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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — Wednesday, December 2 , 2009

WHALERS WORLD JR. INVITEES STEAL THE SHOW IN 6-2 WIN OVER SAGINAW

Tyler Seguin’s Hat Trick, AJ Jenks’ Three Points, Matt Hackett’s 31 saves lead the way

(Above) AJ Jenks takes the shot, but Tyler Seguin deflects it past Saginaw goaltender Edward Pasquale for his first goal of the game. (Below) Tyler Seguin scores his third goal of the game past Anthony Peters as Ryan O'Connor defends on the play. (Bottom) Rookies Garrett Meurs and Colin MacDonald celebrate Meurs' goal in the first period.

PLYMOUTH, MI — There’s something about the potential of playing for your home country that leads to good effort. Want proof? The Plymouth Whalers in a 6-2 win over the Saginaw Spirit on Wednesday night at Compuware Arena.

Plymouth is now 16-13-0-0.  Saginaw is now 16-10-2-0.

The Whalers were led offensively by Tyler Seguin with a hat trick (his fourth of the season) as the game’s first star.  AJ Jenks added a goal and two assists as the game second star and defenseman Michal Jordan contributed an assist and a steady defensive game as the game's third star. In addition, Whalers goaltender Matt Hackett was steady in the Plymouth net, stopping 31-of-33 Saginaw shots.

Seguin and Hackett have been invited by Hockey Canada to try out for the Canadian World Junior Championship team, Jenks got the call for Team USA and Jordan may play for the Czech Republic for the third consecutive season.

Garrett Meurs (eighth) and Robbie Czarnik (first OHL goal) also scored for the Whalers. Jordan Skellett (14th) and Brad Walch (first) replied for Saginaw.

The Whalers led from start to finish in the game, taking a 3-0 lead after one period and 5-1 after forty minutes.

Seguin – who now has 23 goals and 21 assists for 44 points in 25 games – got the puck rolling in the right direction at 6:36 of the first period on a goal that was originally credited to Jenks. Jenks took a shot from the slot that appeared to bounce off Saginaw goaltender Edward Pasquale and into the goal. The goal was later credited to Seguin, who got a piece of the puck and deflected it past Pasquale.

Jenks scored to make it 2-0 at 8:55 of the period with his 11th of the season, using Seguin on the left wing side of the Saginaw goal as a decoy. Jenks faked back-hand and scored forehand from just outside the blue crease. Meurs made it 3-0, batting home a rebound from Colin MacDonald’s point shot at the right wing side of the Saginaw goal.

Seguin’s second goal of the night came at 3:43 of the second period and came on another rebound, this one from a point shot by Jordan. Seguin scored from the left goal line by Pasquale, who was replaced at that point by backup goaltender Anthony Peters, who played the rest of the way in goal for Saginaw.

After Skellett scored for Saginaw at 10:11 of the second period to cut the Plymouth lead to 4-1, Czarnik scored his first OHL goal at 19:38 of the second period. Using Josh Brittain as a screen in front of Peters, Czarnik wired a shot from the left circle.

Seguin’s hat trick came at 8:41 of the third period on a deflection of Jenks’ shot or pass from the high slot that was going nowhere near the net. Seguin redirected the shot from the lower rim of the left circle past Peters. Walch finished the scoring on a power play at 11:24.

Plymouth outshot Saginaw, 37-33.

Plymouth and Saginaw meet again Friday night at Dow Event Center in Saginaw (7pm, 88.1FM WSDP). The Whalers next home game is Saturday at 7:05pm against Sault Ste. Marie at Compuware Arena during the Whalers annual Teddy Bear Toss Night.

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.

www.plymouthwhalers.com

PLYMOUTH WHALERS: Compuware Arena * 14900 Beck Rd. * Plymouth, MI  48170 * 734-453-4201

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

Natalie Shaver, Sales and Marketing Administrator, 734-453-8400 x62504, natalies@plymouthwhalers.com