tuesday’s Canadian Hockey League Import Draft from the Kingston Frontenacs in exchange for overage right wing Kaine Geldart, a third-round selection in the 2010 OHL draft and a fifth-round selection in the 2011 draft.

The Whalers also have the 39th and 102nd selections in tomorrow's Import Draft. Canadian Hockey League teams can play two imports and Plymouth has veteran defensemen Michal Jordan and Jan Látal currently on the roster.

Geldart – who turns 20 in August – has an opportunity to play his overage season in his hometown of Kingston. Originally selected by Plymouth in the 12th round (229th overall) of the 2005 OHL draft, Geldart developed into a fan favorite for the Whalers and was awarded the team’s Labatt Blue Collar Player of the Year in 2007-08 for his in-your-face, hard forechecking style of play.

In three years in Plymouth, Geldart scored 30 goals with 52 assists for 82 points, 280 penalty minutes and was plus-3 in 178 games.

Geldart’s trade also brings Plymouth to three overage players and frees up a spot on the roster for returning overagers Joe Gaynor, Ryan Hayes and Leo Jenner. OHL teams can play three overage players at one time.

Vellucci’s acquisition of the sixth pick in Tuesday’s draft gives the Whalers their highest selection in the draft since Sergei Fedotov was taken fourth overall in 1996. The CHL started the Import Draft in 1992.

Photo by Walt Dmoch

Whalers, Spirit players drafted in Montreal

The Plymouth Whalers had two players selected in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, while the Saginaw Spirit had a trio of draft picks.

Tough forward Jamie Devane was selected in the third round (68th overall) by the Toronto Maple Leafs and Matt Hackett - the top-rated North American goaltending prospect in the draft - went later in the third round (77th overall) to the Minnesota Wild.

Saginaw forward Jordan Szwarz was selected in the fourth round (97th overall) by the Phoenix Coyotes, goaltender Edward Pasquale (pictured) was also selected in the fourth round (117th overall) by the Atlanta Thrashers and then defenseman Cody Sol went in the fifth round (125th overall) to Atlanta.

Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

Saginaw deals Comrie to Guelph for Shalla

The Saginaw Spirit completed a trade with the Guelph Storm today, acquiring forward Josh Shalla, three picks – a second-, third- and fourth-round - in the 2010 OHL Priority Selection, a conditional eighth-round pick in the 2011 draft and the Storm’s first-round pick in the upcoming 2009 CHL Import Draft for defenseman Adam Comrie, the rights to goalie prospect Matt Hoyle and Saginaw’s second-round pick in the Import Draft.

Shalla comes to Saginaw to start his third season in the OHL. He was selected by the Brampton Battalion in the fourth round of the 2007 draft.

The Whitby, Ont., native was then traded to the Storm in the middle of last season, accumulating three goals and two assists in 24 games and tallied a combined 14 goals and six assists during the 2008-2009 regular season.