FAN FAVORITE
By ED WRIGHT - Staff Writer

There are countless reasons why the Compuware Arena's Applause-O-Meter nearly short circuits from overwork when A.J. Jenks is introduced before each Plymouth Whalers home game, but three stand out.

Reason No. 1: the 6-foot-2, 210-pound fan favorite plays every second of every shift like its his last - and everyone knows fans appreciate high-intensity effort.

Secondly, Jenks' effort is matched by a high level of talent that has NHL draft scholars predicting he'll be selected somewhere in the first two rounds this coming summer.

Thirdly: Jenks grew up less than a 30-minute drive from the Whalers' home ice, so many games double as mini-family reunions.

"It's nice playing so close to home because I get a lot of support from my family and friends," said the 17-year-old Jenks. "One of the reasons I get so many loud cheers is that I know a lot of people in the stands every game."

ALL-AROUND CONTRIBUTOR

Even those Whaler backers who have never met Jenks in person stand and salute his coast-to-coast hustle and grit.

Jenks has been one of the primary reasons the Whalers have sustained excellence one season after capturing their first Ontario Hockey League championship since 1995.

The high-energy left winger has chalked up 18 goals, nine assists and 41 penalty minutes in 29 games during a season in which more than one OHL expert expected a Whaler decline following the departure of several key players.

Heading into Thursday's 2 p.m. home game against Saginaw, the Whalers own a 19-9-2-2 record, which is good for third place in the highly competitive OHL West Conference's West Division.

"It's hard to pinpoint one thing," said Jenks, when asked to reveal the team's secret to success so far this year. "We have good coaching and our team's chemistry is outstanding."

Jenks was caught off guard earlier this month when Greg Stefan replaced former head coach Mike Vellucci, who stepped down to focus more on his general manager responsibilities.

"I was surprised; I didn't see it coming," he said. "I like Mike Vellucci a lot, but I don't think we're going to go downhill now that Greg Stefan's the coach."

HOME AWAY FROM HOME

Like many of his teammates, Jenks lives during the season with a billet family not far from Compuware Arena. What's unique about Jenks' situation is that his billets are his grandparents.

"They live in Plymouth, so it works out well," he said. "I probably could have lived at home (Wolverine Lake is near Walled Lake), but it would have been tough with school getting out at 2 p.m. and practice starting right after that."

Jenks attends Plymouth High School, where he's earned a solid 3.5 grade-point average.

"I like the school a lot," he said. "The teachers work with my schedule and the students there who know I play for the Whalers support me. "

Juggling act

Jenks said the toughest part about life in the OHL is juggling the responsibilities that come with playing a high-caliber sport while attending high school and maintaining a social life.

"Definitely balancing my time is difficult sometimes," said Jenks. "I definitely need time-management skills with school, practice, games and a social life."

Jenks didn't hesitate when asked about the best part of life in the OHL.

"It's the people I've had a chance to meet," he said. "I've made a lot of great friends."