This Upcoming Weekend

The Whalers have three divisional games this weekend as they try to stay atop the West Division and to keep their winning streak alive.

Friday’s Matchup:

Windsor – 23-28-1-6 – 53 points – Western Conference: 9th place (3-7-0-0 in the past ten games)

It’s do or die for the Spits as Aleardi returns to the Compuware Arena for the first time since the January 8th trade. Windsor has ten games left in the season and they are nine points away from the 8th seed.

The last time these two clubs met the Whalers skated out of the WFCU Centre with an 8-2 win and the Whalers are 4-0 against the struggling Spits this season.

Saturday’s Matchup:

Sarnia – 32-24-0-3 – 67 points – Western Conference: 7th place (5-5-0-0 in the past ten games)

The Sting are facing the Whalers less then a week after being completely dominated in a 10-2 loss this past Monday. The Whalers lead the season series 3-2 and look to pick up another two points in their final meeting of the season. WHALERS WHITEOUT! – As the Whalers prepare to journey into the playoffs the team is asking fans to fill up the Compuware Arena and to wear white for the game agains the Sting.

Sunday’s Matchup:

at Windsor – 23-28-1-6 – 53 points – Western Conference: 9th place (3-7-0-0 in the past ten games)

The Whalers will finish off the weekend by traveling to the WFCU Centre to face the Spitfires for the 6th time of the season. The Whalers have outscored the Spits 13-4 this season in Windsor. The Whalers have won the past five games at the WFCU Centre with the last loss coming in OT back on October 13th, 2011 . The last regulation loss at the WFCU Centre was back over two years ago on February 18th, 2011.

A Boost In The Arm: Whalers Booster Club

Setup behind Section 114 is a table that is run by the Plymouth Whalers Booster Club. There they sell a variety of items from keychains to buttons with a Whalers player’s headshot on them. Maybe you walked past this table on a game day at Compuware Arena or maybe you have purchased an item or two from them, but you you might not realize all that the booster club does for the team and the fans here in Plymouth.

The Booster Club is a group of dedicated fans that volunteer a good portion of their extra time to provide an added experience to Whaler fans. They do this not just by selling the small souvenirs on game day, but also providing events for the Booster Club members. I was able to join in on two events that were hosted by the Booster Club. The first event was a Meet and Greet held in the space behind the pro shop.

Players were seated with the fans and were able to have dinner with the team, followed by a Q&A session, locker room tour and autograph session.

The players started off by introducing themselves and giving a fun fact about themselves. These facts ranged from who was leading in fantasy hockey, who has the best roommate, to Noesen who quipped that he is now a forth line shutdown man. Vincent Trocheck also talked a little bit about his trade from Saginaw to Plymouth.

After dinner everybody made their way down to the locker room. Posters were handed out and the fans were able to get up close and personal with their favorite players and leave with an autographed poster.

The next event was the bustrip to watch the Whalers game in Brampton. Everyone met at the Compuware Arena parking lot at 7:00am to board the bus for the 2:00pm game against the Battalion. This was my first time signing up for the Booster Club’s Bus Trip and it will not be the last. Every one was easy going, we all had fun on the trip, and Vincent Trocheck got four goals in that game leading the Whalers to a 5-2 win. (I even made it on to the TV broadcast of the game.) As we head back home we watched Miracle on the bus’s video system. Yes, it made for a long day, but it was a fun one.

What the Whalers Booster Club brings is a sense of community. We are all Whalers fans, and they provide a way for us to show that to the team. In all honesty, the money one would spend on a membership would be quickly recouped by all the events that you have access to as a member. Here’s all that you get…

Membership Details

Cost:	$30.00	Family Membership up to 6 people living in the same house
$20.00	Individual Membership
$10.00	Billet / Players’ Family Membership

With your paid membership dues, you will receive the following…

• Exclusive membership gift
• Invite to members only meet and greet
• $10 off all Booster Club events
• Whalers’ Game Vouchers*
• Entry into a monthly drawing for cool stuff
• 2 for 1 on raffle tickets**
• Entry into a drawing to present the Player of the Month Award during a game

To find out more about the Whalers Booster Club or to sign up, visit their table behind Section 114 or vist their website at http://www.whalersboosters.com/

 

Ice Cuttings: It’s February Already? Edition

I think it’s fair to say that the Whalers have turned things around since their horrendous performance in December. Going from two wins in ten games in the month of December to nine wins in twelve games for the month of January.

This had a lot to do with Mitchell Heard being sent back from the AHL and Vellucci being a cunning business man during the trade deadline. Gone are the likes of Aleardi, Bratina, and Karlsson to bring in the likes of Zach Lorentz, Sebastian Uviar, and Saginaw captain Vincent Trocheck.

Yes I am sad that Aleardi was the one that had to go, but there is an upside for him. By going to Windsor he goes from the third line in Plymouth to the top line for the Spits. That means more ice time and visibility for the OA who is still trying to fight his way into the NHL. Especially if he helps the Spits land a playoff spot.

Now on to the Whalers news from across the web…

Rickard Rakell was on of three Whalers to be called to training camp when the NHL came back from their lockout. He even got to open the NHL season with the Ducks in Vancouver.

Rickard Rakell on his NHL Debut

Now five games in, the big question is should he stay or should he go? Anaheim still has not decided on his fate this season. (SBNation – Anaheim Calling)

Rickard Rakell is on the precipice of becoming the present – not the future – of the franchise. He has impressed in his brief stint with the big club, and according to Eric Stephens, Bob Murray and the Ducks organization are still mulling over whether he should be sent back to Plymouth or kept with the big club.

Tim Smith profiles Vincent Trocheck (Hometown Life)

How about Scott Wedgewood’s new mask? (Imgur)

JT Miller made his NHL debut this week. In his second game he showed the Rangers why he was nicknamed “2 for a Dollar”

Jamie Devane is now considered a stud according to Facebook. (Bardown Hockey)

From Facebook: Toronto Marlies stud, Jamie Devane modelling our “Hits, fights, redlights” tarp that will be available online and in stores March 1st. BARDOWN

To finish up this post, how about looking at former Whaler Tom Sestito scoring his first two goals of the season against Tampa Bay.