FeedsWhalers sign draft pick, ready for season
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Fans caught a glimpse of Tyler Seguin at the Whalers’ Rookie Orientation camp last May. Photo by Rena LavertyThis season looks to be another exciting one for the Plymouth Whalers.
The Whalers signed players known for speedy offense and stout defense recently with their focus on getting back to the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) finals this season.
That’s probably why Whalers President and General Manager Mike Vellucci chose the 16-year-old center Tyler Seguin in the first round (ninth overall) in last spring’s Ontario Hockey League Draft. Sequin just might be the ticket to get the Whalers through the post season.
The Central Scouting report describes Seguin as a skilled, offensively-minded forward that is a very good skater that possesses quickness and agility. He plays the game at top speed with great puck handling skills while displaying great vision and the ability to get his teammates the puck, the report said.
Seguin scored 39 goals and 47 assists for 86 points in 51 games last season for the Toronto Young Nationals.
“We are very fortunate to sign Tyler,” Vellucci said. “He was a top-five pick in this year’s OHL Draft and had several NCAA school offers. In the end, Tyler decided that he would play in the top developmental league in the world and at the same time receive a great education.”
Seguin considered playing at one of the many universities that offered him scholarships, following in the footsteps of his father, Paul, who played from 1984-88 for the University of Vermont.
“All my life, I thought that was the path (college hockey) that I was going to take, but two or three weeks before the (OHL) Draft, I came to Plymouth, found out about the program, found about the school packages and fell in love with the place,” Seguin said. “So that’s (Plymouth) where I see myself playing for the next couple of years.”
Whaler fans saw flashes of brilliance from Seguin’s at Plymouth’s Rookie Orientation camp in May when he scored a goal with four assists over two sessions. Seguin–from Brampton, ON-will report to Plymouth’s training camp in late August and will attend school at the Plymouth-Canton Educational Park during the 2008-09 school year.
He’s chomping at the bit to get things going in Plymouth.
“I’m just glad to get the opportunity to come to this great hockey club,” Seguin said. “I can’t wait to suit up in August. Plymouth is an unbelievable town with unbelievable fans. I got to meet all the rookies on the team from last year. Everyone seems to be a great guy. I can’t wait to play. The summer’s going by so slow.”
Vellucci shored up the defense further with the signing of 16-year-old defenseman Austin Levi—a sixth rounder (110th overall) in the 2008 OHL Draft.
“Austin Levi is a big, strong defenseman,” Vellucci said. “His midget coach last year (Todd Jenkins) said Austin had the most potential of any of the players on his team. He has a lot of raw ability. We’re very excited to work with him and get him to be the National Hockey League defenseman we think he can be.”
Levi, a 6-foot-3-inch 190-pounder from Farmington Hills, recorded five assists in 22 games and 33 penalty minutes for the Compuware Under-16 team of the Midwest Elite Hockey League last season. He participated in USA Hockey’s Under-16 Festival, which took place June 21-27 in Rochester, NY.
“I’ve been in this rink for two years and I know what the Whalers are like,” Levi said. “I can get my education taken care of right now, so I wanted to go ahead and do this. It’s very comfortable and I know a lot of people here. It’s a good situation and I’m ready to take the next step.”
The Whalers also signed goaltender Scott Wedgewood, a seventh round pick (130th overall) in the 2008 OHL Draft. Wedgewood, who turns 16 next month, compiled a 2.17 goals against average and recorded two shutouts in 29 games last year for the Mississauga Senators.
The Whalers open the regular season on Friday, Sept. 19 at Kitchener. The home opener for the Whalers is set for 7:05 pm on Saturday, Sept. 20 against Erie. Plymouth only has one home preseason contest scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 6 against Sarnia.
