Trocheck adds more firepower to Whalers’ offense

By Matt Mackinder –

Ten years ago at the Ontario Hockey League trade deadline, the Plymouth Whalers shipped Taylor Raszka, their first-round pick from the 2002 OHL Draft, to Saginaw for Spirit captain Chris Thorburn.

That spring, the Whalers advanced to the Western Conference finals before bowing out in seven games to eventual OHL champion and Memorial Cup champion Kitchener.

Jump ahead ten years and it’s like déjà vu all over again.

On Jan. 10, Plymouth moved Zach Bratina, its top pick last April, to the Spirit for Saginaw veteran and captain Vince Trocheck.

How will the trade impact Plymouth’s playoff run remains to be seen, but if the first few games for Trocheck in Plymouth are any indication, the playoffs should be exciting from a fan’s standpoint.

Trocheck, a 19-year-old from Pittsburgh, said the trade was bittersweet, but something that had to be done.

“I didn’t request a trade exactly,” said Trocheck. “It was a mutual feeling between me and Saginaw and we both saw that it was best for both sides. Saginaw was great to me as an organization, but I wanted to be on a contender.”

Going into this weekend, the Whalers sit in second place in the West Division and the Spirit sit fourth with just over 20 games to play in the regular season.

Saginaw had originally drafted Trocheck in the second round of the 2009 OHL draft out of the Little Caesars’ minor midget organization. He quickly signed with the Spirit and made an impact over his three-plus years in mid-Michigan, becoming the second-highest point producer in the history of the organization, as his 240 points are behind only Ryan McDonough’s 247 points. Trocheck is also the Spirit’s all-time leader in assists with 146 helpers.

“Like I said, Saginaw was great to me,” Trocheck said. “I played my whole career there to the point of me getting traded. I have a lot of great friends and great memories with the team and I won’t ever forget that.”

Making his debut with the Whalers the day after the trade, the signed Florida Panthers’ prospect fit right in, earning five assists in his first two games against Brampton and Erie and then netting his first goal on Jan. 19 against Sault Ste. Marie.

Trocheck was named OHL Player of the Week after recording nine points

“It was definitely a little bit different in a new uniform,” admitted Trocheck. “I was just thinking the same thing as usual, though. I just wanted to go out and play my game and do my best to contribute to the new team.”

Over Christmas, Trocheck suited up for the United States World Junior team that brought home the gold medal from Ufa, Russia, for the second time in four years. In the clinching game, Trocheck sealed the deal with an empty-net goal as Team USA toppled Sweden. New Plymouth teammate Ryan Hartman was also part of the U.S. squad.

“The team we had at World Juniors was a really special team,” Trocheck said. “We had all the right pieces to the puzzle. We got better each and every game and worked harder than our opponents.”

Once he returned to Saginaw from Russia, Trocheck never again played for the Spirit, but soon enough, he’ll be on the other side of the coin. With games against Saginaw on tap for Feb. 13, March 5 and March 10, Trocheck will be playing against friends and ex-teammates, but as for his approach, nothing will or should change, he said.

“I think it will be different playing against Saginaw, but I’ll have the same mindset going in, though, and that’s to just play my game and work as hard as I can,” said Trocheck. “You always want to beat your former team.”

Now on the verge of the stretch drive as OHL teams start to jockey for playoff positioning, Trocheck said he’s not the focal point of the Whalers. All he wants to do is contribute.

“The rest of the season, I think we have a great team that can go far in the playoffs,” Trocheck said. “We are still figuring out where to put who, but as a team, we have a lot of firepower and I believe we can make a run.”

After this season, more than likely his last in the OHL, Trocheck’s top priority is to crack Florida’s roster for the 2013-14 season and show why the Panthers took him in the third round of the 2011 NHL draft.

“Heading into next season, I’m just going to do whatever I can to try and make the Panthers,” said Trocheck. “It’s pretty simple. I’m just going to do whatever they ask me to do and hope to be a Panther soon.”