Jan. 24, 2007

Bowling Green junior forward Derek Whitmore experienced a large personal growth in 2001. At 16 years old, Whitmore left his home in Rochester, N.Y., to embark on a journey that would eventually lead him to the CCHA and Bowling Green. While living far from home, Whitmore was forced to mature and adapt to his new surroundings. A feeling of homesickness combined with the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in his home state made him question whether leaving his comfort zone was the right thing to do.

Making the Right Move
By Derek Whitmore

It was August of 2001 and my parents, Ray and Linda, and I were sitting around the kitchen table of my Rochester, N.Y., home talking about hockey and where I would be playing come September. This was something we had been doing a lot throughout the entire summer because I really had no clue where I would be. I did know that I did not want to play a third year of midget hockey and I did not want to play another year of high school hockey, because I felt it would be better for me as far as developing as a player to play junior hockey.

There were some junior teams that were interested in me, however, the cost to play for them was way too high. There were some major junior teams interested as well, but I knew I wanted to go to college so that was out. My family and I had been praying a lot and asking God to find me a place to play, but nothing seemed to be happening. I began to give up a little bit and I was almost going to call a midget coach from Buffalo and tell him I wanted to play for his team even though that was not my first choice, but almost my only option.

Finally, the phone rang and it was a guy named Brian Meisner. My mom answered the phone and gave it to me and I began to talk to this coach who I did not know, but seemed like an awesome guy and very excited to have me come play for his team. He said he saw me at the Select Festival in Minnesota over the summer and thought I could help out his team. I was so pumped up that I had forgot to even ask him where the team was located and what league they were in. He replied with somewhat of a laugh and told me the league is the America West Hockey League (AWHL) and the team was located in Butte, Montana.

When I heard that, I felt that this would never work. My parents, especially my mom, would not let me go play hockey over 2,000 miles away from home at the age of 16. I told Coach Meisner that I had to run it over with my parents first and I would get back to him. I got off the phone with him and my parents and I began to talk about the opportunity. I felt that my dad would be fine with it, but my mom would not want me to leave. After a few days of discussing the situation and looking at all the pros and cons, my parents and I decided that this would be the best move for me as I pursued my dream of playing NCAA Division I college hockey.

Everything was all set up. I got my billet family and I enrolled for my junior year of high school at Butte High. Now, I just had to get to training camp in Spooner, Wisconsin. I said goodbye to some friends and my older brother Wayne threw me a going-away party. It was hard saying goodbye to him and my two sisters, Janette and Lynnae, because we were all, and still are, very close to one another. I had never been away from home for a long period of time and I did not know what to expect, however, I knew I wanted to go play hockey.

My dad drove me all the way out to Wisconsin for tryout camp. I was so nervous. Even though the coach had told me he wanted me to play on the team, I did not think he was serious after seeing some of the talent that was at tryout camp. These guys were big, strong, quick and old and I was just a 16-year-old kid. After the Saturday of tryout camp, I was talking to my dad and even he was apprehensive of me making the team. Tryouts were ending on Sunday and my dad had to drive back to Rochester, but he did not know whether or not I was going to be coming with him so he talked to Coach Meisner. He asked him if I would be making the team because he wanted to get a head start on the travel and get back by Monday for work. Coach Meisner told my dad that I would definitely be making the team and heading out west to Butte.

My dad finally had a sense of relief. He grabbed me aside after the Sunday morning tryout and told me what the coach said. Then my dad told me he was going to be leaving and heading home and leaving me there in Spooner. He just wanted to make sure this was the right move for me and that I would be happy with it. Till this day, my dad tells me that leaving me there was one of the hardest things he has ever done. We hugged and said our goodbyes and that was it. I did not really know what had happened. I was still so energized about making the team and getting the opportunity to play junior hockey.

We ended tryout camp and had a week of training camp. It was very hard and demanding on the body and I had no idea what I was in for. Finally, our team made it out to Butte and the season began. It was hard adjusting to school and trying to make new friends. It was also hard getting adjusted with a new family who had their own rules. I had to grow up and mature very quickly and be responsible for myself. It was very difficult for me at the start to make the adjustment and I began to get very homesick. I almost began looking for an excuse to leave and go home. I did not think I could handle the grind of the junior schedule, the schooling, living with a new family and being so far away from my home.

Then on Tuesday, September 11, I woke up to the tragic news that had happened in New York. Montana was two hours behind the east coast so all the events had already occurred. I remembered going to school and seeing the horrific events of 9/11 on the television screens all over school. Everybody was so emotional, especially me. I had family and friends in the area that I could not get a hold of, but most importantly, I wanted to be with my family in a time like that, only I was 30 hours away from them. Furthermore, my older brother at the time was in the Army Reserves and I did not know what he was going to have to do. I did not know if he would have to go fight a war now and if he did, would I ever see him again? It was a very difficult time for me.

I remember being a mess while talking to my family that night and I was telling them that I had enough and wanted to come home. Once I was able to calm down, I had a nice talk with my father. He told me that my mom he knew I was out there in Butte for a reason and that God put me on that team for a reason. He kept saying that Butte, Montana, was where I was supposed to be playing hockey and that I was not coming home. I did not know whether to be mad at him or not, but the more I thought about my dad's response, the more I realized he was just trying to help me.

I had forgotten that it was my family that supported me to make the move and head out to Butte in the first place. They were not going to let me back out of the commitment I had made to my coach, my team and myself. Obviously, my parents missed me and would have loved for me to come home, but they knew I would have regretted that decision the rest of my life. After that night, I knew I had to stay out there. I battled through the homesickness and gutted it out the whole season.

As the days and months passed, I knew staying there was the right move. I matured not just as a hockey player, but also as a man. I was faced with some adversity, but I did not quit and take the easy way out. I continued to develop my skills as a player and I continued to work hard each day to reach my goal of playing NCAA Division I hockey. With the love and support of my family, as well as my faith in God, I was able to get through that season and actually have a good year.

I finished with 21 goals and 21 assists in 58 games and my teammates voted me team rookie of the year. It was an honor and I am so thankful that I stayed that whole season instead of leaving. I strongly believe that that was one of the best moves I have ever made in my life. It was difficult at times, however, I know playing that season and going through what I went through got me to where I am today, which is playing in the CCHA as a member of the Bowling Green Falcons.