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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — Saturday, January 16, 2010

VETERANS and NEWCOMERS CONTRIBUTE IN WHALERS’ 3-0 WIN

Matt Hackett pitches shutout, Ryan Hayes tallies three points, Phil McRae and Josh Brittain notch two points

PLYMOUTH, MI — After losing to the Barrie Colts last night, 4-2, the Plymouth Whalers went into tonight’s game with the Niagara IceDogs at Compuware Arena looking to bounce back. Mission accomplished for Plymouth in a 3-0 whitewash over the young IceDogs before 2,739 at Compuware Arena.

(Above) Former teammates on the U.S. NTDP, Phil McRae and Ryan Hayes teamed up again with big nights for the Whalers as McRae had a goal and an assist and Hayes notched a goal and 2 assists in the 3-0 win. (Below) Matt Hackett makes one of his 32 saves for the win.

The victory moved the Whalers back into sole possession of second place in the OHL’s West Division and fourth seed in the Western Conference race with a record of 25-20-0-1, good for 51 points and one point ahead of Sault Ste. Marie (23-19-1-3), who lost, 4-1, in Windsor tonight. Also in the Western Conference mix is Saginaw (22-16-4-1) with 49 points.

In goal, Whalers netminder Matt Hackett pitched his second shutout of the season in stopping 32 shots as the game’s first star. Offensively, overage right wing Ryan Hayes figured in on all three Whalers goals with his ninth marker of the season with two assists. Josh Brittain added his 14th and Phil McRae – playing in his second game for Plymouth after coming over from London at the OHL Trade Deadline – scored his first goal for his new team and 12th of the season.

Plymouth specialized in the victory, going three-for-three on the power play and killing off two Niagara power plays.

Hackett – playing in his 122nd game for the Whalers (fourth on the all-time list) – was at his sharpest in the first period when Niagara outshot Plymouth, 15-14. 

“It’s always awesome to get a shutout,” Hackett said after the game. “But the team in front of me made it easy. They kept the shots to the outside, like always. It was a fun game to play. I wasn’t happy with my game last night, so I wanted to come out and make sure I had a good start. It paid off tonight.”

McRae reported to Plymouth with four goals and 17 assists for 21 points on the power play in London and made his presence felt on the Whalers’ first two power plays in the game. Brittain scored on a rebound at 13:35 of the first period, set up by McRae’s pass in the high slot to Hayes. Hayes rifled a low shot from the left circle that Niagara goaltender John Chartand stopped, but Brittain put back the rebound. On the next Whalers’ power play (tripping to the IceDogs’ Josh Moes at 15:33), McRae made it 2-0 at 16:12 when he wired a high shot from the slot. Hayes and James Livingston – another new player just over from Sault Ste. Marie – assisted on the play.

“Livvy did a great job on the forecheck and Haysie made a great pass and I was able to get it through to the net,” McRae said of his goal. “We had a really good screen in front (from Brittain) and the goalie didn’t see it.”

Hayes finished the scoring on another power play at 3:09 of the third period, starting the play when he blocked a shot by Andrew Agozzino in the Plymouth zone and then finishing the play in the Niagara end with a low shot from the left circle through traffic and an effective screen in front of the IceDogs’ goal by Livingston.

Plymouth outshot Niagara, 35-32.

The Whalers remain home Monday afternoon at 2pm at Compuware Arena, hosting top-ranked Windsor (1:50pm, 88.1FM WSDP).

For information on Whalers ticket packages, including the Bob Evans' Great Save 4 for $44 Pack, or to plan a group event, visit plymouthwhalers.com or call 734-453-8400.

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PLYMOUTH WHALERS: Compuware Arena | 14900 Beck Rd. | Plymouth, MI  48170 | phone: 734-453-8400 | fax: 734-453-4201

MEDIA CONTACTS: Pete Krupsky, Director of Communications, 734-453-8400 x62513, peterk@plymouthwhalers.com

Natalie Shaver, Sales and Marketing Administrator, 734-453-3216, natalies@plymouthwhalers.com