Business Administration major Sam Whitehouse ’24 remembers watching The Mighty Ducks at 3 years old with his grandfather and wanting to play ice hockey. While his parents weren’t thrilled about his newfound interest, they agreed to let him learn to ice skate—and eventually play hockey.

Now, Whitehouse has played junior hockey around the United States and Canada and has signed on as a defensive player for Arcadia’s men’s ice hockey team. While he’s not playing this year, he’s taking the opportunity to coach youth hockey in Brewster, N.Y.

“It’s a good feeling to give back to the sport that gave me so much,” said Whitehouse, who coaches defense for the New York Applecore, a team of 19 players between the ages of 14 and 16 based in Brewster, N.Y. “I enjoy coaching and it’s something I’m interested in.”

Whitehouse said that while he’s guest-coached for a day or at an event, this is the first time he’s coached a team. He hopes to one day return to his former high school, Horace Greeley High School in Chappaqua, N.Y., to coach hockey.

“I enjoy coming up with a game plan with my players when you’re playing against another team,” said Whitehouse. “If public school hockey ever happens in New York, I want to go help at my high school.” 

Whitehouse has been playing in the Junior Hockey League since graduating high school in 2017. He’s played for the Bellingham Blazers in Bellingham, Wash., in the Western State Hockey League (WSHL); Valley Wildcats in Nova Scotia in the Maritime Junior Hockey League (MJAHL); Southshore Kings in Boston, Mass., in the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL Premier); and the Walpole Express in Walpole, Mass., in the Eastern Hockey League (EHL).

“It’s been a bit of an adjustment going back to school,” said Whitehouse, who noted how Spanish was the most challenging subject to return to after three years away from the classroom. “I’m ready to focus on my degree though. Joining Arcadia and getting the team going is a unique opportunity that I couldn’t pass up.”