Teddy Bear Toss in Plymouth Saturday

When the Ontario Hockey League’s Plymouth Whalers host the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds this Saturday at 7:05 p.m. at Compuware Arena, they’ll be playing for more than two points in the tight Western Conference standings.

The Whalers are hosting their annual Teddy Bear Toss, in the anticipation of making a child’s Christmas Day a little brighter.

The concept is simple and fun to see. Fans are encouraged to bring a new stuffed animal to Saturday’s game and throw it on the ice the first time the Whalers score (the 2008 event is pictured above). The Whalers – with the assistance of Plymouth United Way – will donate any stuffed animal to various United Way charities.

In addition, the Whalers booster club will be selling stuffed animals at the game to make the situation a little more convenient for fans.

The Teddy Bear Toss is the second special event recently hosted by the Whalers designed to help individuals and families in need. Last Saturday, the Whalers collected over a ton of non-perishable food items for Plymouth United Way – an all-time record. Plymouth United Way will oversee the distribution of the food items with the help of Salvation Army.

An added component of the food donation for fans was the opportunity to win a $500 shopping spree, courtesy of 12 Oaks Mall. Long-time Whalers fan Irene Addison won the shopping spree.

WHALERS MOVE MORE GAMES TO 88.1 FM WSDP: An experiment that started as a trial run with three games in November is moving more quickly in December. The Whalers will be airing more games on 88.1 FM WSDP “The Escape," starting Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. when Plymouth hosts Saginaw. WSDP will be airing 27 of the Whalers remaining games over the rest of the 2009-10 season, with playoffs a viable option as well. Pete Krupsky provides the play-by-play, with WDFN's Sean Baligian providing color on many of the broadcasts.

A complete list of Plymouth games to be aired in WSDP can be found below. In addition, WSDP may be covering the 2010 Canadian Hockey League Top Prospects Game, held Jan. 20 in Windsor.

All other games will be aired online on http://www.plymouthwhalers.com/.

PLYMOUTH WHALERS RADIO BROADCASTS on 88.1 FM WSDP

Wednesday, December 2 Saginaw 7pm
Friday, December 4 at Saginaw 7pm
Thursday, December 10 at Sarnia 7:15pm
Saturday, December 12 Saginaw 7pm
Friday, December 18 at Oshawa 7:30pm
Saturday, December 19 at Guelph 2pm
Monday, December 28 Erie 2pm

Wednesday, January 6 at Erie 7pm
Thursday, January 7 at Niagara 7:30pm
Saturday, January 16 Niagara 7pm
Monday, January 18 Windsor 2pm
Friday, January 22 at Mississauga 7:30pm
Wednesday, January 27 at Owen Sound 7pm
Friday, January 29 Brampton 7pm
Saturday, January 30 London 7pm

Saturday, February 6 Owen Sound 7pm
Wednesday, February 10 at Guelph 7pm
Friday, February 12 at Saginaw 7pm
Friday, February 19 Mississauga 7pm
Saturday, February 20 Sarnia 7pm
Thursday, February 25 at Windsor 7pm

Tuesday, March 2 at Saginaw 10:45am
Friday, March 5 SS Marie 7pm
Saturday, March 6 Saginaw 7pm
Thursday, March 11 at Windsor 7pm
Friday, March 12 at SS Marie 7:30pm

Photo by Walt Dmoch

Port Huron native commits to Spitfires

The Windsor Spitfires are proud to announce that they have signed American goaltender Jack Campbell to join the Spitfires for the 2010-2011 season.

Campbell, a 17-year-old Port Huron native, is currently playing in the U.S. NTDP’s Under-18 program and won a gold medal with Team USA in the IIHF Men’s World Under-18 Championship this past April in Fargo, North Dakota. He was also selected to the All-Tournament team for his outstanding performance in the Under-18’s. He is also the top rated USHL goaltender in the NHL’s 2009 fall preliminary rankings for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

Campbell was originally selected by the Spitfires in the sixth round, 108th overall, in the 2008 OHL Priority Selection.

“We are excited to add Jack to our team next season," said Windsor GM Warren Rychel. "He is one of the best goalies in the world in his age and one of the top rated goalies for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. Jack is a world-class, high level talent as well as a quality kid who will flourish in the Windsor Spitfires program."

Photo by Dave Arnold/USA Hockey

Rutkowski out to motivate Jets

It’s not the size of the lion in the fight, but the size of the fight in the lion.

Such is the case with Metro Jets rookie forward Joe Rutkowski – all 5-feet-9 and 155 pounds of him.

Signed as a free agent out of Metro’s tryout camp at the end of last summer, Rutkowski has been a pleasant surprise for the Jets this season.

“Ruts is a guy who does all the little things for us – that's what makes him so effective,” said Metro coach Ryan Skop. “I think his biggest asset and value to us is that he works hard, he'll do whatever it takes to win, and he's a good competitor. On the bench or when he's on the ice, the guys on our bench take notice. They see Ruts finishing checks, getting pucks deep, blocking shots, doing the dirty work, and it motivates the rest of the guys to follow his lead.”

Rutkowski, an 18-year-old from St. Clair Shores, (not related former Jets forward Chad Rutkowski), has improved in huge strides since early September.

“The difference between now and season's start is that Joe has learned to push himself to get better,” Metro GM Butch Wolfe said. “He’s a tenacious player and competes every night. Maybe not the most gifted player, but he uses everything he has.”

Small in stature, but big on heart, Rutkowski knew before the season started that playing for the Jets could help him develop more of his overall game to find a niche in the Central States Hockey League.

“I remember after the last skate on Saturday at main camp, Ruts sent me a text message and just wanted to let me know how badly he wanted to play for the Jets,” said Skop. “He was willing to do just about anything to get a chance. I let him know what we were looking for and he came out Sunday, flew around the ice and blasted guys all over. He's the type of guy who embodies the personality and character we want. He’s a competitor who wants to be here. I think it’s safe to say that it's worked out well for him and us.”

And if being a part of the Jets means playing on the third and fourth lines and on the penalty kill, Rutkowski accepts that.

“Ruts is great for his role,” Skop said. “Sure, who wouldn't want to score 50? But I really don't think that even crosses his mind. He's not incapable of scoring, though. When he gets chances, he can bury the puck, but he's just as content mucking it up along the walls, chipping the puck deep, blasting an opposing D-man, and going for a change. Every team needs guys like that. You can't win without guys like that.

“I think a good reason for his willingness to do these types of things is his personality. He's a really laid back guy, always relaxed, always laughing. He's great in the room and helps keep things loose, while still staying focused on his job.”

And playing bigger than he really is, too.

LOOKING BACK, LOOKING AHEAD

The Jets took to the road last weekend for a single game Friday night in Toledo before heading to suburban Cleveland Saturday night and Sunday afternoon.

After losing 9-1 to Toledo and then 6-0 to Cleveland in the first game of that series, Metro roared back to beat Cleveland , 3-1, on Sunday afternoon.

“Even after a bad start to the weekend, we were still able to put a good game together Sunday,” said Skop. “Our guys did a good job of forgetting about Friday and Saturday, and putting the work in on Sunday. It was a good character check. It would have been real easy to pack it in on Sunday and go home with our tail tucked between our legs. I like the way we responded in putting a solid 60-minute effort in.”

Josh Magnan scored twice (for a team-best 14 goals) and Ian Mercer stopped all 29 shots he faced after taking over for R.J. Heath after Heath allowed the lone Cleveland goal 39 seconds into the game. Jon Wickersham added an empty-net goal to boost the Jets to 6-13-0-2 on the season.

Skop stopped short, however, in saying that beating Cleveland was the team’s biggest victory this year.

“I don't know if I would call this the biggest win of the season because right now, with where we're at in the standings, they're all big wins,” he said. “What it does do, though, is prove to our guys that if they put the work in, we can compete with and beat the top teams in our league. Now it's just a matter of doing that on a more consistent basis.”

Metro plays just one game this weekend in hosting Motor City on Sunday afternoon at Lakeland Arena for a 1:20 p.m. faceoff. The Jets have defeated the Chiefs in both of their games this season so far.

JET FUEL

After naming three alternate captains several weeks ago, the Jets have officially named rookie defenseman Mike Corder as the team captain and he will wear the ‘C’ starting this weekend.

“Mike is definitely the team captain,” Wolfe said. “He works extremely hard and is selfless. He challenges his teammates to get on board when they begin to wonder.”

Skop agreed.

“Cords is just a competitor and he'll do anything to win,” said Skop. “He’s a team-first guy. Not the most talented, but he’s the guy I count on to bring his best every night, and he does. He’s also one of our hardest workers and is just a good all-around team guy.”

Alternate captains remain Wickersham and Brett Grech.

In another roster move, the Jets released rookie defenseman Matt Zacharias this week.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Forward Zeke Costello, who played for the Jets during the 2003-2004 season, has one assist in three games thus far as a senior at Division III Nichols College .

Costello, whose father, Fred, is a former coach of the Jets, played for the NAHL’s Traverse City North Stars and Texarkana Bandits after graduating from the CSHL.

Photo by Andy Grossman

Rangers host Metal Jackets this weekend

Following their first off-week of the season, the Marquette Rangers return to Lakeview Arena this Friday and Saturday hosting the Motor City Metal Jackets in North American Hockey League action.

Motor City skated last year as the Motor City Machine and changed their nickname after new owners took over the franchise during this past off-season.

Marquette comes in to the weekend trailing first place Traverse City by three points in the NAHL North Division race, while the Metal Jackets are locked in a battle for third place with the Janesville Jets.

The Metal Jackets and Jets split two games last weekend in Janesville, Wis.

The Rangers and Motor City met earlier this year at Yack Arena in Wyandotte with the Rangers sweeping the Metal Jackets 4-3 in a shootout on Friday October 2 and then shutting out Motor City the next night, 2-0.

Garrett Ladd, who committed earlier this week to play collegiately at Bemidji State University, continues to lead the Rangers is scoring with 22 points on eight goals and 14 assists. Andrew Kolb and Marquette native Collin Saint-Onge share second place in team scoring with 19 points each. Three other Rangers sport double-digit scoring numbers on the year.

Motor City is led by R.J. Klieman’s 22 points on the year with Steve Brancheau and Cody Wydo also putting up double-digits in scoring on the season.

The weekend series will also feature several promotions at Lakeview Arena, including the team's second celebrity goalie contest on Saturday with one lucky fan in attendance winning a flat-screen television by guessing how many saves the celebrity goaltender will make at intermission.
Face off each night is at 7:30 p.m.

Spirit to welcome fan No. 1 million

The Saginaw Spirit is celebrating its eighth season in Saginaw and this Saturday, the team will be recognizing a team milestone in surpassing one million fans.

The team will hold a recognition ceremony at this Saturday’s home game prior to the start of the second period. Eight-year Spirit season ticket holder Barry Chatland will represent all of the Spirit fans that have attended games since the team’s inception in 2002.

"Thanksgiving weekend is certainly the appropriate time to commemorate the Spirit's one millionth fan,” stated Spirit partner and president Craig Goslin. "The Saginaw Spirit ownership and front office staff is grateful, humbled and honored by the support of the loyal base of Spirit fans that are now over one million strong. This milestone is one that has been attained only one other time in our region's history, when the Saginaw Gears were in their heyday in the '70s.”

“It’s no surprise that the fans in Saginaw and the Great Lakes Bay Region have embraced this organization,” stated Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Bob Van Deventer. “They have been a terrific addition to the fun and quality of life we have available to us in this region. They are a wonderful option for family entertainment and we energetically promote their success to companies considering expanding or locating to this area. They represent a ‘big time’ entertainment venue and are a valuable tool for economic development for the entire region.”

“Considering the following points the Spirit franchise has attained during the past seven seasons – (1) the Saginaw Spirit fan experience is rated one of the best in the CHL, (2) the economic impact that the Spirit have had on our region has been estimated to be over $11 million annually (SCCVB November 2007), (3) The strength of the season ticket, group ticket and corporate sales base ranks near the top of our league in many categories, (4) The game day operations being recognized as one the best in sports with state of the art laser, light and music shows combined with exciting on ice entertainment and off ice promotions, (5) the Saginaw Spirit Charitable Foundation (501c3) franchise to date gifting of cash, tickets, merchandise and community appearances is estimated at over $400,000 in the past seven seasons and (6) the team’s on-ice product is developing into a championship contender," added Goslin.

"It takes a dedicated community of people to make all of this happen."

Saginaw Guns-n-Hoses game Saturday

The Saginaw Spirit is set to host the third annual Guns -n- Hoses charity hockey game this Saturday, November 28.

The game, sponsored by Gohm Restoration and Mike’s Wrecker, pits local police and firefighters against each other as they raise money for the 100 Club. The charity game starts at 5:30 p.m. at The Dow Event Center in Saginaw, with the Spirit puck drop scheduled for 7:30 p.m. A ticket to the Spirit game gets you into both hockey games.

Fans can purchase an upper level ticket for only $10, with $2.50 going to the 100 Club. These specially priced tickets are available from any of the Guns -n- Hoses players and at the Saginaw Spirit ticket and merchandise store up until 4:00 p.m. on Saturday. The store is closed for Thanksgiving, but resumes normal business hours Friday. The store is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday.

“Sponsoring things such as the Guns -n- Hoses is a fun and important way to help out our community,” stated Liz Gohm. “Our firefighters and police organizations are integral parts of our community, and helping them out as they support the various charities in the area is both a pleasure and an honor for myself and the rest of the Gohm family at Gohm Insurance Restoration and the other partners of the Guns -n- Hoses game.”

North Stars host Alpena tonight

The Traverse City North Stars won’t have to go over the river and through the woods to get to their holiday weekend hockey smorgasbord, but after an unscheduled 10-day layoff, it’ll be a happy homecoming on Wednesday at Centre ICE nonetheless.

The Stars and Alpena IceDiggers have been off since Nov. 14 following respective bouts of sickness that forced the postponement of their schedule contest last Friday. They’ll go at it again on Saturday at Centre ICE and Sunday in Alpena to wrap the three-game set.

“We’ve played just four games since Oct. 25,” Traverse City head coach-GM Anthony Palumbo pointed out. “I’d say we’re ready to play, and they’re probably feeling the same way. It’ll be good to get out there and get it going again.”

The IceDiggers snapped a four-game skid in their last outing with a 3-2 win at Motor City, and presently reside in fifth place in the NAHL North Division at 6-15-0. The North Stars are riding a six-game winning streak into the weekend, and sit atop the North at 14-4-1, three points ahead of second-place Marquette. TC has won both meetings so far this season, sweeping a Nov. 6-7 series from the Diggers.

“One thing I think we learned playing them last time was that they’re going to play hard,” Palumbo said. “They’ve got a lot of talent on their roster, a lot of veterans and newcomers who are contributing right off the bat. We’ll have to be prepared to play at their tempo and then some.”

The North Stars reprised their annual Thanksgiving Eve contest this season after playing in the NAHL North Showcase in 2008, and are 2-1 in the three previous such affairs. Traverse City knocked off Alpena by a 6-1 margin in 2007 on the strength of a Nate Urbaniak hat trick, and a 2-1 count in 2006 as hometown product Mike Glaesmer bagged a goal and an assist. The U.S. National Team Development Program’s Under-18 squad, led by current NHL star Patrick Kane, scored a 5-1 victory on turkey eve in 2005.

Spirit/OHL enjoy league scholarships

The Ontario Hockey League announced Monday that a total of 355 players have been awarded OHL scholarships for the 2009-10 academic year, with a total of 29 scholarships being awarded to active and graduated Saginaw Spirit players.

The OHL Scholarship Program is funded by the member clubs of the OHL.

"The OHL truly is the best of both worlds as a top tier hockey player can come into our league, find out if he has what it takes to get to the NHL, and if he doesn't he can still fall back on an education scholarship package that is paid for and awaiting his arrival,” stated Saginaw Spirit partner and president Craig Goslin. “The OHL scholarship program is an outstanding opportunity for an elite level athlete."

The 355 OHL academic scholarship recipients consist of 164 student athletes that currently play in the league, with another 191 awarded to graduates that are enrolled in 65 different post-secondary institutions across North America. This figure represents the highest number of players that have ever received an OHL scholarship.

Last season, the league awarded 316.

While playing in the OHL, every player is on a full scholarship which covers tuition, textbooks, compulsory fees and room and board as paid by his OHL member team. Once a player graduates from the OHL, he will receive a minimum scholarship of tuition, textbooks and compulsory fees towards an undergraduate degree for each year played in the league. An OHL scholarship can also be applied to technical or trade Schools, firefighting or EMS, in addition to the traditional university or college four-year undergraduate degree or diploma.

Scholarships can be utilized at any recognized university or college in the world.

Saginaw Spirit graduates:
Ryan Berard, Carleton University
Daniel Borges, George Brown College
Sean Courtney, University of Western Ontario
Ryan Daniels, Wilfrid Laurier University
Chris Ferguson, University of Western Ontario
Jesse Gimblett, University of Alberta
Tyson Gimblett, University of PEI
David Jarram, Conestoga College
Jamie Klie, Acadia University
Joe McCann, University of Western Ontario
Jason McDonough, Humber College
Jordan Ogilvie, Mohawk College
Tim Priamo, University of Guelph
Jean-Michel Rizk, Wilfrid Laurier University
Garrett Sinfield, Wilfrid Laurier University
Kyle Tront, University of Windsor
Steven Whitely, University of Waterloo
Jovica Zelenbaba, University of Waterloo

Each of the above played at least one season with the Saginaw Spirit

Active Spirit players attending university:
Mitch Fillman, Northwood University
Stephen Francella, Northwood University
Tyler Murovich, Delta College
Anthony Peters, Northwood University
Joe Pleckaitis, Northwood University
Barry Sanderson, Northwood University
Cody Sol, Northwood University
Jordan Szwarz, Northwood University
Nick Trecapelli, Northwood University
Joe Underwood, Delta College
Brad Walch, Delta College

Marquette captain to Bemidji State

Marquette Rangers forward Garrett Ladd has become the first player from this years’ squad to make a commitment to play college hockey next season as he committed to Bemidji State on Monday.

“I am excited about the chance the coaching staff at Bemidji is giving me,” said Ladd after making his decision. “Like all of us who play juniors, it has been a lifelong dream of mine and my family to play DI hockey, and I am going to make the most of this great opportunity.”

Bemidji State is in their final season as a member of College Hockey America. The Beavers will join the Western Collegiate Hockey Association starting with the 2010-11 season. The Beavers are currently ranked No. 6 nationally and sport a 10-1-1 record on the season.

Ladd, a Fenton native and team captain, leads the Rangers in scoring so far this season with 22 points on eight goals and 14 assists in 18 games. Ladd is also ranked in the top 20 in overall scoring among all 19 NAHL teams through this week of action. For his career in Marquette, Ladd has 34 goals and 65 assists for a total of 99 points in just over two full seasons.

Ladd is also the first Michigan native to sign with BSU since the program achieved Division I status 10 years ago.

For all of his scoring numbers, Rangers head coach Kenny Miller says Ladd has also become a true leader in the locker room as well as on the ice.

“Garrett is the type of player that every coach loves to coach,” Miller said. “Garrett competes in every way possible both on and off the ice, he is a tireless worker and he deserves this opportunity. As an organization, we couldn’t be happier for Garrett and his family. His hard work these past three seasons both on and off the ice have really paid off for him.

"Not only is Bemidji State getting a top recruit as a player, they are getting an even better young man.”

Photo - RJ Meyer/NAHL

Czarnik leaves Michigan for Plymouth

The Plymouth Whalers announced today the acquisition of 19-year-old center Robbie Czarnik from the Oshawa Generals in exchange for a 10th round pick and a conditional second round pick from Windsor in 2011.

Czarnik – from Washington – was originally selected by Oshawa in the sixth round of the 2006 Ontario Hockey League draft. Czarnik never played in Oshawa, opting instead to play for the National Team Developmental Program in Ann Arbor. In two seasons with the NTDP from 2006-08, Czarnik scored 32 goals with 27 assists for 59 points in 114 games.

Czarnik moved to the University of Michigan program in 2008 and played there through the start of this season. In all, Czarnik scored eight goals with 14 assists for 22 points in 51 games with the Wolverines.

Czarnik was selected in the third round (63rd overall) by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

“We are excited to add Robbie to our lineup,” said Whalers coach-GM Mike Vellucci. “His greatest asset is his speed and we look forward to developing him for the next level. What a great opportunity this is for Robbie to continue his education and play in the number one developmental league for the National Hockey League.”

Czarnik – who will wear number 27 - will join the Whalers for practice on Tuesday and is expected to make his Plymouth debut on Wednesday when the Whalers host the Windsor Spitfires at 7:05 p.m. at Compuware Arena.

Photo courtesy UM Photo Services

Algonac native commits to Broncos

USHL Press Release

The Sioux City Musketeers have announced that defenseman Dan Dekeyser has committed to Western Michigan University and will attend the school beginning in the fall of 2010.

The 19-year-old native of Algonac has appeared in seven games this season and recorded four points (1g, 3a). He posted a three-game point streak from October 9-16, which included the game-winning goal in the 4-2 win vs. Team USA on October 16th, the Musketeers first win of the season.

"Our organization is extremely happy for Dan and very pleased about the opportunity that Western Michigan has offered him," said Luke Strand, Musketeers head coach. "He has a good upside with unique offensive and defensive skill sets that he brings to the game."

Two other current USHL players are also committed to attend Western Michigan University - Chicago Steel goaltender Nick Pisellini and Omaha Lancers defenseman Dennis Brown.

Photo - USHL Images

Aleardi traded from Rangers to Bulls

The Kitchener Rangers announced today that the team has completed a trade with the Belleville Bulls.

In the deal, the Rangers trade Alex Aleardi (Farmington Hills) and Kitchener's fifth round draft choice in 2011 to Belleville for Matt Tipoff and Belleville's first round CHL Import Draft pick in 2010.

Aleardi was originally Kitchener's third round pick in the 2008 OHL Priority Selection out of the Compuware minor midget program.

Photo courtesy Walt Dmoch

North Stars-IceDiggers game postponed

The Traverse City North Stars will not be able to extend their current winning streak to seven tonight in Alpena as the game has been postponed.

With a number of players on both teams out impacted by sickness, the contest has been stricken from the NAHL slate and will be made up an a yet-unspecified date.

“Postponing games isn’t something anyone wants to have to do,” said Stars head coach-GM Anthony Palumbo. “But you have to have players to play a hockey game and there simply weren’t enough available guys to field a full team on either side. There really wasn’t much of a choice here.”

The North Stars (14-4-1) will now have the weekend off to try to get healthy for a pair of Thanksgiving holiday weekend affairs at Centre ICE arena against Alpena (6-15-0). The IceDiggers will visit for the annual Thanksgiving Eve classic and then make a return appearance on Saturday evening. Both games face-off at 7:00 p.m.

Mantay contributing to surging Jets

It’s not everyday that a team can move their best defenseman up front to play forward, but that’s what the Metro Jets have done with veteran Brett Grech.

Much of that has to do with the depth the Jets have on the blue line and also due to the recent emergence of rookie Dylan Mantay.

Mantay, a 2009 draft pick of the Jets and one of 10 draft picks to play for the team this year, only goes 5-foot-8 and 165 pounds, but that hasn’t been an issue thus far.

“Dylan is one of the best technical skaters on the team,” Metro GM Butch Wolfe said. “This helps him balance his lack of stature. Most of the time, he’s a very smart hockey player, too.”

Jets coach Ryan Skop also noted that Mantay’s adjustment period to the CSHL level is becoming more and more evident with each game.

“Mants has really started to turn his game on lately,” Skop said. “He's been able to adjust to the speed of the game and the style of the game pretty well, and has really started to become an asset for us on the back end.”

Skop also said that the progression of Mantay, an 18-year-old Troy native, is just what the team expected coming into the season.

“We knew what we were getting with Dylan,” said Skop. “He's one of our more talented guys on the back end. He's got great feet, probably the best feet on our team, and in fact, the kid’s probably one of the best two or three athletes on our team period. He's got good vision, makes a good first pass, and is pretty fundamentally sound.”

Mantay, part of the Summit Plastics Midget AA state championship team of a year ago, has also started to improve in the areas of the game where he needed work.

“Our concern with Mants was the physical side of the game,” explained Skop. “Dylan's really figured out how to deal with that lately and has been much more effective because of it. We've been on him about engaging a bit more and he's really responded to that. He's finishing every check, getting up in every play, and really just playing bigger than he is.

“He's not a monster back there, but pound for pound, he's a pretty strong guy.”

LOOKING BACK, LOOKING AHEAD

Metro traveled to Dubuque last weekend and came home with a point after losing in a shootout Friday night, 4-3.

Josh Magnan, Jon Wickersham and Jon Elliott scored in regulation and R.J. Heath made 45 saves in goal. Dubuque tied the game with four seconds left in the third period.

The Thunderbirds came back Saturday night and blanked the Jets, 5-0.

Heath started and made seven saves in the first period before Ian Mercer took over and stopped 18 of 19 shots in the final 40 minutes.

Metro (5-10-0-2) will now gear up for a three-in-three stretch in Ohio. The Jets play in Toledo tomorrow night at 8:00 p.m. and then in Cleveland Saturday night (9:00 p.m.) and Sunday afternoon (1:30 p.m.).

Next home action for the Jets back at Lakeland Arena is Sunday, Nov. 29 at 1:20 p.m. versus Motor City.

JET FUEL

Rookie forward Matt Moeller, out since the middle of October with a knee injury, will be back in the lineup this weekend for the Jets.

Tim Hooker, a forward who hasn’t played yet this year recovering from shoulder surgery, has been practicing with the team and should make his season debut in the coming weeks.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Forward Dustin Cloutier, who played for the Jets during the 2002-2003 season, is in his junior year playing Division I hockey at Bentley College in Waltham, Mass.

Cloutier, a 23-year-old from Berkley, also played one year with the USHL’s Cedar Rapids RoughRiders and another with the NAHL’s Mahoning Valley Phantoms before arriving at Bentley in the fall of 2007.

The IHL’s Fort Wayne Komets signed ex-Metro goalie Tyler Sims, another member of the 2002-2003 team, this week.

Photo by Andy Grossman

Two Saginaw forwards ranked by NHL

The National Hockey League’s Central Scouting Bureau released its Fall 2009 Preliminary Rankings for the top North American junior hockey players eligible for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft today and the Saginaw Spirit was well represented on the list, with center Ivan Telegin ranked ninth overall and winger Josh Shalla ranked 22nd overall amongst the top 25 eligible Ontario Hockey League skaters.

Telegin is enjoying a breakout rookie season in Saginaw, having notched 16 goals and 10 assists in his first 22 OHL games. The Novokuznetsk, Russia native was selected by the Spirit 42nd overall in the 2009 CHL Import Draft.

Shalla (pictured) is in his third season in the OHL and his first with the Spirit. He has tallied 14 goals and 11 assists in 22 games this season, for an OHL career total of 28 goals and 17 assists in 89 regular season games. The Spirit acquired Shalla via a trade with the Guelph Storm this past summer.

Seguin and Hackett lead the Whalers

Courtesy Plymouth Whalers

Plymouth Whalers center Tyler Seguin wanted to get off to a good start this season.

His good start has catapulted him to the top of the National Hockey League’s Central Scouting Preliminary Rankings among OHL players for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, held June 25-26, 2010 in Los Angeles.

Plymouth defenseman Austin Levi checks in at #24 and Whalers goaltender Scott Wedgewood is rated sixth among OHL goaltenders in the preliminary rankings.

Even missing a few games because of a lower-body injury hasn’t clouded Seguin’s good start (19 goals and 17 assists for 36 points in 18 games) in the eyes of NHL scouts.

"Tyler Seguin has had a great start to the season," Central Scouting's Chris Edwards told NHL.com. "He has been producing and playing consistently well. He makes things happen every time he is on the ice and he makes his teammates better."

Seguin (pictured), Windsor left wing Taylor Hall and Spitfire defenseman Cam Fowler has gone 1-2-3 all season long among OHL players up for the NHL Entry Draft.

"Hall is a proven player, he won the Memorial Cup MVP last year and for good reason," Edwards said. "Both of these players (Seguin and Hall) will be very good pros."

Central Scouting annually ranks the top 25 skaters and top six goaltenders for the Ontario Hockey League, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Western Hockey League and United States Hockey League, which now includes the United States National Team Development Program.

And while Seguin, Levi and Wedgewood are going through the NHL Draft, Whalers goaltender Matt Hackett continues to be the glue around Plymouth’s success.

Drafted in the third round (77th overall) by the Minnesota Wild in the 2009 National Hockey League Entry Draft, Hackett has picked up the pace from October on.

In October, Hackett posted a 2.53 goals against average and .928 percentage in 11 games and was named Canadian Hockey League Goaltender of the Week for the week ending October 25.
He’s been even better in early November, posting a 2.00 GAA and .953 save percentage through five games.

It’s obvious that Hackett is playing with a lot of confidence this season.

“I felt I had a great year last year,” he said Tuesday. “I went to Minnesota and they said they loved everything about me. They were impressed with how I played (at training camp) and they gave me a shot to play in an NHL exhibition game, so it gave me a lot of confidence knowing they have that much confidence in me.

“Coming in here (this year), I wanted to show the boys that I was ready to play. We’re going to make a push for the playoffs this year and (I feel) we’re going to go deep in the playoffs.”

Hackett wants to be named to Team Canada for the upcoming World Junior Championships, held in Regina and Saskatoon, SK from December 26-January 5.

“It’s a big goal of mine,” he admitted. “Since I’ve been a kid, I’ve been watching the World Junior Championships at Christmas time. It’s always in the back of my mind, obviously. I want to make big saves at key times. I want to win games right now and prove to them (Hockey Canada) that I can play on that team.”

Watch the Whalers and you’ll see how hard Hackett’s teammates work for him.

“They’re just a bunch of great guys,” Hackett said. “We all get along and we’re all good friends here. We all want to make each other better. We all work hard for each other and in the end, that’s how we win games.”

Photo by Walt Dmoch

Kettering trio together again with Jets

The Metro Jets have had their share of local players suit up over the years, but none have shared the bond that Steve Lockwood, Josh Magnan and David Merkle share on and off the ice.

It’s a bond that goes back several years, too.

All three grew up in the area and all graduated from Waterford Kettering High School. They’re also the best of friends.

“Me and Lock started going to middle school together at Mason and throughout high school at Kettering,” said Magnan, who played against Merkle and Lockwood at Lakeland Arena when he was with the USA Eagles. “Me and Merk started at Kettering and we weren’t exactly inseparable, but we were always aound the school together.”

“Me and Lox have been friends since Pee Wee when we played on the Lakeland Hawks together,” added Merkle, a White Lake native. “Mags and I started to be friends when I went to high school and started practicing with Kettering. Once I was in tenth grade and I was on the high school team with them, you could find us in the hallways chatting it up about some puck.”

“Merk and I have been pretty close friends growing up through high schooI,” Lockwood said. “I met Mags in middle school, but we weren’t really good friends until high school when we started to play on the same team.”

Now with the Jets, each has a role they play to a ‘T’ for the suddenly resurgent Jets. Lockwood, a 19-year-old from Clarkston, is the steady second-year defenseman with a knack for keeping the opposition honest, Magnan, also 19 and a Waterford native, is the offesnive catalyst and leads the team with 11 tallies and the 18-year-old Merkle, whose brother, Karl, played for the Jets in the 1996-1997 season, is a solid second-line forward.

Being friends off the ice has helped the on-ice play for all three, who have also all called Lakeland home for more than 10 years.

“I think it’s a good thing because we have built chemistry between us and can read off each other on the ice,” said Lockwood.

“It's nice having some teammates on the Jets that I know,” Merkle said. “It was an easy transition coming to a new team already knowing Mags and Lox.”

Magnan said he almost didn’t get the chance to get to know Lakeland and his future buddies.

“My dad always loved the game of hockey, so he was going to start me up at Lakeland, but back in the day there was a two-year waiting list, so I started off my hockey career at Southfield,” remembered Magnan. “I played there till Pee Wee AA. Then I came to Lakeland and played for the USA Eagles travel team until Bantam A and then I started playing varsity hockey for Waterford Kettering.”

After this season, each one has different aspirations as to what they are shooting for hockey-wise.”I'm not too sure what’s next in store for me as far as hockey goes,” Merkle said. “I'm just working hard day to day and wherever that takes me I guess that's where I'll end up.”

“I'd like to play in the NAHL next season, but hard work comes first,” added Lockwood. “I have things I need to work on to improve so I can make it to that next level.”

“I’d really like to find a decent D-III school where I could play because I’m already two years behind my graduating class,” said Magnan. “If that falls through, maybe I might just go to college, but the NAHL is never out of the equation.”

Wherever these three lifelong friends wind up, you can bet they will always stay in touch and pick up where they left off.

LOOKING BACK, LOOKING AHEAD

The Jets took both games last weekend as they topped Motor City Friday night on the road, 4-3, and then defeated Grand Rapids, 4-3, in an overtime thriller as Magnan completed his hat trick 2:05 into OT.

Goaltender R.J. Heath won both games for the Jets.

Metro (5-10-0-1), winners of four of their last five games, heads to Dubuque this weekend for two with the defending Hurster Cup champs tonight and Saturday night. The Thunderbirds blanked the Jets, 6-0, at Lakeland back on Oct. 18.

The Jets stay on the road next weekend for three games in three days as they play in Toledo next Friday night and then follow that up with two in Cleveland.

Metro’s next home game is Sunday, Nov. 29 against Motor City.

JET FUEL

Forward Mike Herter was released Monday. The 18-year-old was held pointless in six games for the Jets.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Former head coach Jon Cooper, who guided the Jets to the 2002 Silver Cup Junior B national championship, is now coaching the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL. In 2007 and 2008, Cooper led the NAHL’s St. Louis Bandits to the Robertson Cup title.

Photo (l-r) - Lockwood, Magnan, Merkle

O'Connor named to Team OHL roster

New Saginaw Spirit defenseman Ryan O’Connor has been added to the Team OHL roster for the 2009 Subway Super Series, which will see Team Russia squaring off against the Canadian Hockey League’s best.

O’Connor will participate in the Windsor game of the six game series, taking place on November 23.

The announcement by Team OHL came on the heels of Team Russia’s naming of Spirit forward Ivan Telegin to their roster for the event, pitting the two teammates against each other as they represent their respective countries.

O’Connor is no stranger to international play, having participated in the 2009 World Hockey Challenge with Team Ontario’s Under-17 squad and winning a gold medal with Team Canada’s Under-18 team in the 2009 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka Tournament.

The Hamilton, Ont., native has tallied two goals and 10 assists in 20 games this season.

Rangers hosting Outlaws this weekend

The Marquette Rangers' schedule for 2009-10 has some new faces for fans to see this year and this weekend is a prime example as the Rangers will host the North Iowa Outlaws of the North American Hockey League Central Division.

The two teams have met before, at the NAHL Showcase in 2007 and 2008, and are 1-1 against each other over that span.

Regardless of the opponent, the Rangers are in need of a solid weekend having gone 1-5 in their last six games, including a split last weekend with the Janesville Jets at Lakeview Arena.

Despite the recent setbacks, Marquette remains in second place in the North Division, three points behind first place Traverse City. The Rangers are two points ahead of Janesville for third in the division.

Marquette continues to be led in scoring by Garrett Ladd (6g 12a, 18pts) and Andrew Kolb (8g 10a, 18pts), with Brent Bain (17 pts), Collin Saint-Onge (13 pts) and Tanner Kero (11 pts) all reaching double digits in scoring for the team.

The Outlaws currently share first place in the Central Division with the Owatonna Express.

Several events are planned for fans during the weekend, including the team’s third annual “Save A Buck Night” on Saturday evening. Friday is “Scary Movie Night” in celebration of Friday the 13th.

Spirit rookie named to Team Russia

Saginaw Spirit forward Ivan Telegin has been named to Team Russia’s roster for the 2009 Subway Super Series, which will pit Team Russia against the Canadian Hockey League’s best.

Telegin will play in the Windsor game of the six-game series, on November 23.

Telegin enters the week as the top scoring rookie in the Ontario Hockey League with 14 goals and 10 assists in 20 games.

The Novokuznetsk, Russia native is also considered a top prosepct for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.