Background
He was born in Sudbury, Ontario and was involved in ice hockey in various capacities for over 50 years.
He was born in Sudbury, Ontario and was involved in ice hockey in various capacities for over 50 years.
He played goaltender. During his junior career, he played with the famed Toronto Marlboros of the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA). He played four years with the Cleveland Crusaders 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.
He spent 21 years at the helm of the hockey team at Saint 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 National Hockey League and minor league career.
Whidden coached several players that would be in the National Hockey League draft including Todd Harkins, Brett Harkins, and Michael Rupp, who is now with the Minnesota Wild.
His 507 wins rank fourth most all-time in OHSAA history. In July 2009, Saint Edward named Whidden to the school"s Athletic Hall of Fame, class of 2009.