2013

115 Dave Whistle

Dave Whistle arrived in Britain from his native Canada in autumn 1992 to play for Billingham Bombers. But it is his achievements, some years later, in his speedy transition to coaching that sets him apart. He guided three clubs over six campaigns to four trophies including two Superleague titles and was twice named ‘Coach of the Year’.

Joining Bracknell for the 1995/96 season was his fifth club in as many years. He had been top scorer for Billingham in the Heineken sponsored British League Premier Division and for Romford the next winter in division one, before moving onto to Basingstoke in their inaugural season in the Premier. A year later back in division one he again headed his club’s scoring list, this time with Telford.

Summer 1996 was all change in British hockey as a group of ambitious club owners formed Superleague which included Bracknell. Whistle, at nearly 31, easily adapted to the rise in playing standards in contributing 46 points. Midway through the following season he temporary moved behind the bench in the head coach’s absence, which coincided with a run of victories and to Bees contesting their first cup final in ten years.

Appointed head coach he recruited a couple of ex NHLers and by spring 1999 had lifted Bracknell to a play-off semi-final. Re-signing nine of Bees top players and adding that summer key forwards Todd Goodwin and Kevin Riehl, plus defenders Shane Johnson and Martin Woods, are a testament to Whistle’s judgement with a budget lower than several other clubs. Man-managing and motivating his team through injuries to play fast attractive hockey, he achieved Bracknell’s first title in 11 years to be named ‘Coach of the Year’. He served as assistant coach to Great Britain at Sheffield in November for a Pool A World Championship qualifying tournament and in Holland for Pool B in April 2000, where GB finished third from eight.

The fledgling Belfast Giants came calling. Although knowing they would be on the road for 18 contests, before the Odyssey opened in December, quietly spoken coach Dave persuaded six of the Superleague champions to join him. Retaining ten players from that inaugural season, six first class forwards were added, plus former NHL netminder Mike Bales. A 16 match undefeated run secured the league crown by late January, finishing with a 21 point margin, plus a Challenge cup final. Whistle gained the ‘Coach of the Year’ accolade for the second time in three years.

In his final winter in the Northern Irish capital Dave cajoled his injury hit charges in the 44 club 25 nation Continental Cup, to a creditable sixth place in the mid season finals in Switzerland. Retention of the Superleague title was missed by just one point, although triumph in the 2003 play-offs followed by beating London Knights 5-3 in the final.

After a brief spell in Germany with Iserlohn, he was back in Britain to join the Bob Philips owned Cardiff Devils for the next 18 months, usually behind the bench, sometimes also as manager.
Philips added Sheffield to his portfolio in summer 2006, transferring Whistle to Yorkshire in late November as director of hockey. By mid February Dave was coaching, guiding Steelers to the play-offs and winning the Knock-Out Cup, his fourth trophy. Although intending to stay with Sheffield, an unsolicited offer to coach the Alberni Valley Bulldogs in the British Columbia League was too good an opportunity to pass up.

Born in Thunder Bay, Ontario on 27 January 1966, Dave developed as a centre-ice in the Major Junior hockey leagues first with Kitchener Rangers, then St. John Castors. As an over-age 20 year old during 1986/87 with Brandon Wheat Kings he decided to get a college education. Four years later he came to the UK after turning down at offer from Germany.

Today, Whistle resides with his wife and two hockey talented sons in Kelowna, British Columbia. Here for the past three years he has been head coach of the Bantam AA (13-14 years) at the Pursuit of Excellence Hockey Academy.

Written by Martin C Harris