Sports
Whalers Trade Jake Patterson to London for Darien Ekblad, Draft Choices
Whalers start season Wednesday in Owen Sound; home opener Saturday vs. Erie.
Plymouth Whalers President General Manager and Head Coach Mike Vellucci announced the trade of 17-year-old goaltender Jake Patterson to the London Knights in exchange for 17-year-old goaltender Darien Ekblad, plus three draft choices in the Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection.
Besides Ekblad, Plymouth receives London’s third-round choice in the 2012 OHL Draft, plus a couple of their own draft choices moved in previous trades – the Whalers fifth and eighth-round selections in the 2012 OHL Draft.
“We feel we owe it to Jake to give him a chance to play in the OHL,” Vellucci said. “He’ll get a good opportunity in London.”
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London is looking for another goaltender to work with incumbent Michael Houser and Patterson might be the answer.
Patterson was originally selected by the Whalers in the 7th round (135th overall) of the 2010 OHL Draft. He played twice against London in the preseason and played well, stopping 73 of 79 shots for a .924 save percentage in a 4-2 loss to the Knights on Sept. 9 (final goal on the empty net) and a 3-3 tie the next evening.
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Ekblad – 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds - was originally selected by London in the ninth round (179th overall) of the 2010 OHL Draft. He’s currently playing for the Leamington Flyers of the Great Lakes Junior Hockey League.
Ekblad is the brother of Aaron Ekblad, the first overall pick in the 2011 OHL Priority Selection who is playing for the Barrie Colts.
Meanwhile, the Whalers will continue in goal with New Jersey-draft Scott Wedgewood and Matt Mahalak (Carolina). Ekblad could dress from time to time as a third goaltender.
Plymouth opens the regular season on Wednesday in Owen Sound against the OHL-champion Attack (6:45pm, WSDP 88.1-FM, www.plymouthwhalers.com) and will host Erie on Saturday in the home opener at 7:05pm at Compuware Arena (6:45pm, WSDP 88.1-FM, www.plymouthwhalers.com).
WSDP 88.1-FM EXPANDS WHALERS COVERAGE: 88.1-FM The Escape in Plymouth is launching a new radio program devoted to the Plymouth Whalers and the Ontario Hockey League. "Plymouth Whalers Weekly" airs Monday night at 5:45pm and will run until 6pm.
The program is hosted Pete Krupsky, the Whalers play-by-play voice and the team's Director of Communications.
