Whalers win weekly, monthly awards

Two Plymouth Whalers were in the news this week.

First, forward Tom Sestito (above) was named the OHL Player of the Week for the week ending December 10, 2006. The 19-year-old winger from Rome, N.Y., scored six goals and had seven points in three games last week.

Sestito helped the Whalers to a 7-1 victory on the road in London on Friday night over the Knights. He had a natural hat trick in the contest, including the game-winning goal and also added an assist. He was also named first star of the game for his efforts.

The next night, Sestito was once again the game’s first star after recording is second hat trick in as many nights as the Whalers defeated Sudbury 5-3 at home.

The back-to-back three-goal games give Sestito four hat tricks on the season and he currently leads Plymouth with 20 goals in 28 games.

Second-year left wing Joe Gaynor (left) was then selected the OHL Academic Player of the Month for November in the West Division.

Gaynor, 17, a native of Goderich, Ontario, is a Grade 12 student at Plymouth High School in Plymouth.