Monroe native Mahalak inks with Plymouth

The Plymouth Whalers announced the signing of right wing R.J. Mahalak, who was selected by the Whalers in the fourth round (80th overall) the 2007 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection.

Although the Whalers have a long history of signing Michigan-born players, Mahalak is the first player Plymouth has ever drafted from Monroe.

Mahalak scored 16 goals with 15 assists for 31 points and 154 penalty minutes in 54 games last season for the Belle Tire minor midgets of the Midwest Elite Hockey League. The Belle Tire Under-16 team won state and national championships last season.

“I watched Belle Tire quite a bit last year,” Plymouth coach-GM Mike Vellucci said. “We always want to draft character players who are champions. We targeted Mahalak as one of those kinds of players. He finishes his checks, he’s got good hands and is a good penalty killer.”

Photo from Monroe News