Ontario Hockey League news 10/04

The Colbert Report Spotlights Spirit

(Saginaw, MI) The Spirit were highlighted on the Colbert Report last night! The Report showed footage from the unveiling ceremony of the newest Spirit mascot, Steagle Colbeagle the Eagle. The segment also showcased the Ontario Hockey League and the two upcoming Spirit home games against the Ottawa 67s and the Sudbury Wolves. At the end of the show the host, Stephen Colbert, retired his Spirit jersey and raised it to the rafters of his studio.

"We are proud of our accident prone new mini mascot, Steagle Colbeagle the Eagle, as he made his international television debut last night. As Stephen Colbert raised his Spirit Jersey to the rafters of his studio, he officially became the 1st Spirit to do so", stated Spirit Managing Partner Craig Goslin, " The community of mid Michigan is quickly being transformed into raving Stephen Colbert fans. Stay tuned for future updates on both the Colbert Report and the Saginaw Spirit hockey games played at the Dow Event Center. The staff from the Saginaw Spirit are working in unison with the staff from the Colbert Report to continue the fun regarding our new feathered friend STEAGLE COLBEAGLE THE EAGLE."

The Report is shown Monday through Thursday at 11:30 PM on Comedy Central. Stephen Colbert sent a personalized message to Saginaw for the unveiling ceremony that took place on September 30th prior to that night's home game.

The show will be replayed on Comedy Central Wednesday, October 4th at 10:30 AM, 2:30 PM and 8:30 PM.

A video clip of the segment will be available online on Comedy Central's web site within the next two days. Visit the link below for more information.

http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/the_colbert_report/videos/most_recent/index.jhtml

Plymouth Whalers Trade Goaltender Justin Garay to Erie

PLYMOUTH TOWNSHIP - Plymouth Whalers President, General Manager and Head Coach Mike Vellucci has announced the trade of goaltender Justin Garay to the Erie Otters in exchange for a conditional draft choice in 2007.

The trade reduces Plymouth's crowded goaltending situation. Michal Neuvirth (a second round pick of the National Hockey League's Washington Capitals) and Jeremy Smith (Brownstown) have split duty in goal so far this season with rookie Kyle Jendra as the third goaltender.

Garay, 19 and from Monaca, PA, was selected by Plymouth in the eighth round (159th overall) in the 2003 Ontario Hockey League Draft. Garay made his OHL debut on October 1, 2004 in London in a 5-4 overtime loss. Garay played in 22 games in his rookie season in 2004-05, posting a 3.64 goals against average and .880 save percentage.

Last year, Garay compiled excellent numbers through the first two months of the season with a 2.70 goals against average and .918 save percentage, including his first OHL shutout on Oct, 21, 2005 in a 3-0 victory in Kitchener. But Garay injured his ankle last November and appeared in five games the rest of the season. Overall, Garay had a 3.72 goals against average and .892 save percentage in 14 games in 2005-06.

WHALERS BUSY ON THE ROAD: Plymouth - first place in the OHL West with a 4-1-0-0 record - plays its next three games on the road, starting this Saturday in Owen Sound, Sunday in Mississauga and Fri. Oct. 13 in Erie, before returning home Sat. Oct. 14 to host the London Knights at 7:05 p.m. at the Compuware Sports Arena.

All Whaler games can be heard on the internet on www.plymouthwhalers.com.

Tickets for all Whalers home games are available at the Compuware Sports Arena box office by calling (734) 453-8400. Tickets can also be purchased through Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com, or by calling (248) 645-6666.

Otters get Garay

The Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League announced today that they have acquired goaltender Justin Garay from the Plymouth Whalers in exchange for a conditional sixth round pick in the 2007 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection.

Garay, a 19 year-old from Monaca, PA, played the last two seasons with the Whalers but had yet to appear in a game this season. In 14 games last year he posted a 5-5 record with 3.72 goals against average and a .892 save percentage. In 36 career OHL games Garay has an 11-12-2-1 record with a 3.67 goals against average.

Tickets for tonight's game are on sale now at all Erie-area TicketMaster locations as well as the Civic Center Box Office. The game can also be heard live on 1330 Erie's ESPN Radio and on-line at www.ottershockey.com (presented by the James H. Cross Company) beginning with the pre-game show at 7:15 p.m.

Single game regular season ticket prices for the 2006-2007 season are $13.50 for platinum level seating and $11.50 for gold level seating. A child ticket is also available for $9.50 for children 12 and under in any seating section. All single season ticket prices include the City of Erie 3% Entertainment Tax.

Owen Sound Attack Weekly Update

As week #3 of the OHL regular season begins, the Owen Sound Attack is 2nd in the Midwest Division, 3rd in the Western Conference, and tied for 3rd in the OHL with 7 points. Only the Guelph Storm (9 points) and the Plymouth Whalers (8 points) are ahead of the Attack.

The Attack has the third highest ranked power play in the OHL at 28.6% and the eleventh ranked penalty kill at 78.9%.

Several Attack players are among the top scorers in the league.

#22 Bobby Sanguinetti - Leads OHL Defenceman scoring with 10 points. - Tied for 4th in OHL Scoring with 10 points. - Tied for 8th in OHL Goals with 4. - Tied for lead in OHL Power Play Goals with 4. - Tied for 2nd in OHL Goals with 6.

#24 Theo Peckham - 2nd in OHL Defenceman scoring with 9 points. - Tied for 8th in OHL Scoring with 9 points. - Tied for 3rd in OHL Power Play Assists with 5. - Tied for 5th in OHL Assists with 6.

#27 Trevor Lewis - Tied for 14th in OHL Scoring with 8 points. - Tied for 7th in OHL Power Play Assists with 4. - Tied for 11th in OHL Assists with 5.

#12 Scott Tregunna - Tied for 12th in OHL Goals with 4.

#23 Marek Bartanus - Tied for 5th in OHL Assists with 6.

#18 Zach McCullough - tied for 15th in OHL Defenceman Scoring with 4 points.

#35 Russ Brownell - 12th in OHL Save Percentage at .891 - Tied for 11th in OHL Goals Against Average at 3.57.

#1 Neil Conway - 9th in OHL Goals against Average at 3.00.

Games Scheduled This Week

Thursday, October 5 at 7:30pm - Owen Sound Attack visits Toronto St. Michael's Majors. Broadcast live on Bear Radio on 560 CFOS or on the internet at www.attackhockey.com. This game will not be broadcast on Rogers Television as previously advertised.

Saturday, October 7 at 7:30pm - Owen Sound Attack hosts the Plymouth Whalers. It's Hockey Hall of Fame Night with Peninsula Ford. Tickets are on sale at the box office weekdays 8:30 - 5:00pm. Phone orders at (519) 371-7452 or toll free 1-866-5ATTACK. Internet orders at www.attackhockey.com. The game will be broadcast live on Rogers Cable Channel 53.

Monday, October 9 at 2pm - Owen Sound Attack hosts Erie Otters. The game is sponsored by Pepsi. Tickets are on sale at the box office weekdays 8:30 - 5:00pm. Phone orders at (519) 371-7452 or toll free 1-866-5ATTACK. Internet orders at www.attackhockey.com. The game will be broadcast live on Rogers Cable Channel 53.