Thursday, August 30, 2007

Whalers open camp with scrimmages

Newcomer Steve Lock scored three goals and two assists as the Blues swept the Whites, 4-1 and 6-3, in a pair of scrimmages to open training camp for the Plymouth Whalers on Thursday at Compuware Arena.

Lock had two goals and an assist in the morning scrimmage for the Blues while Whaler veterans Andrew Fournier and Brett Valliquette added singles. Rookie Tyler J. Brown (an eighth round 2007 draft choice) scored for the Whites.

Lock, just acquired from Peterborough, scored a goal and an assist in the afternoon scrimmage for the Blues. Veterans Joe Gaynor, Kaine Geldart and Valliquette and rookies Taylor Carnevale (second round), Jamie Devane (seventh round) all added singles for the Blues. Brown scored again for the Whites in the afternoon scrimmage and veterans Joe McCann and Vern Cooper added singles.

McCann figured in on all four Whites goals Thursday with a goal and three assists.

Lock scored a goal with four assists for five points and 20 penalty minutes in 54 games last year in an injury-plagued rookie season with Peterborough.

“Last year was a grind,” Lock said. “I had a groin injury at the start of the year and it was tough building back up (physically) to where everyone else was. By Christmas, I was back, but it was tough getting into the lineup. Plymouth seems really nice so far. It looks like this is going to be a real good change.”

Based on the Opening Day scrimmages, Lock is right on the mark.

The Blues and Whites scrimmage on Friday from 9-11 a.m. and 3-5 p.m. at Compuware Arena. The scrimmages are free to the public.

Plymouth kicks off the preseason against Windsor on Saturday at 4 p.m. at Compuware Arena.

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