Whalers host Majors, Storm this weekend

After spending last weekend on the road, the Plymouth Whalers (10-6-1-0) bring in the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors (6-8-1-0) on Friday and the Guelph Storm (8-8-2-0) on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action at Compuware Arena.

Both games start at 7:05 p.m. and both games will be broadcast on http://www.plymouthwhalers.com/.

The Whalers come in to the weekend with a four-game winning streak, the last three victories on the road – a 4-0 shutout of Niagara on Nov. 1, a 3-2 victory in Erie last Saturday and a 5-2 win over Mississauga last Sunday.

WHO’S HOT FOR PLYMOUTH: Co-captains Andrew Fournier (15 goals with 12 assists for 27 points) and Chris Terry (10-20-30) carried the team on the road last week, with Fournier scoring five goals and three assists for eight points over three games and Terry a goal with six assists for seven points…Plymouth goaltenders Jeremy Smith (2.98 GA, .923 save percentage) and Michal Neuvirth (2.60, .928) continue to be among the best netminders in the OHL… Defenseman Brett Bellemore rejoined the team from injury Oct. 26 and has two goals with two assists for four points and in +8 in five games…Veteran Wes Cunningham (3-21-24) is tied with Sarnia’s Ryan Wilson for the league lead among all OHL defensemen with 21 assists…Whaler penalty killers pitched a shutout on the road last weekend when they went 24-for-24.

MISSISSAUGA TOP GUNS: Ottawa-draft Kaspars Daugavins (9-8-17, +5) leads the Majors in scoring and Casey Cizikas (3-7-10) – taken third overall last spring in the OHL Priority Selection – is a quality rookie. Veteran Matt Caria (5-5-10, +6 in five games) has missed the last couple of weeks with an injury.

WHO’S HOT FOR GUELPH: NHL scouts are watching 17-year-old Drew Doughty (5-20-25) with great interest. Doughty and Niagara defenseman Alex Pietrangelo are expected to be the first two OHL defenseman selected in next summer’s National Hockey League Entry Draft. Luke Pither, 18, (11-14-25, +8) leads Guelph in scoring. USA Hockey officials may attend the game on Saturday to evaluate American goaltenders Thomas McCollum (3.26, .901) and Smith. Both are in the running to represent the United States in the upcoming World Junior Championship Dec. 26-Jan.5 in the Czech Republic.

NEXT WEEK: The Whalers remain home, hosting Windsor on Fri. Nov. 16 and London on Sat. Nov. 17.

Cunningham photo by Walt Dmoch/Plymouth Whalers