Name: Chris Whitley
Hometown: Oshawa, Ontario
Program: Bachelor of Education
Sport: Mens Hockey
Years as a varsity Lakehead Athlete: 5
Lakehead/OUA/CIS Honours/Medals:
1) OUA Mens Hockey MVP 2008
2) OUA 1st team All Star 2008
3) CIS 1st Team All Canadian 2008
4) Lakehead Male Athlete of the Year 2008
5) Lakehead Hockey MVP 2008
6) CIS Mens Hockey National Championships All Tournament Goaltender 2006
7) Lakehead Freshman Male Athlete of the Year 2005
8) Lakehead Hockey Rookie of the Year 2005
Lakehead Hockey Goaltending Records (a sampling):
1) Most career overall appearances with 153
2) Most career overall wins with 82
3) Most career OUA regular season wins with 52
4) Most career playoff appearances with 31
5) Most career playoff wins with 16
6) Most OUA regular season wins in a season with 15, set in 07-08 while platooning with netminder Kyle Moir.
7) Going a perfect 15-0 between the pipes in OUA regular season play in 07-08; only perfect regular season for a netminder in Lakehead hockey history
8) Most overall wins in a season with 20 set in 07-08
9) Best OUA regular season Goals Against record of 2.05 goals set in 07-08
10) Best Goals Against for an overall season with a mark of 2.34 set in 07-08
11) Best OUA regular season Save Percentage record of .924 set in 07-08
12) Best Save Percentage for an overall season with a mark of .917 set in 07-08
The Lakehead Thunderwolves mens hockey team has been blessed with a tradition of excellence at goaltending in its eight seasons of OUA/CIS play. The tradition began with Lakehead Legend Grant McCune and it has been continued by graduating star fifth year senior netminder Chris Whitley. Sophomore keeper Kyle Moir has shown that he is in the best keeping of this tradition as he played very well for the Wolves in his first two seasons and will take over the mantle heading into next season.
However, our focus here is on the graduate; Chris Whitley. Simply put; Chris Whitleys Lakehead career is legendary; setting almost every Lakehead goaltending record with marks that will tough to beat. The 2007-08 campaign was the best ever put forward by a Lakehead netminder in terms of wins, goaltending statistics and records, and personal honours. Granted, he had a strong supporting cast in front of him as the Wolves set many team records; but the fact remains that the final line of defence was Whitley and he stood tall for the Wolves all season long.
Lets review that record breaking season. He set a new Lakehead record for OUA regular season wins with 15; going a perfect 15-0 between the pipes in OUA play. He also broke his own record for overall wins in a season with a new mark of 20 wins.
He broke his own OUA regular season Goals Against record by posting a 2.05 goals per game mark last season. He set the new mark in Goals Against for an overall season with a mark of 2.34.
He broke his own OUA regular season Save Percentage record by posting a new mark of .924. He also set the new Lakehead record in Save Percentage for an overall season with a mark of .917.
What was Whitleys reward for his stellar play last season? He was named an OUA First Team All Star (a first for a Lakehead netminder), OUA West and OUA MVP (both also firsts for a Lakehead goalie), and finally was named a CIS First Team All Canadian; the first time in Lakehead Hockey history a goaltender has received this accolade.
This season Whitley kept on breaking records; setting new marks for career overall appearances with 153, most overall wins with 82, most OUA regular season wins with 52, most playoff appearances with 31, and most playoff wins with 16. Whitley leaves with almost every career goaltending record for the Thunderwolves.
Whitley is no stranger to excellence. Before coming to Lakehead as a prized recruit; he backstopped the Aurora Tigers to an RBC Bank Cup National Junior A Championship. Whitley had an excellent freshman season for the Wolves and an even better sophomore season where he caught fire in the playoffs and helped lead the Wolves to a CIS national silver medal in 2006. He was named to the 2006 CIS Championships All Tournament Team as Goaltender and he, along with fellow All Tournament selection Jeff Richards, were the main reasons for Lakeheads success at the nationals.
Whitley had a dip in his junior season, as did the whole Wolves squad but he returned to form and then some in 2007-08. Whitleys return to form came from two sources; his own re-dedication to be at the top of his game after a sub-standard junior season and the challenge posed by then freshman star recruit Kyle Moir. Moir and Whitley challenged each other all season long and the result was fantastic seasons for both of them. (Moir went 10-6-1 overall with a Save Percentage of .905 and a GAA of 2.49).
Whitley called 2007-08 a dream season. That was a dream season for me personally. I don't think I could ever imagine going undefeated in a season but last year I had a great team who made me look good every night I was in net, so it just made it easy for me. I was also very honoured to be voted MVP of the OUA by the league. There were many other guys who could have won it as well in my mind like Dan Speer or Brock McPherson who were both unreal every game for us last season.
Whitley capped his Lakehead career this season with two fantastic performances, unfortunately both losses, at the CIS national championships this past March before a home crowd at the Fort William Gardens in Thunder Bay. Although he didnt capture the national championship he was looking for; Whitley brought his A game and kept the Wolves in both of their championship games and was the star of the nationals for the Wolves.
Lakehead Mens Hockey Head Coach Don McKee said Whitley leaves Lakehead as a legend. Chris leaves behind a hockey legacy at Lakehead that will be hard to compare to. For five seasons; he was fan favourite because of the spectacular saves he made night in and night out. Being named an OUA All Star and MVP in 2008 allowed Chris to be named an All Canadian which is a very honourable recognition; and a first for Lakehead goalies. I have no doubt that Chris will surely have a bright future in both the hockey world and teaching profession and I wish him all the best in both fields.
Whitley is very proud of his career with the Thunderwolves. I think I have had a very good career at Lakehead and I know I can be very proud of what I accomplished on and off the ice during my time here. When I first came to Lakehead, I was told I wouldn't play much my first two years but I just battled hard and played like I knew I could and ended up playing in lots of games and had an opportunity to play in a CIS National Championship along the way. I am very privileged that I will be graduating with a Teaching Degree as well as the opportunity of playing hockey for a great University for five years.
Q & A with graduate Chris Whitley:
1.What are your fondest memories as a Lakehead varsity athlete?
I think the road trips with the boys I will miss the most and just being around a great group of guys for five years was a great memory.
2.What do you think was your top athletic achievement or performance as a Lakehead Varsity Athlete?
I think being recognized as the top player in the OUA in 2008 was my greatest achievement at Lakehead. I had a great season but I also had great teammates that made me look good every night so I believe a lot of credit goes to them as well.
3.What did being a Lakehead varsity athlete teach you that will help you in your life after university?
It taught me a lot about responsibility and time management. I learned how to really use my time effectively and efficiently.
4.What are you plans after graduating from Lakehead?
I would definitely love to get a fulltime job as a teacher here in Thunder Bay next year but I still want to play professional hockey for a year or two so I will explore my options this summer and choose the right situation for me personally when the time comes.