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22 Sep 2010
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<style type="text/css">#split_left .leftbar { margin-top: 188px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; }</style> Gilbert Goes About His Business Quietly
Some observers around the Ontario Hockey League called the Whalers acquisition of center Alex Aleardi from Belleville “a blockbuster.”
While Plymouth President, General Manager and Head Coach Mike Vellucci has made his share of blockbuster deals, some of his most effective deals were far quieter. Under Vellucci, the Whalers have taken chances on players for a minimal price, whether they’re on waivers or at home not skating for a particular time, to good advantage.
Players like Steve Ward, Mike Knight, Joe McCann, and Wes Cunningham – among others – were acquired in low-key deals and all contributed to the Whalers success on a regular basis.
Even Jared Boll – now with the Columbus Blue Jackets – was quietly acquired from Kingston in the summer of 2005 for fifth round draft choice. Boll was a major contributor to Plymouth’s championship team in 2006-07.
Sharp Plymouth fans know Cunningham was part of a far bigger deal in November of 2005 that saw the Whalers send Cory Tanaka and draft picks to Belleville for center Evan Brophey and Cunningham. Brophey was a former first round pick of the Barrie Colts and was better known than Cunningham at the time.
“Cunningham may be a forgotten piece of the puzzle,” Vellucci said back then. “Our young defensemen are inexperienced so we’re going let them grow and get some experience and not throw them to the wolves early on. We really need that fifth defenseman.”
Much like Ward, Knight, Boll and McCann, Cunningham found a home in Plymouth and became a valuable member of the team.
Defenseman Jay Gilbert was sitting at home in Port Stanley, ON last January when the Whalers acquired him from Niagara in exchange for the IceDogs’ own fourth round draft choice in 2011.
Fast forward to the present and Gilbert, now 19, has turned into a steady contributor on the Whalers defense. His numbers last season – a goal and eight assists in 52 games between Plymouth and Niagara – don’t say much, but the fact that he was +10 in 23 games for the Whalers speaks volumes.
“It’s been fun so far,” Gilbert said of his time in Plymouth. “I’ve felt like I’ve been treated like a professional and they’ve treated me like I was a big part of the team. I love it here.”
Gilbert played well for the Whalers during preseason, even taking a shift or two at forward when the team was shorthanded. His goal on September 10 in London was a beauty, when he ripped a one-timer over the shoulder of Knights rookie goaltender Conner McKinnon.
“We were on the penalty kill, and I got a nice pass (from Adam Nanji) and I was going to go off on a line change, but I decided to go in and take a shot,” Gilbert said of the goal. “So I took the shot and it went in. I was pretty happy.”
The Whalers would like to see Gilbert take on a bigger role this season.
“Jay’s got good skating ability and good size,” said Plymouth associate coach Joe Stefan. “He can play physically when he wants to and we’d like to see more of that this year. Jay solidifies our back end with his experience. If he can log 20 minutes a game for us this year, that’s a bonus.”
It sometimes takes awhile for stay-at-home defensemen to develop into regular contributors, both on the ice and as a leader around the team.
“In this league, as you get older, you put in your time and you start to earn your ice time,” Gilbert explained. “When I was first playing in the league at 16 and 17, you’re a little bit nervous to make certain plays or to talk to the older guys. As an older guy now, I know that’s how I was, so I just try to talk to them (younger players) and tell them to be themselves, and try to be comfortable around the boys. I’m looking forward to having a good season this year.”
The Whalers are counting on Gilbert’s experience to continue to bolster the Whalers blue line. Stefan touched on areas of improvement for his veteran defenseman.
“I think Jay’s puck moving ability has to improve, along with his decision making,” Stefan said. “As a 19-year-old in the league, with a little bit of experience and knowing our systems better, we’re expecting more out of him this season.”
Many observers around the league downplay the Whalers’ chances to contend in the Western Conference. Gilbert sees this situation in a different light.
“We’ve got great goaltending with (Matt) Mahalak and Wedge (Scott Wedgewood) back there,” he said. “Our defense is solid and we’ve got good forwards. We have a lot of young guys, but I think we’ll be fine.
The Whalers open the season Thursday night in Windsor against the Spitfires (7pm, 88.1FM WSDP). After playing Friday night in London, Plymouth brings in Barrie for the home opener on Saturday at 7:05pm at Compuware Arena.
SPITFIRES MOVES THIS WEEK: Windsor general manager Warren Rychel picked up a couple of overage forwards, acquiring Kyle Tarini from Sudbury and Brett Clouthier from Kingston. Draft choices went to Sudbury and Kingston.
“Andrew brings good size, skill and toughness to our lineup and plays with a physical edge," Rychel told the Windsor Star. "He will be in the lineup for our home opening game this Thursday against the Plymouth Whalers and we look forward to having him in Windsor for the upcoming season."
"Kyle turned out to be the kind of player you love to have on your team, but hate to play against," Sudbury general manager Blaine Smith told the Sudbury Star. "He played a role for us and he did it well. He always went into the dirty areas. We wish him all the best."
Windsor also signed former Compuware goaltender Josh Malecki. Malecki, from Trenton, was drafted by the Spitfires in the 11th round (214th overall) of the 2009 OHL Draft.
OPENING NIGHT: The Whalers will bring back Paul Mitton for a ceremonial face off just before taking on Barrie on Saturday night. Mitton was the captain of the very first Whalers team in franchise history, the original Detroit Compuware Ambassadors in 1990-91. One of the veterans of the youngest team in the OHL at the time, Mitton scored seven goals with 13 assists for 20 points and 152 PIM’s over 53 games that season.
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22 Sep 2010
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<style type="text/css">#split_left .leftbar { margin-top: 188px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; }</style> Gilbert Goes About His Business Quietly
Some observers around the Ontario Hockey League called the Whalers acquisition of center Alex Aleardi from Belleville “a blockbuster.”
While Plymouth President, General Manager and Head Coach Mike Vellucci has made his share of blockbuster deals, some of his most effective deals were far quieter. Under Vellucci, the Whalers have taken chances on players for a minimal price, whether they’re on waivers or at home not skating for a particular time, to good advantage.
Players like Steve Ward, Mike Knight, Joe McCann, and Wes Cunningham – among others – were acquired in low-key deals and all contributed to the Whalers success on a regular basis.
Even Jared Boll – now with the Columbus Blue Jackets – was quietly acquired from Kingston in the summer of 2005 for fifth round draft choice. Boll was a major contributor to Plymouth’s championship team in 2006-07.
Sharp Plymouth fans know Cunningham was part of a far bigger deal in November of 2005 that saw the Whalers send Cory Tanaka and draft picks to Belleville for center Evan Brophey and Cunningham. Brophey was a former first round pick of the Barrie Colts and was better known than Cunningham at the time.
“Cunningham may be a forgotten piece of the puzzle,” Vellucci said back then. “Our young defensemen are inexperienced so we’re going let them grow and get some experience and not throw them to the wolves early on. We really need that fifth defenseman.”
Much like Ward, Knight, Boll and McCann, Cunningham found a home in Plymouth and became a valuable member of the team.
Defenseman Jay Gilbert was sitting at home in Port Stanley, ON last January when the Whalers acquired him from Niagara in exchange for the IceDogs’ own fourth round draft choice in 2011.
Fast forward to the present and Gilbert, now 19, has turned into a steady contributor on the Whalers defense. His numbers last season – a goal and eight assists in 52 games between Plymouth and Niagara – don’t say much, but the fact that he was +10 in 23 games for the Whalers speaks volumes.
“It’s been fun so far,” Gilbert said of his time in Plymouth. “I’ve felt like I’ve been treated like a professional and they’ve treated me like I was a big part of the team. I love it here.”
Gilbert played well for the Whalers during preseason, even taking a shift or two at forward when the team was shorthanded. His goal on September 10 in London was a beauty, when he ripped a one-timer over the shoulder of Knights rookie goaltender Conner McKinnon.
“We were on the penalty kill, and I got a nice pass (from Adam Nanji) and I was going to go off on a line change, but I decided to go in and take a shot,” Gilbert said of the goal. “So I took the shot and it went in. I was pretty happy.”
The Whalers would like to see Gilbert take on a bigger role this season.
“Jay’s got good skating ability and good size,” said Plymouth associate coach Joe Stefan. “He can play physically when he wants to and we’d like to see more of that this year. Jay solidifies our back end with his experience. If he can log 20 minutes a game for us this year, that’s a bonus.”
It sometimes takes awhile for stay-at-home defensemen to develop into regular contributors, both on the ice and as a leader around the team.
“In this league, as you get older, you put in your time and you start to earn your ice time,” Gilbert explained. “When I was first playing in the league at 16 and 17, you’re a little bit nervous to make certain plays or to talk to the older guys. As an older guy now, I know that’s how I was, so I just try to talk to them (younger players) and tell them to be themselves, and try to be comfortable around the boys. I’m looking forward to having a good season this year.”
The Whalers are counting on Gilbert’s experience to continue to bolster the Whalers blue line. Stefan touched on areas of improvement for his veteran defenseman.
“I think Jay’s puck moving ability has to improve, along with his decision making,” Stefan said. “As a 19-year-old in the league, with a little bit of experience and knowing our systems better, we’re expecting more out of him this season.”
Many observers around the league downplay the Whalers’ chances to contend in the Western Conference. Gilbert sees this situation in a different light.
“We’ve got great goaltending with (Matt) Mahalak and Wedge (Scott Wedgewood) back there,” he said. “Our defense is solid and we’ve got good forwards. We have a lot of young guys, but I think we’ll be fine.
The Whalers open the season Thursday night in Windsor against the Spitfires (7pm, 88.1FM WSDP). After playing Friday night in London, Plymouth brings in Barrie for the home opener on Saturday at 7:05pm at Compuware Arena.
SPITFIRES MOVES THIS WEEK: Windsor general manager Warren Rychel picked up a couple of overage forwards, acquiring Kyle Tarini from Sudbury and Brett Clouthier from Kingston. Draft choices went to Sudbury and Kingston.
“Andrew brings good size, skill and toughness to our lineup and plays with a physical edge," Rychel told the Windsor Star. "He will be in the lineup for our home opening game this Thursday against the Plymouth Whalers and we look forward to having him in Windsor for the upcoming season."
"Kyle turned out to be the kind of player you love to have on your team, but hate to play against," Sudbury general manager Blaine Smith told the Sudbury Star. "He played a role for us and he did it well. He always went into the dirty areas. We wish him all the best."
Windsor also signed former Compuware goaltender Josh Malecki. Malecki, from Trenton, was drafted by the Spitfires in the 11th round (214th overall) of the 2009 OHL Draft.
OPENING NIGHT: The Whalers will bring back Paul Mitton for a ceremonial face off just before taking on Barrie on Saturday night. Mitton was the captain of the very first Whalers team in franchise history, the original Detroit Compuware Ambassadors in 1990-91. One of the veterans of the youngest team in the OHL at the time, Mitton scored seven goals with 13 assists for 20 points and 152 PIM’s over 53 games that season.