Whalers Not Destined For Chatham
The Plymouth Whalers will announce their future plans Wednesday, with Chatham an unlikely destination – Photo by Aaron Bell/ OHL Images
The Whalers have scheduled a press conference for Wednesday and are expected to announce their plans for next season.
Flint, Michigan is expected to be named as the new home of the Whalers. The move toward Flint became evident earlier this week when Flint’s ownership group pulled their application for a USHL franchise only days before it was to be reviewed.
Flint’s ownership group has also announced plans to renovate Perani Arena, which would serve as the new franchises home. Currently Perani Arena seats just over 4,400.
Multiple Flint media outlets reported via social media Tuesday that the move of the Plymouth Whalers to the Michigan city was a done deal.
Although the Whalers arena lease runs through to 2016, some believe the Whalers could be on the move as early as next season. The move of the Whalers could be necessitated if Compuware Arena, Plymouth’s current home becomes, as planned, the new home for the United States National Team Development Program.
Wednesday’s press conference, which is scheduled for 11am, will feature Whalers governor Mike Vellucci and owner Peter Karmanos, who ignited the media storm of the last month when he stated he hoped Chatham, Ontario would be the new home of his franchise.