Trocheck becomes OHL scoring leader as the Whalers blank the Spitfires

WINDSOR, Ont. - Vincent Trocheck did just enough on Sunday to make himself the front runner for the Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy as the Ontario Hockey League's top scorer.

The 19-year-old centreman set up three goals as his Plymouth Whalers blanked the host Windsor Spitfires 4-0 in OHL play.

The three points puts him at 109 in 63 games, which is one more than Sarnia Sting forward Charles Sarault who came into the day with 108 in 68 contests.

After being acquired by Plymouth from the Saginaw Spirit on Jan. 10th, Trocheck had a spectacular second half to the season to become the league leader. He produced 59 points in 28 games with the Whalers and only failed to pick up a point in one outing. The Pittsburgh, Pa. native is just one of two players this season in the OHL to reach the 50-goal mark and he will be entering the post season on a 21-game point streak.

Stefan Noesen had a goal and an assist for the Whalers (42-17-9), who enter the post season on an eight-game win streak, and Matt Mahalak stopped 24 shots for his sixth-career shutout.

Cody Payne, Garret Meurs and Sebastien Uvira also scored for Plymouth.

Jordan DeKort turned away 30-of-34 shots in a losing cause for the Spitfires (26-33-9), who dropped their third game in a row and finish the regular season 10 points out of a playoff position in the Western Conference.

Plymouth went 2 for 6 on the power play while Windsor failed to score on four chances with the man advantage.

The Whalers enter the playoffs as the second seed in the West and will host the seventh-seeded Sarnia Sting. Game 1 of the first-round matchup is Friday Mar. 22nd at the Compuware Arena.

The only threat to Trochek's bid for the scoring title at this point would be Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds' forward Nick Cousins, who enters the Greyhounds final game of the season against the London Knights Sunday night with 102 points.