Photo by Rena Laverty - (Top) Ceremonial faceoff with the Bieniewicz family. From left, Plymouth captain Alex Peters and Windsor captain Patrick Sanvido. Both are Dallas Stars drafts.
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As the second lowest scoring team in the Ontario Hockey League last season, an early goal for Plymouth Whalers in this season is to pick up the pace offensively.
If today’s preseason opener is any indication, the Whalers will have plenty of offense this year.
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The Whalers beat Windsor, 10-2, on Saturday afternoon at Compuware Arena in the ‘Play it Forward’ benefit game with proceeds going to John Bieniewcz Foundation and C.O.P.S. MI (Michigan Concerns of Police Survivors).
Plymouth led, 4-1 after one period and 7-2 after forty minutes.
Matt Mistele led the Plymouth attack with three goals and two assists. Bryce Yetman scored twice, while Mathieu Henderson (1-1), Connor Chatham, Mathew Campagna (1-1), Danny Vanderwiel (1-1) and Francesco Vilardi (1-1) scored one each. Plymouth captain and defenseman Alex Peters recorded three assists.
Logan Brown and Aaron Luchuk replied for Windsor.
In fairness, Plymouth iced a full roster that will resemble their lineup on Opening Night on Sept. 26 in London. Windsor rested several veterans and came to Compuware Arena with a lineup filled with rookies and draft choices.
Whalers general manager Mark Craig was happy but realistic about the victory.
“We had one our best lineups dressed and they probably had weaker lineup,” he said. “Still, it was good to see some guys get going. We need ‘Misty’ (Matt Mistele) to get off to a good start. He really had his feet moving, which is something he struggled with at times last year. I thought (Danny) Vanderwiel had a good game.
“As a whole, I thought we played hard. There were a lot of mistakes, but we knew that coming in. We haven’t worked on systems yet, power play or penalty kill or even our forechecking systems.
“But overall, it was a good effort and I was pleased with it.”
The Whalers scratches - all healthy - included Alex Di Carlo, Nicholas Caamano, Yannick Rathgeb, Brook Hiddink and Vicent Scognamiglio. NHL-draft Alex Nedeljkovic and Josh Wesley (Carolina), Connor Chatham (New jersey), Victor Crus Rydberg (NY Islanders), Matt Mistele (Los Angeles) and Sonny Milano (Columbus) all played a regular shift.
Plymouth and Windsor meet again on Thursday in Windsor at Family Credit Union Centre (7 pm, 88.1FM WSDP). Plymouth’s next home game is next Saturday at 7:05 pm against Saginaw at Compuware Arena.
WELCOME HOME WHALERS: This is the first home preseason game at Compuware Arena for the Whalers in at least the last five years. The Whalers have played preseason games on the road since 2009, playing in Brighton, Chelsea, Farmington, Wyandotte and Livonia.
The last time the Whalers played a preseason game at Compuware Arena? Sept. 6, 2008 against Sarnia.
