Bob Whidden
Encyclopedia
Robert J. "Bob" Whidden was a professional
ice hockey
player and successful high school
ice hockey coach
. He played goaltender
. He was born in Sudbury, Ontario
and was involved in ice hockey in various capacities for over 50 years.
of the Ontario Hockey Association
(OHA). In 1967, he was a member of the Marlboros team that won the J. Ross Robertson Cup
(OHA title) and Memorial Cup
(Canadian Major Junior championship).
of the World Hockey Association
where he was a back-up for the legendary Gerry Cheevers
. In addition, he played with the Rochester Americans
and Baltimore Clippers
of the American Hockey League
, Charlotte Checkers of the Eastern Hockey League
, and the Mohawk Valley Comets
of the North American Hockey League.
high school hockey. He spent 21 years at the helm of the hockey team at St. Edward High School
in Lakewood, Ohio
, which is a western suburb of Cleveland. Whidden would make an immediate impact. In 1985, in his first year as head coach, Whidden would lead the team to become the Ohio High School Athletic Association
(OHSAA) State "big school" hockey champions. That team featured a young sophomore center named Todd Harkins
, who would go on to have an NHL and minor league career. Whidden coached several players that would be in the NHL draft including Todd Harkins, Brett Harkins
, and Michael Rupp
, who is now with the Pittsburgh Penguins
.
Eventually, Whidden's Eagles would win 10 OHSAA state titles, 7 Baron Cups (Greater Cleveland
Championships), and finished with a career record of 507-149-28. His 507 wins rank fourth most all-time in OHSAA history. He retired in March 2005 after winning the 10th title and being named Ohio High School Hockey Coach of the Year by the National Federation of State High School Associations
.
In July 2009, St. Edward named Whidden to the school's Athletic Hall of Fame, class of 2009.
Ice Hockey following a minor league career.
Professional
A professional is a person who is paid to undertake a specialised set of tasks and to complete them for a fee. The traditional professions were doctors, lawyers, clergymen, and commissioned military officers. Today, the term is applied to estate agents, surveyors , environmental scientists,...
ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player and successful high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
ice hockey coach
Coach (ice hockey)
Coach in ice hockey is the person responsible for directing the team during games and practices, prepares strategy and decides which players will participate in games....
. He played goaltender
Goaltender
In ice hockey, the goaltender is the player who defends his team's goal net by stopping shots of the puck from entering his team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring...
. He was born in Sudbury, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
and was involved in ice hockey in various capacities for over 50 years.
Juniors
During his junior career, he played with the famed Toronto MarlborosToronto Marlboros
The Toronto Marlborough Athletic Club, commonly known as the Toronto Marlboros, was founded in 1903. It operated a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey Association and Ontario Hockey League from 1904 to 1989...
of the Ontario Hockey Association
Ontario Hockey Association
The Ontario Hockey Association is the governing body for the majority of Junior and Senior level ice hockey teams in the Province of Ontario. The OHA is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Federation along with the Northern Ontario Hockey Association. Other Ontario sanctioning bodies along with the...
(OHA). In 1967, he was a member of the Marlboros team that won the J. Ross Robertson Cup
J. Ross Robertson Cup
The J. Ross Robertson Cup is an ice hockey trophy awarded annually to the winner of the Ontario Hockey League playoff championship. It was presented by and named for John Ross Robertson, the president of the Ontario Hockey Association who served from 1899 to 1905.Originally it was awarded to the...
(OHA title) and Memorial Cup
Memorial Cup
The Memorial Cup is a junior ice hockey club championship trophy awarded annually to the Canadian Hockey League champion. It is awarded following a four-team, round robin tournament between a host team and the champions of the CHL's three member leagues: the Ontario Hockey League , Quebec Major...
(Canadian Major Junior championship).
Professional career
He played four years with the Cleveland CrusadersCleveland Crusaders
The Cleveland Crusaders were a professional ice hockey team from Cleveland, Ohio. The Crusaders were founded by Nick Mileti, and played in the World Hockey Association from 1972 to 1976...
of the World Hockey Association
World Hockey Association
The World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926...
where he was a back-up for the legendary Gerry Cheevers
Gerry Cheevers
Gerald Michael "Cheesey" Cheevers is a former goaltender in the National Hockey League and World Hockey Association between 1961 and 1980, most famous for his two stints with the Boston Bruins, where he backstopped the team to Stanley Cup wins in 1970 and 1972...
. In addition, he played with the Rochester Americans
Rochester Americans
The Rochester Americans are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and a top affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. The team plays its home games in Rochester, New York, at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial...
and Baltimore Clippers
Baltimore Clippers
The Baltimore Clippers were an American ice hockey team. They were the first of three Baltimore entries into the American Hockey League, who played from 1962–76...
of the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
, Charlotte Checkers of the Eastern Hockey League
Eastern Hockey League
-Eastern Amateur Hockey League :The league was founded in 1933 as the Eastern Amateur Hockey League . The league was founded by Thomas Lockhart, who served as its commissioner from 1933 to 1972...
, and the Mohawk Valley Comets
Mohawk Valley Comets
They Mohawk Valley Comets are a former professional ice hockey team based in Utica, NY. They were a member of the North American Hockey League from 1973 to 1977.-Season-by-season results:...
of the North American Hockey League.
Coaching
Bob Whidden is one of the most accomplished head coaches in OhioOhio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
high school hockey. He spent 21 years at the helm of the hockey team at St. Edward High School
St. Edward High School (Lakewood, Ohio)
St. Edward High School is private, all-male Catholic, college-preparatory high school located in Lakewood, Ohio, a western Cleveland suburb. It was founded in 1949 and is operated in the by the Midwest Province of the Brothers of Holy Cross, Notre Dame, Indiana. It is one of three remaining...
in Lakewood, Ohio
Lakewood, Ohio
Lakewood is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. It is part of the Greater Cleveland Metropolitan Area, and borders the city of Cleveland. The population was 52,131 at the 2010 making it the third largest city in Cuyahoga County, behind Cleveland and Parma .Lakewood, one of Cleveland's...
, which is a western suburb of Cleveland. Whidden would make an immediate impact. In 1985, in his first year as head coach, Whidden would lead the team to become the Ohio High School Athletic Association
Ohio High School Athletic Association
The Ohio High School Athletic Association is the governing body of athletic programs for junior and senior high schools in the state of Ohio...
(OHSAA) State "big school" hockey champions. That team featured a young sophomore center named Todd Harkins
Todd Harkins
Todd Michael Harkins is a retired American professional ice hockey player who played 48 National Hockey League games for the Calgary Flames and Hartford Whalers. Harkins was drafted by the Flames in the 2nd round, 42nd overall in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft...
, who would go on to have an NHL and minor league career. Whidden coached several players that would be in the NHL draft including Todd Harkins, Brett Harkins
Brett Harkins
Brett Alan Harkins is a former American professional ice hockey left wing, who played for 18 years. He played in National Hockey League in four stints with the Boston Bruins, Florida Panthers, and Columbus Blue Jackets.-Amateur career:...
, and Michael Rupp
Michael Rupp
Michael Francis Rupp is an American professional ice hockey player currently playing for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
, who is now with the Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
.
Eventually, Whidden's Eagles would win 10 OHSAA state titles, 7 Baron Cups (Greater Cleveland
Greater Cleveland
Greater Cleveland is a nickname for the metropolitan area surrounding Cleveland, Ohio and is part of what used to be the Connecticut Western Reserve.Northeast Ohio refers to a similar but substantially larger area as described below...
Championships), and finished with a career record of 507-149-28. His 507 wins rank fourth most all-time in OHSAA history. He retired in March 2005 after winning the 10th title and being named Ohio High School Hockey Coach of the Year by the National Federation of State High School Associations
National Federation of State High School Associations
The National Federation of State High School Associations is the body that writes the rules of competition for most high school sports and activities in the United States. Most high schools, whether public or private, belong to their state's high school association; in turn, each state association...
.
In July 2009, St. Edward named Whidden to the school's Athletic Hall of Fame, class of 2009.
Honors
- 1967 Memorial Cup Winner (player)
- 10 OHSAA state titles (coach)
- 7 Baron Cups (coach)
- 500 Wins as a high school head coach
- Cleveland Hockey Legends Ring of Honor
- In 2011, he was hono(u)red by his hometown by being added to the House of Kin Sudbury Hall of Fame
Personal life
He is married to Erma and have three sons, Rob and Jarrett, both of whom followed in their father's coaching footsteps, and Tyler. Rob took over as head coach of St. Edward hockey in 2005 and won the 2008 Ohio state championship. In August 2006, Jarrett was named head coach of Kent State UniversityKent State University
Kent State University is a public research university located in Kent, Ohio, United States. The university has eight campuses around the northeast Ohio region with the main campus in Kent being the largest...
Ice Hockey following a minor league career.