News Release

NASHVILLE PREDATORS SIGN PLYMOUTH GOALTENDER JEREMY SMITH

PLYMOUTH – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has signed Plymouth Whalers goaltender Jeremy Smith to an entry-level contract.

Smith – from Brownstown, MI who turns 19 next month – was selected by the Predators in the second round (54th overall) of the 2007 National Hockey League Entry Draft. Smith was originally selected by Plymouth in the 4th round (64th overall) of the 2005 Ontario Hockey League Draft.

“We’re excited for Jeremy,” said Plymouth President and General Manager Mike Vellucci. “He’s worked very hard to develop into one of the best goaltenders in the Ontario Hockey League.”

Smith is in his second full season with the Whalers and currently has a 2.86 goals against average, .921 save percentage and three shutouts in 40 games. Last season, Smith shared Plymouth goaltending duties with Michal Neuvirth as the Whalers won the Dave Pinkney Trophy in recording the lowest team goals against average en route to winning the OHL Championship. Smith also won USA Hockey’s Dave Peterson Award as the Top Junior Goaltender in the United States and made the OHL’s All-Academic Team.  Smith finished the season as the number one rated North American goaltender by Central Scouting Services.

This season, Smith played for the United States at the World Junior Championships in the Czech Republic over the Christmas Holidays and reprensted the OHL Western Conference in the OHL All-Star Classic in Sault Ste. Marie.

Plymouth (33-24-2-3, fifth seed in the Western Conference) is on the road this weekend, playing in Guelph on Friday and in Erie on Saturday. Plymouth’s next home game is Saturday, March 15 against Sarnia. Tickets can be purchased for all Plymouth games by calling the Compuware Arena at (734) 453-8400 or by going to Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com.

About the Plymouth Whalers

The Plymouth Whalers are the only Metro Detroit team in the Ontario Hockey League, a developmental league for National Hockey League players. The Whalers all range in age from 15-21 years-old and are consistently one of the top teams in the OHL. In 2006-07, the Whalers won the OHL Championship. www.plymouthwhalers.com

About Compuware Arena

Compuware Arena is home to the 2007 Ontario Hockey League Champion Plymouth Whalers, the Major Indoor Soccer League’s Detroit Ignition, the Compuware Arena Drive-In Theatres, the MHSAA Boys State Hockey Championships and eight AAA Compuware Hockey youth teams. Compuware Arena serves more than one million patrons each year, and is located in Plymouth, Michigan. www.compuwarearena.com

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