Whalers Sign First Round Pick Mitchell Dempsey

Press Release

Plymouth Whalers President, General Manager and Head Coach Mike Vellucci announced the signing of 16-year-old left wing Mitchell Dempsey, who was selected by the Whalers in the first round (11th overall) of the 2011 Ontario Hockey League Draft.

Dempsey – from Cambridge, ON – scored 38 goals with 34 assists for 72 points and 76 PIM’s in 55 games for the Cambridge Hawks last season.

He participated in the Whalers Rookie Orientation in May, scoring twice over two scrimmages.

“We’ve had success in developing power forwards – guys who play with skill and strength,” Vellucci said. “It may take a little time, but Dempsey has the chance to be a player in the mold of James Neal (now with the Pittsburgh Penguins) or Jared Boll (Columbus Blue Jackets).”

After seeing Plymouth during Rookie Orientation, Dempsey is ready to get going during Whalers Training Camp, which begins with players reporting back to the area in late August.

“It was great coming in and meeting everyone at Rookie Camp,” Dempsey said today in a telephone interview. “It was a little nerve-wracking at first, but we were able to see everything and get settled. I can’t wait to get started.”

Dempsey will attend the Plymouth-Canton Education Park in 2011-12.

Besides Dempsey, the Whalers have signed three other new players for the upcoming season – 2011 second round pick and left Matthew Mistele; 2011 eighth round pick and left wing Danny Vanderwiel; and goaltender Jake Patterson, who was taken in the seventh round of the 2010 OHL Draft.

Plymouth finished last season with a record of 36-26-2-4 and made the playoffs for the 20th consecutive season – a current OHL record. The Whalers bring back a full roster in 2011-12 (including Dempsey, Mistele, Vanderwiel and Patterson) and are expected to be in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race again.

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)