Friday, May 31, 2013

USNTDP U17 grad Josh Wesley commits to Plymouth Whalers

Press Release

 PLYMOUTH – Plymouth Whalers General Manager and Head Coach Mike Vellucci announced the signing 17-year-old defenseman Josh Wesley, who was taken by the Whalers in the fifth round (98th overall) of the 2012 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection.

Wesley will attend high school in the fall at the Plymouth-Canton Educational Park.

“We’re excited to sign Josh to an education contract,” Vellucci said.  “We’re happy that Josh chose Plymouth as the next step in his development as a player and a student.”

Wesley – 6-foot-2 and 203 pounds, from Raleigh, N.C. – contributed 7 assists and 20 PIM’s in 56 games for the United States National Team Development Program U-17’s last season.  He played for the Carolina Jr. Hurricanes program in 2011-12, scoring seven goals and six assists for 13 points in 18 games.

“Things are going great,” Wesley said.  “I lived in the area the past year while playing for the National Development Program, but made the change here.  I’m truly honored to put on the Whalers sweater. I’m very excited to get going.”

Although Wesley grew up in North Carolina, he was considered one of the top defensemen in the United States in his age-group at the time of his selection by the Whalers.  Plymouth has a history of drafting or acquiring players from all around the United States, including Stefan Noesen (Plano, TX), Cody Payne (Weston, FL), Austin Levi (Aurora, CO), Ryan Hartman (West Dundee, IL) and Connor Carrick (Orland Park, IL), among others.

“I grew up watching all of those players,” Wesley said.  “Now I get a chance to play with a lot of them.”

Wesley’s father, Glen, played 20 seasons in the National Hockey League with Boston, Hartford, Toronto and Carolina.

Wesley is expected to report to Plymouth’s training camp in late August, with the first pre-season games to be played around Labor Day.

 (Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)

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