News Release

       Contact: Pete Krupsky                                                   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

       Phone: (734) 453-8400                                                Sunday, December 30, 2007

          WHALERS CLOSE OUT 2007 WITH TOP-RANKED KITCHENER RANGERS

PLYMOUTH – The Plymouth Whalers close out 2007 with a New Year’s Eve date at 4 p.m. at Compuware Arena against the Kitchener Rangers. The Rangers (28-4-1-2) are the top team in the Ontario Hockey League and the top-ranked team in the Canadian Hockey League.

Monday’s game is the first time the Whalers have ever played at home on New Year’s Eve. In 1993, the Whalers (then known as Detroit Jr. Red Wings) defeated Kingston, 7-4, at the Kingston Memorial Centre in the only other game that Plymouth has played on New Year’s Eve.

The Whalers are offering an added bonus for fans purchasing a $14 or $10 ticket. Fans will be allowed to skate free of charge on the Compuware Arena ice from 2-3:30 p.m.

The Whalers (19-11-2-2) come into Monday’s game winless over their last four games. Kitchener – hosting Peterborough today – has won six in a row, and has defeated Plymouth twice in Kitchener – 1-0 in overtime on Sept. 29 and 3-1 on Oct. 30.

Both teams are missing players at the 2008 World Junior Championships, currently being played in the Czech Republic.  Plymouth goaltender Jeremy Smith is backstopping the United States to a 3-0 record through Sunday and defensemen Michal Jordan (Czech Republic) is one of the youngest players in this year’s tournament. Kitchener is missing Yannick Weber (Switzerland), Matt Halischuk (Canada) and Mikkel Boedker (Denmark).

Both teams have plenty of firepower available for Monday’s game. The Whalers are led offensively by Carolina-draft Chris Terry (25-37-62), veteran Andrew Fournier (21-23-44) and Wolverine Lake-native AJ Jenks (20-12-32). Kitchener features Justin Azevedo (19-46-65), Nazem Kadri (10-21-31) and Mike Duco (13-13-26). Josh Unice – passed over by Team USA for the World Junior Championships in favor of Smith – has a 2.21 goals against average and .915 save percentage in 26 games this season.

After Monday's game, the Whalers hit the road on Thursday in Windsor and Friday at Sault Ste. Marie before returning home next Saturday against Guelph. 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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