Whalers Host Annual Rookie Orientation Saturday and Sunday

The Plymouth Whalers will be hosting their annual Rookie Orientation on Saturday and Sunday at . 

The event features Plymouth draft choices over the past couple of seasons, plus invited free agents.  

The rookie and free agents will be scrimmaging from 5-7 p.m. on Saturday and 9:30-11 a.m. on Sunday.  The scrimmages are free and open to the public and media.  Rosters will be provided the day of the scrimmages.  

Although fans will be interested in the scrimmages, the Rookie Orientation is designed to give players and their parents an overview of the city of Plymouth and a close look at the Whalers.  They'll see the city of Plymouth, visit the Plymouth-Canton Education Park, chat with Whalers Education Consultant John Seidelman, meet Plymouth staff and participate in off-ice testing.  

The scrimmage will be the first opportunity for fans to watch this spring's first round draft choice, Zach Bratina.  Other Plymouth draft choices participating in the Rookie Orientation include defenseman Alex Peters (2nd round, 2012), goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic (6th round, 2012), defenseman James Wilson (10th round, 2012), left wing Mitchell Smith (8th round, 2012), defenseman Greg Christmas (14th round, 2011), goaltender Darien Ekblad (trade with London, 2011), among others.  

The Whalers won their 10th West Division title last season in their 22-year-history last season with a record of 47-18-2-1, making the OHL playoffs for the 21st consecutive season - a current league record.  Plymouth expects to be in the thick of the tough Western Conference race again in 2012-13.