Kingston 6, Plymouth 2 During Whalers Annual Pink Out

Photo by Rena Laverty

The Plymouth Whalers seventh annual Pink Out on Saturday at Compuware Arena had several heartfelt story lines surrounding the game:

1-The Whalers wore distinctive jerseys trimmed in pink that were auctioned off with the proceeds donated to Karmanos Cancer Institute. While the final totals for tonight’s game are still being tabulated, the Whalers have donated over $50,000 to KCI in the seven years of the pink out.

2-In a poignant moment, breast cancer survivor and Plymouth Whalers season ticket holder Rose Harper dropped the puck in a ceremonial faceoff before the game. She was flanked by Ryan Kolb of Hines Park Lincoln, Melissa Huetter, owner of Indigo Spa, Salon and Boutique, Karmanos Cancer Institute physicians Dr. Lisa Chism and Dr. Julie Boerner and Rachael Hunter, morning host at WYCD Detroit’s Country.

3-Plymouth Whalers defenseman Matt Watson - acquired by Plymouth last weekend from Kingston – played against his twin brother, Spencer for the first time-ever.

“It is a little weird,” said Matt Watson in a television interview. “Growing up, we’ve always played on the same team, until last weekend. And when he scored a goal against us, he gave me a little wink.”

And with that as a backdrop, the Kingston Frontenacs built a 4-0 lead after two periods and beat the Whalers, 6-2, before 2,713.

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Spencer Watson – Matt Watson’s twin brother – and Lawson Crouse both scored twice in the first two periods, while Ryan Kujawinski and Zack Dorval added singles in the third period after the Whalers rallied to cut the deficit to 4-2.

Matt Mistele (team-leading 11th) and Bruce Yetman scored the Plymouth goals in the third period and added an assist each. The goals were scored on power plays apart at 15:41 and 16:20 respectively to give Plymouth a spark and cut the Kingston lead to 4-2. But Kujawinski and Dorval scored later to ice the game for the Frontenacs.

“From the minute the puck was dropped we weren’t ready to compete,” Plymouth head coach Don Elland said. “We weren’t ready to play, we weren’t willing to do the things necessary to win in this league.

“It’s not easy winning in this league, this is a good league. You have to play for 60 minutes to win in this league, right now we’re not willing to do that.”

The Whalers lost their third straight game and are 6-8-1-0. Kingston is 7-5-0-1.

VIDEO - See how the pink ice was made for tonight’s game (video courtesy of the Schoolcraft College Sports Network and Brian Camilleri).

See the Whalers getting their hair pinked up (video courtesy of the Schoolcraft College Sports Network and Brian Camilleri)

Plymouth is back in action on Wednesday in Sault Ste. Marie (7 pm, 88.1FM WSDP) and returns home next Friday against Owen Sound and Saturday against Kitchener. Both games start at 7:05 pm at Compuware Arena.