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As the Whalers Celebrate 20 years a List of Firsts Whale Tales MLivecompostCommentpostComment Sign in to MLivecom Not a member Register Now Sign in to MLivecomUsername Password Remember meI forgot my username or password Dont have an account Register now for free or sign in using your AIM or Google account!Site SearchSearch Local Business Listings Brought to you byHomeNewsBusinessSportsEntertainmentLivingInteractJobsAutosReal EstateClassifiedsShopPlace An Ad Whale Tales Latest news rumors and opinions about the Plymouth Whalers hockey teamAs the Whalers Celebrate 20 years a List of FirstsBy Pete Krupsky December 09 2009 203PMMark HicksIn the early days of the Whalers franchise Pat Peake (left) and Mark Lawrence (right) were among the top playersIn an era of instant messaging fast downloads and breaking news the Plymouth Whalers will take a step back Friday and celebrate their 20th anniversary in the Ontario Hockey League when they take on the Erie Otters at 705pm at Compuware ArenaThe OHL awarded Whalers owner Peter Karmanos an expansion franchise for Detroit on Dec 11 1989 After missing the OHL playoffs as a firstyear expansion team in 199091 the Whalers have made the playoff ever year since This year will make 19 straight seasons in the playoffs a current OHL record To commemorate 20 years of hockey excellence Ive compiled a list of firsts for the teamFIRST GENERAL MANAGER Tony MacDonald who is now Director of Scouting for the National Hockey Leagues Carolina HurricanesFIRST HEAD COACH Andy Weidenbach who is now head coach at CranbrookKingswood high schoolFIRST ASSISTANT COACH Paul Maurice who is now head coach of the NHLs Carolina HurricanesFIRST CAPTAIN Paul Mitton obtained from Peterborough in the expansion draftFIRST PLAYER EVER SELECTED IN THE OHL DRAFT Pat Peake taken first overall in the 1990 OHL Priority SelectionFIRST GOALEVER Sept 3 1990 at Oak ParkCompuware Arena by Jon Stos in a 11 tie in preseasonplayFIRST GAME Sept 20 1990 at Cobo Arena The London Knights defeated the Detroit Compuware Ambassadors 50FIRST GOAL REGULAR SEASON Sept 21 1990 at London Gardens by Pat Peake in a 64 loss to the KnightsFIRST WIN Oct 4 1990 in a 73 victory over Owen Sound at Cobo Arena John Wynne scored the gamewinning goalFIRST TIE Nov 2 1990 in a 44 tie against Oshawa at Cobo Arena Eric Lindros scored the tying goal in the gameFIRST WINNING STREAK 3 games (Oct 413) in a 73 win over Owen Sound a 54 win in Hamilton and a 75 victory over OttawaFIRST LOSING STREAK Sept 20Oct 2 1990 a total of seven gamesFIRST PLAYER SELECTED IN NHL ENTRY DRAFT Pat Peake taken in the first round (14th overall) by Washington in the 1991 NHL Entry DraftFIRSTEVER GAME IN SAGINAW Detroit played Kingston on Sept 15 1991 in a preseason game at Dow Event CenterFIRST MOVE Start of t...