Allen Captain Tobias Whelan leading by example

ALLEN, Texas – The Allen Americans’ impressive run in the Central Hockey League this season can be attributed to many factors; a deep bench allowing for strong goal scoring across nearly the entire roster, solid goal tending and a persistent, never-quit work ethic bench-wide, just to name a few.

Another factor is easily represented in the guise of team captain Tobias Whelan, whose dogged determination on the ice in every game is indicative of the overall persona of the team.
 
Whelan is one of the founding members of the Allen Americans, who returned for another season with the team and was assigned the role of captain by Head Coach Dwight Mullins, replacing Jarret Lukin, who took a leave of absence from the league. Watching him play, it’s not hard to see why the decision was made.
 
“Last year I was a rookie, so this year going through it again, I knew what to expect,” Whelan said. “I’ve played with some good players this year and have gotten a lot of ice time. Mully’s (head coach Dwight Mullins) confident putting me out on the power play, penalty kill, four-on-four and situations like that, so I think everything added together has built my confidence up and allowed me to contribute offensively.” 
 
Just past the halfway point of the season, Whelan has already surpassed his first year numbers with 39 points (15 G, 24 A) and there’s no sign of him letting up. The second year pro has been utilized in most every situation the team faces on the ice and that growing confidence has allowed Whelan to become a driving force offensively for the club.
 
Being captain is not new for Whelan, he wore the ‘C’ on his sweater during his last year in Oshawa before heading off to university, so he’s familiar with the role and responsibility that accompanies it both in the locker room and off the ice with the fans.
 
“When you’re captain, for the fans, you are the most recognizable person maybe and you’re looked at as the leader of the team,” Whelan said. “Whether it is media stuff or stuff out in the public, you’re that positive face of the team, the assistant captains do it as well. As the captain, you have a responsibility to be working hard all the time, to be positive and help all the guys out in any way you can and also to keep any communication open between the players and the coaches…anything that’s asked of you, you jump in and help out.”
 
On game day, there’s no shortage of leadership in the locker room Whelan says.
“If you have something to say, you say it. It’s a pretty open room; there are a lot of guys who have been leaders on teams before or are leaders in the room that don’t necessarily have an A on their jerseys,” Whelan added. “Everyone throws in what they think is going to help us out there. I think everyone does a good job of contributing there.” Whelan got his start in hockey at the tender age of 4, playing house league in Ontario. He remembers he couldn’t skate very well at first, struggling to keep himself upright most of the time chasing down the puck.
 
“The puck’s going one way, I tried to catch up and by the time I got there the puck was going the other way,” he reminisced. “I’d do the big loop and fall down. I guess I liked it, or at least the pizza parties afterward,” he chuckled.
 
Whelan’s parents let him attend several hockey schools and take lots of power skating lessons, which allowed him to advance up to the Junior level at Oshawa before heading to Lakehead University to earn a business degree to prepare him for life after hockey.
 
“I knew guys who went to school and then went pro after, so I thought I’d go to school and at least have something to fall back on,” Whelan said. “If I wanted to still play hockey, I’d try it. I’d like to play hockey for a couple more years.” 
 
When asked if he’d like to stay with the Americans, Whelan was quick to respond.
 
“Yeah, this is a great place to play. Obviously the team is doing really well. It’s a great group of guys – fun to be around and fun to play with. Mully and Macker (head coach Dwight Mullins and associate coach Bill McDonald) are pretty easy, laid back guys who are good guys to play for. The community and the area is such a nice area, everyone is so friendly and they treat you real well. It’s just a great place to play,” Whelan said.
 
Given his contributions to the team in its first two seasons and his growing popularity with the fans, Whelan could easily see that hope fulfilled.
The Americans will resume their regular season schedule on Wednesday night when they host the upstart Tulsa Oilers, who have battled their way into second place in the Berry Conference. 
 
Contact the writer at maurice.fitzgerald@prohockeynews.com
Contact the photographer at robert.keith@prohockeynews.com