the next three games. Detroit clinched the series with a 9-2 victory in game seven. The Whalers moved on to defeat the Kitchener 4 games to 1 in the second round. The Whalers were eliminated in the semi-finals, losing to the Peterborough Petes in five games. On March 1, 1996, Whalers owner Peter Karmanos finalized plans to build a 4,000 seat arena in Plymouth Township for his team. The arena was to be ready for the 1996–97 season. 1996–97 The Whalers had arrived in Plymouth in 1996–97, and began to build a new fan base, and rebuild the team on the ice. DeBoer and newly appointed assistant coach Steve Spott chose a team full of rookies, and a handful of veterans. The Whalers revamped their roster with a hard-working scouting staff. First round pick Harold Druken scored 27 goals with 31 assists in his first season. The Whalers made the playoffs despite finish with a losing record of 26-34-6. Detroit met their old foe, the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in the playoffs. After losing the first three games, the Whalers came from three goals behind in the fourth game to prolong the series, winning 4-3 in double overtime. The game was the longest in the franchise's history (90 minutes, 2 seconds). The Greyhounds won the next game 8-3, but the Whalers' rookies gained valuable experience for the next season. Players Bryan Berard won his second consecutive Max Kaminsky Trophy in 1995–96 as the most outstanding defenceman in the OHL. The same season he was the Canadian Hockey League Defenceman of the Year. Yearly results Regular season Playoffs 1995–96 - Defeated Windsor Spitfires 4 games to 3 in division quarter-finals. Defeated Kitchener Rangers 4 games to 1 in quarter-finals. Lost to Peterborough Petes 4 games to 1 in semi-finals. 1996–97 - Lost to S.S.Marie Greyhounds 4 games to 1 division quarter-finals. Arenas During the 1995–96 season, the Detroit Whalers played 21 regular season home games at The Palace of Auburn Hills, and the remaining 12 regular season home games and playoff home games at the Oak Park Ice Arena. Karmanos arranged to build the Whalers a new home in Plymouth Township as soon as the 1995–96 season ended. The new arena was constructed in 6 months, in time for the 1996–97 season. The Detroit Whalers played all games of their second season at the Compuware Sports Arena. More information on arenas