Apr 17th, 2013
When the OHL playoffs come around each season, all eyes are usually on Dale Hunter and his London Knights, as being the team to beat in the west.
This season though, it's not Hunter's side that everyone is talking about. It’s the other guys — the Plymouth Whalers.
The Whalers and the Knights are both known for their stellar shot blocking capabilities and sacrificing their bodies when needed. In fact the Knights have been so good all season long that former Knights' assistant Jacques Beaulieu's Sarnia Sting were only team to beat London thrice in the regular season.
The Whalers? They swept Sarnia, and scored three times as many goals 24-8, in their four game playoff series. In regular season action the Whalers won four of six games against the Sting.
Plymouth is a team that loves to wear their opponent down before capitalizing on a weakened blue line. They're equally skilled on the forecheck making forcing teams down the middle, where the Whalers blue line is stingy as ever. The Knights though believe they have the defensive ability and depth to come out on top in this highly anticipated OHL western conference finals.
"It's going to be a great series," said Knights captain Scott Harrington. "They've got a great line up on offence. They have four strong lines on the ice, making it important for us to be sharp on D."
The biggest threat to the Whalers dominance is their rookie goaltender, Alex Nedeljkovic who just celebrated his 17th birthday. Since 1998 when the OHL split into two conferences has a goalie under 18 led his team to the West title. Owen Sound tested him once, in game 4 of their series and Nedeljkovic was pulled. Despite that the rookie has a 2.13 GAA and a 0.922 save percentage through 10 games.
Part of those stellar numbers is due to Plymouth's stingy defence, led incidentally by Londoner Colin MacDonald, who captains the team and Austin Levi. Max Domi is the Knights point leader these playoffs, but on the top of their game, the Whalers could easily shut him down.
“I think it’s going to go back-and-forth," added Knights Justin Sefton. "It’s going to be a hell of a series. I've only seen Plymouth once this year, so I don't know too much about them. For Stolsy, Mermis, myself and a few others it's about learning their system and learning it quickly. On paper they may have the good group of guys, but then again so do we."
The Knights and Whalers were both built to win this season. But in a true sports cliche, only one can walk away with a victory. “We made it to the second round (four) years in a row, but never this far,” Plymouth GM and head coach Mike Vellucci said in a conference call, "We're back at this point for the first time since 2007."
Back in 2007 when the Whalers won the OHL championship, was the last time these two sides met in playoffs. Plymouth absolutely smashed the Knights, who were led by future 1st overall pick Patrick Kane and Sam Gagner, in five games. The Knights meanwhile are in their eighth appearance in the conference final in 15 years.
“They’re the New York Yankees of the OHL,” Vellucci added. “Every year, they’re up near the top.”
The Knights have won six straight playoff series and are the defending champions for a reason. This will be their most difficult test since they fell in six games to the Owen Sound championship team two years ago.
This series has all the makings of a classic. Even Dale Hunter knows.
“Like us, they have a lot of high NHL picks,” he said. “It should be a real exciting series with lots of skill."
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Injury Woes
Matt Rupert is a doubt, listed as a “day-to-day” and that runs into “week-to-week” with his lower-body injury. Rupert scored a natural hat trick against the Whalers in the regular season.
Plymouth's Tom Wilson, returned from a head injury for the Owen Sound series. However, it's debatable if Ryan Hartman, who suffered a wrist laceration, and defenceman Gianluca Curcuruto will play this series.
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When the OHL playoffs come around each season, all eyes are usually on Dale Hunter and his London Knights, as being the team to beat in the west.
This season though, it's not Hunter's side that everyone is talking about. It’s the other guys — the Plymouth Whalers.
The Whalers and the Knights are both known for their stellar shot blocking capabilities and sacrificing their bodies when needed. In fact the Knights have been so good all season long that former Knights' assistant Jacques Beaulieu's Sarnia Sting were only team to beat London thrice in the regular season.
The Whalers? They swept Sarnia, and scored three times as many goals 24-8, in their four game playoff series. In regular season action the Whalers won four of six games against the Sting.
Plymouth is a team that loves to wear their opponent down before capitalizing on a weakened blue line. They're equally skilled on the forecheck making forcing teams down the middle, where the Whalers blue line is stingy as ever. The Knights though believe they have the defensive ability and depth to come out on top in this highly anticipated OHL western conference finals.
"It's going to be a great series," said Knights captain Scott Harrington. "They've got a great line up on offence. They have four strong lines on the ice, making it important for us to be sharp on D."
The biggest threat to the Whalers dominance is their rookie goaltender, Alex Nedeljkovic who just celebrated his 17th birthday. Since 1998 when the OHL split into two conferences has a goalie under 18 led his team to the West title. Owen Sound tested him once, in game 4 of their series and Nedeljkovic was pulled. Despite that the rookie has a 2.13 GAA and a 0.922 save percentage through 10 games.
Part of those stellar numbers is due to Plymouth's stingy defence, led incidentally by Londoner Colin MacDonald, who captains the team and Austin Levi. Max Domi is the Knights point leader these playoffs, but on the top of their game, the Whalers could easily shut him down.
“I think it’s going to go back-and-forth," added Knights Justin Sefton. "It’s going to be a hell of a series. I've only seen Plymouth once this year, so I don't know too much about them. For Stolsy, Mermis, myself and a few others it's about learning their system and learning it quickly. On paper they may have the good group of guys, but then again so do we."
The Knights and Whalers were both built to win this season. But in a true sports cliche, only one can walk away with a victory. “We made it to the second round (four) years in a row, but never this far,” Plymouth GM and head coach Mike Vellucci said in a conference call, "We're back at this point for the first time since 2007."
Back in 2007 when the Whalers won the OHL championship, was the last time these two sides met in playoffs. Plymouth absolutely smashed the Knights, who were led by future 1st overall pick Patrick Kane and Sam Gagner, in five games. The Knights meanwhile are in their eighth appearance in the conference final in 15 years.
“They’re the New York Yankees of the OHL,” Vellucci added. “Every year, they’re up near the top.”
The Knights have won six straight playoff series and are the defending champions for a reason. This will be their most difficult test since they fell in six games to the Owen Sound championship team two years ago.
This series has all the makings of a classic. Even Dale Hunter knows.
“Like us, they have a lot of high NHL picks,” he said. “It should be a real exciting series with lots of skill."
------
Injury Woes
Matt Rupert is a doubt, listed as a “day-to-day” and that runs into “week-to-week” with his lower-body injury. Rupert scored a natural hat trick against the Whalers in the regular season.
Plymouth's Tom Wilson, returned from a head injury for the Owen Sound series. However, it's debatable if Ryan Hartman, who suffered a wrist laceration, and defenceman Gianluca Curcuruto will play this series.
Back to Sports Stories