Skip to content

OHL Notebook: Team record set in Plymouth

Plymouth Whalers defenceman Nick Malysa set a Plymouth Whalers record over the weekend when he suited up against the London Knights on Sunday.

Plymouth Whalers defenceman Nick Malysa set a Plymouth Whalers record over the weekend when he suited up against the London Knights on Sunday.

The overage defenceman suited up for career game number 280 in the game, setting a new Whalers record in the process. The previous record was held by forward Joe Gaynor, who played in 279 career games between 2005 and 2010.

“On the ice, it’s been amazing that he’s played so many games because he plays so hard,” Whalers assistant coach Joe Stefan told plymouthwhalers.com. “He blocks a lot of shots and it always in the thick of the battle. He rarely misses a game. It’s a credit to Nick that he’s such a great competitor.

“He brings so much to the team off the ice and in the dressing room. He works his tail off in practice and that’s happened every day since day one. He goes about thins the right way,” Stefan added.

Malysa was selected in the fifth round (99th overall) in the 2009 OHL Priority Selection.

“It’s been a great experience to be here for 280 games,” Malysa told the Whalers official website. “Hopefully – if I stay healthy – it will be 295 games. Just the experience of playing with the guys I played with in my time here has been phenomenal.”

Malysa has three goals and 27 points in his five-year OHL career with 2010-11 being his best offensive season with a goal and nine points in 65 games. This season, the 20-year-old has a goal and four points in 53 games as the Whalers find themselves battling for one of the final playoff spots in the OHL’s Western Conference.

As Malysa continues to extend his record in Plymouth, Barclay Goodrow of the North Bay Battalion will hit a milestone on Thursday night.

The overage forward will play career game 300 as the Battalion host the Windsor Spitfires.

Goodrow has spent all five seasons of his OHL career with the Battalion and is only one of three players in team history to do so. Goodrow’s teammate Matt MacLeod and former defenceman Cameron Wind are the other two.

In 299 career games with the Battalion franchise, Goodrow has scored 119 goals, including 25 in 49 games this season. The 20-year-old right winger has 210 career points.

Goodrow was the Battalion’s first round pick in the 2009 OHL Priority Selection from the York Simcoe Express, a team that included former Soo Greyhound and Owen Sound Attack forward Dan Catenacci as well as former Kitchener Rangers defenceman Ryan Murphy.

“It’s been a blast. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. I’ve been lucky to have spent every game with a great organization, and the Battalion has done nothing but great things for me,” Goodrow told the Battalion website (battalionhockey.com). “I’ve spent a quarter of my life here. It’s crazy to look at it like that. I was in Grade 10 when I was chosen by the Battalion, and now I’ve been out of high school for three years. I can remember each and every part of my time in the league.”

****
ACADEMIC PLAYERS OF THE MONTH

Earlier this week the OHL announced the academic players of the month for the month of January for each division.

Plymouth Whalers forward Francesco Villardi was named the West Division recipient as he carries an A+ average in his course load as Plymouth High School.

In the Midwest Division, Travis Dermott of the Erie Otter takes the honour. Barrie Colts defenceman, and highly-touted NHL prospect, Aaron Ekblad took the Central Division honour while Belleville bulls sophomore forward Michael Cramarossa took the East Division nod.


What's next?


If you would like to apply to become a Verified reader Verified Commenter, please fill out this form.




Brad Coccimiglio

About the Author: Brad Coccimiglio

A graduate of Loyalist College’s Sports Journalism program, Brad Coccimiglio’s work has appeared in The Hockey News as well as online at FoxSports.com in addition to regular freelance work with SooToday before joining the team full time.
Read more