Wednesday, September 21, 2005

Whalers all over Spirit in OHL opener, 7-2

John Vigilante notched six points Wednesday night

Dan Collins and overager John Vigilante each had six-point nights as the Plymouth Whalers routed the Saginaw Spirit, 7-2, in the OHL season opener Wednesday night at the Dow Event Center.

Collins scored three goals (two on the power play, one shorthanded) and added three assists while Vigilante, a Dearborn native, added a goal and five helpers to back Justin Garay's 25-save performance in net.

Overage defenseman Mike Letizia had a goal and two assists, Ryan McGinnis (Fenton) tallied a goal and an assist, Andrew Fournier chipped in with a pair of assists and James Neal, just back from Dallas Stars' camp, scored the other Plymouth goal.

Patrick McNeil and Michal Birner scored power-play goals for the Spirit. Goalie Francois Thuot stopped 34 shots in a losing effort in front of 4,603 fans in mid-Michigan. Tom Pyatt and Ryan McDonough each recorded two assists for Saginaw.

Next up for the Whalers is their home opener Saturday night at 8:00 p.m. against the Sarnia Sting. The game time was pushed back 30 minutes to acommodate Comcast Local. Saginaw travels to London to play the defending OHL and Memorial Cup champions Friday night.

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