Ontario Hockey League 20 in 20: Plymouth Whalers

Photo by Rena Laverty

Story by Rob Benneian for www.ontariohockeyleague.com

For the first time in over a decade, there is a new sheriff in Whaler Country.

Mike Vellucci, a staple behind the Plymouth Whalers’ bench and in the team’s front office since 2001, was hired by the Carolina Hurricanes in April to serve as the club’s Assistant General Manager and Director of Hockey Operations.

The Michigan native leaves behind some pretty big shoes to fill amassing 468 career-wins which rank tenth on the all-time OHL list, along with a pair of Coach of the Year awards in 2007 and 2013, an OHL Executive of the Year honour in 2013, and of course an OHL championship title in 2007.

Though the name on the front office door may have changed, it may be the only thing different about the Whalers this year.

“I’m following in some pretty good footsteps,” says Mark Craig, who assumed the General Manager’s job in Plymouth following Vellucci’s departure. “Mike’s left us in pretty good shape. We have a lot of young guys coming back and our scouts did a great job at the draft, we’re really pleased with the 16-year-olds who came into camp.”

Craig says the hard-nosed, attacking style of play Vellucci instilled, which Whalers fans have come to know and love, suits him and new bench boss Don Elland, elevated from his role as assistant coach, just fine.

“We’re going to be aggressive,” Craig says. “Don and I agree on a lot of things, just like Mike Vellucci and I did. Mike liked big, aggressive teams. He liked size. We’re certainly going to have some good size. Mike liked talent, we’ve got some good talent. We’re going to be aggressive, we’re going to forecheck and with Ned (Carolina Hurricanes prospect Alex Nedeljkovic) in goal it gives you an opportunity to play a little more wide open.”

See the rest of the story.

HURRICANES FINISH FOURTH IN TRAVERSE CITY: The Carolina Hurricanes lost, 5-4 in overtime, to the Detroit Red Wings in their final game of the 2014 NHL Prospects Tournament in Traverse City.

None of the Whalers playing for Carolina figured in the scoring. Plymouth’s Alex Nedeljkovic did not play in the game; Oshawa’s Daniel Altshuler took the loss in goal for the Hurricanes.

Michael Smith of Hurricanes.com has a game story.

Complete stats for Carolina. Complete stats for the tournament.

TRAINING CAMP NEXT: The Hurricanes, like a lot of NHL teams, start their training camp on Friday.

Here’s a complete roster for the training camp.