National win huge for Whitson
Hat sledge hockey player scores six on weekend, hopes to get to Paralympics for the third time
Gold around his neck and goals in every game at sledge hockey nationals have given Derek Whitson every reason to be optimistic about his chances of rejoining the national team.
Whether the Medicine Hat athlete will get an invite to the next development camp is now out of his hands, but he sure gave it his best shot.
“To know that I was able to get back, but not only that, be able to be a key contributor, I wanted to send a message that I’m hoping to have an opportunity to play for my country again, that I still have more in me,” said the 27-year-old who’s competed in two Paralympics. “I hope they see that and I get an invite.”
Whitson and Team Alberta won the national title Sunday in Boucherville, Que., a suburb of Montreal. They beat the host Quebec squad 3-0 in the gold medal game, capping an unbeaten weekend. Whitson scored twice in the final including an empty-netter, and finished the event with six goals in four games.
“In three of the four games I opened the scoring,” he said. “My last goal was into an empty net with five seconds left. It was a blocked shot from the point, a race to the red line so if I did miss it wasn’t icing. He hit me at the same time I shot, it just happened to be on net.
“This is definitely a confidence builder for me. I haven’t played forward in a very long time for one, but coming off an injury — that held me back from being able to try out and play at the best of my ability for a while now — I took time away and had to work really hard to even get back to the level I’m at now.”
The injury to his shoulder happened just after he won bronze with Canada in Sochi in 2014. That was also the year he moved from Ontario to Medicine Hat. Though he’s still got a booming shot, in sledge hockey your shoulders also matter for speed, which has hindered his development since.
The other factor is cerebral palsy. Whitson is the only national team member he’s known with the muscular disorder, which he won’t use as an excuse other than noting it does impact his speed as well.
Whitson’s thought now is that the shoulder is back to normal, and after not being on the national team for the first time in a decade this season he’s plenty motivated. The good showing at nationals will hopefully be a turning point.
“Hopefully the shoulder injury is settled down,” he said. “I’ve got less than 10 months to the big day if I make the team again. I’m hoping I can really step it up and show what I’m capable of.
“It’s a different mentality when you’re 17, 18. I feel a lot older. The new generation is definitely here, they’re ready to take over, they’re hungry, but I’m not ready to let my spot up yet. I’m hoping I get that opportunity.”
Alberta’s other wins were 3-2 over Quebec and 9-0 over Manitoba in the round robin, then an 8-0 semifinal win Saturday over British Columbia. This was Alberta’s second national title win in a row. Whitson played centre all weekend, a change from his role as defenceman on Team Canada.