Mercer, Yetman and Bowman commit to Whalers

Plymouth Whalers General Manager and Head Coach Mike Vellucci announced the commitment of three players to a Standard Ontario Hockey League Player’s Agreement. All three players were taken by Plymouth in last spring’s 2013 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection in April.

PHOTO CREDIT - PlymouthWhalers.com

Plymouth - July 11, 2013 - Plymouth Whalers General Manager and Head Coach Mike Vellucci announced the commitment of three players to a Standard Ontario Hockey League Player’s Agreement.

All three players were taken by Plymouth in last spring’s 2013 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection in April.

1-16-year-old center Cullen Mercer was taken in the third round (57th overall) of the 2013 Draft after scoring 37 goals with 36 assists for 73 points last season for the Huron-Perth minor midgets. He also played for Team Alliance in last spring’s Ontario Hockey League’s Gold Cup tournament.

“Cullen’s a good two-way center who plays an intelligent game,” said Vellucci. “With experience, he should develop into a young man who can be used in all situations.”

2-16-year-old right wing Bryce Yetman was selected in the fourth round (73rd overall) of the 2013 Priority Selection after scoring 15 goals with 8 assists for 23 points in 36 games last season for the Whitby Wildcats minor midgets. After playing in the OHL Gold Cup playoffs in the spring, Yetman received an invitation to the Ontario Minor Hockey Association's Under-16 Program of Excellence selection camp.

“Bryce is a young man who is still growing and developing as a player,” Vellucci said. “We see him maturing into a power forward. Bryce has an excellent offensive up-side.”

3-Goaltender Zach Bowman - who turns 16 later this month - was taken by Plymouth in the fourth round (76th overall) after playing for the Niagara North Stars minor midgets. Like Yetman, Bowman received an invitation to the Ontario Minor Hockey Association's Under-16 Program of Excellence selection camp.

“Zach plays his position with good lateral movement and solid reflexes,” Vellucci said. “We know he’s committed to getting better and should improve within our system.”

Mercer, Yetman and Bowman will attend high school at the Plymouth-Cantonal Educational Park starting in late August.

They’ll report to the Whalers’ training camp during the same time frame in preparation for the upcoming 2013-14 season.

Plymouth opens the season on Fri. Sept. 20 in London, with the home opener set for Sat. Sept, 21 against Erie at 7:05 pm at Compuware Arena. Tickets for all Plymouth Whalers games are available by calling (734) 453-8400.

Four other players have committed to Plymouth for 2013-14, including forward Connor Chatham (fifth round, 88th overall, 2011); Josh Wesley, who was taken by the Whalers in the fifth round in the 2012 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection; defenseman Mathieu Henderson (17), a seventh round pick in the 2012 OHL Draft and right wing Spencer Lee, an 11th round pick in the 2011 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection.