OHL: Harpooned Whalers

The impact of CHL teams making a stab at the Memorial Cup is usually felt the next season. The Plymouth Whalers are no exception, as they lost six of their top seven scorers. However, new additions to the team along with the coaching style of Michael Vellucci should have the Whalers competing every night. McKeen's looks at AJ Jenks, a highly sought after NHL pick and several Whalers eager to make an impact.

AJ Jenks (2008), C, Plymouth

As a rookie last season, Jenks gained valuable experience playing for a veteran-laden club that went all the way to the Memorial Cup .. the downside is that he did not get a chance to play in many offensive situations and his minutes were slashed .. this year with the graduation of many top scorers, Jenks is able to centre the second line and pad his offensive numbers .. swift skater, who is agile and coordinated for a big man .. he is more of an up-and-down player, although he has good mobility .. limited hockey sense and overall smarts, he seems to lack anticipation and scores the majority of his goals on shots taken 15 feet within the circle .. he can handle the puck ok and can make nice moves to gain the line .. he plays the PK due to his large wingspan and ability to eat up ice .. this is a perfect responsibility for him to excel at .. does not have the hands to be a natural scorer or the head to think like a gifted playmaker however, if he develops a physical element to his game, he could satisfy a role as a fourth line checking centre in the NHL due to his size and quickness .. while many predict he could be a high selection in this year's NHL Entry Draft, expect his stock to take a slight hit if he is not able to produce offensively.

Chris Terry (Car), C, LW, Plymouth

Terry joins the Whalers this season as the captain and offensive leader .. he is already averaging more than two points a game, as he sees the ice in almost every PP situation .. a crafty, highly skilled pivot who is thick and strong on his skates .. appears to have shed some weight this season and is quicker off the mark .. the increase in speed has allowed him to bury and create offensive chances on his own .. he plays the point on the PP due to his howitzer of a shot .. he is more of an opportunistic scorer, pouncing on rebounds due to his "cat like" reflexes in the offensive zone .. he has developed better patience with the puck, he identifies passes but still enjoys shooting .. his wristshot has really come along .. supported the defense and came back with regularity .. he still does not attack the corners or play with intensity down low .. nonetheless, he is working on the things he excels at, which should bode well for his offensive totals this season.

Vern Cooper (2009), LW, Plymouth

Cooper had a hard time adjusting to life in the OHL last season, as he found himself on the outside, often looking in for most games .. used sparingly in last year's playoff drive and Memorial Cup run .. Cooper joins the Whalers for his second season poised to make an impact, as he joins Jenks and Geldart on the second line .. incredibly small and physically underdeveloped, Copper uses his smarts and size to find open ice .. he is an elusive player with quick feet and quick hands .. he has a surprisingly hard shot and is used by coach Vellucci on the second PP unit .. defensively he is ok .. he identifies and ties up his man even though he lacks the strength to hold him off and at the very least, he gets a stick on him .. Cooper is still young and inexperienced however, he plays with fear and trepidation, which does not bode well for his future as a player.

Taylor Carnevale (2009), C, Plymouth

Second round selection was a tower of power last season with the Mississauga Rebels of the GTHL .. a strong, hard-working offensive player whose hands are quicker than his feet .. he is top heavy and has a hard time establishing speed .. his stride is long but his upright skating style does not support healthy acceleration, which puts him at a distinct disadvantage for the time being .. he can create down low where he asserts himself physically and pushes his way to the net .. he is a smart player in the offensive zone and is already centering the third line as a rookie .. he makes plays with his vision but at times, he tries to do too much and shoots in bad positions .. will continue to improve as confidence and overall skill should prevail however, upgrades to his speed will be a determining factor as to whether or not he will be a star player or a support one.

Tyler J. Brown (2009), RW, Plymouth

Eighth round selection made good at training camp to earn a roster spot on this team .. one of five players selected from the Detroit Belle Tire U16 team last season by the Whalers alone .. highly intelligent player who assimilates well and can keep up to the pace of the league .. anticipation skills are at a premium, as he knows exactly where to go in all three zones to be effective .. he is an aggressive forechecker .. along the boards he establishes superior body positioning to win loose puck battles .. he has a complimentary skill set that meshes well with his linemates .. he is not selfish and has good poise with the puck considering his age .. he will go to the net and look to wreak havoc if he can .. he oozes character and works hard .. he should be able to get better with every game, as he is just too smart not to be a factor later in the season and especially next season.

Joshua Bemis (2009), D, Plymouth

Played last season with the Chicago Steel of the USHL .. joins the Whalers this season and assumes a spot in their third rotation partnered with Steingraber .. a no frills, defensive defenseman with limited offensive upside .. he is a healthy skater in all directions, as his long stride and mobility serve him well to defend .. he stays true to his position down low and is not swayed by flashy forwards to abandon his position .. needs to use his stick more when defending, as too often he allows forwards an extra few feet in the zone when he could have prevented them at the line .. has surprising quickness for a big man .. he can get to loose pucks but fails to make any impression with his puckmoving and handling abilities .. could not complete a first pass the entire game .. his finesse skills with the puck are simply not there .. at times, he tries to over compensate by stretching his passes but sadly they are off the mark as well .. adjusting to the pace in the OHL should take time however, he does have a good defensive coach in Joe Stefan, brother of former Detroit Red Wing goalie Greg Stefan.