Happy Anniversary!

Whalers mark 20th with 6-3 victory

BY PETE KRUPSKY
Dec. 12, 2009, 11:30 a.m.
  On the night of their 20th anniversary in the Ontario Hockey League, the Plymouth Whalers used an old-school proven formula for success. The Whalers dominated the battle of special teams in a 6-3 victory over the Erie Otters in a game played Friday night at Compuware Arena.

  Plymouth improved to 18-14-0-1 and moved into sole possession of fifth place in the tight Western Conference race with 37 points. Erie is now 13-14-4-1.

   The Whalers broke open a 1-1 game after one period with four unanswered goals (three straight on the power play) in the second period while outshooting Erie, 21-3, to lead 5-1 after 40 minutes. Plymouth extended the lead to 6-1 in the third period before the Otters scored two late goals.

  Overall, Plymouth went three-for-five on the power play and killed off four of five Erie Power plays, with the lone Otters power play goal coming after the game was decided.

  Although Tyler Seguin led the Plymouth attack with a goal and four assists as the game's first star, he had plenty of help from his teammates. Besides Seguin's 26th goal of the year, Plymouth received goals from Robbie Czarnik, Joe Gaynor, Michal Jordan, AJ Jenks and Tyler G. Brown.

  Shawn Szydlowski, David Shields and Mitch Gaulton replied for Erie.

  Plymouth outshot Erie, 48-30.

  The Whalers will now play the next couple of weeks without Seguin and goaltender Matt Hackett, who leave Saturday for Canada's National Junior selection camp from Dec. 12-16, 2009, in Regina, SK.

  The Whalers have recalled goaltender Karsten Pankhurst from the Central Ontario Wolves. Parkhurst, 17, was originally selected by Plymouth in the 13th round of the 2008 Ontario Hockey League Draft. Parkhurst reported to Plymouth Friday.