Go Deeper: Nic Whitehead’s family ties
Nic Whitehead’s rookie season didn’t end with any hardware, or a spot in the history books, but it did mark the start of what promises to be an intriguing junior hockey career.
On the ice, the incredibly spirited native of Orlando, Florida scored a pair of goals and added a further eight assists in his first OHL campaign. Though he hasn’t yet reached his full potential, Whitehead is an outgoing character, willing to do whatever it takes to reach the next level, both in the hockey sense, and in the community, where he was thoroughly involved in 2023-24.
Moving to the nation’s capital meant Whitehead would be away from his parents more often, but it came with positives in the form of his grandparents. His grandmother and grandfather, who Whitehead calls Gidday, both live in Perth, and never missed a home game all season long. Even when the 67’s were on the road, they would follow, sometimes in person, more often on TV.
When Whitehead was drafted, it was said Ottawa was the perfect place for exactly that reason, but it still took time for the youngster to find himself fully.
“I was almost star-struck a little bit,” Whitehead said. “I was looking at all of these guys who have been drafted, or who were coming up, and that was an eye-opener. Once I realized I could hold my own here, I became more comfortable, but I also learned a lot in those first few weeks.”
Being a rookie with the 67’s isn’t an easy task, as Whitehead found out. Sometimes, ice time is hard to come by, and if you aren’t doing the little things right, you’ll find yourself watching from the stands in short order. The numbers typically take a while to come, but none of it was cause for stress for Whitehead.
“I have been through it with every team I have played for,” he explained. “I went through this kind of adversity at a younger age, so going into Ottawa, I knew what it was all about. I had a good idea of what was going to happen.”
More than anything, Whitehead spent the season learning as much as he could, and soaking up everything possible from extra film sessions and staying as late as he could before school on practice days, even when he was frustrated with the way things were going.
“I think I worked very hard when the times were tough,” Whitehead said. “You’re going to see guys that put up a lot of numbers, but I look at my situation and realize that I also did a lot of good things, and I have to stay focused on that. I’m very pleased with myself to keep pushing through.”
Filled with good times and bad, Whitehead’s rookie season is memorable for so many reasons, but the group of players is what he’ll remember most.
“I’m going to be honest, there are so many great memories,” Whitehead said. “ I think what our team went through [is what stands out]. There were lots of times when things happened, but we went through it together as a team.”
Since the season ended, Whitehead has continued living in Ottawa with his billet family during the week, and with his grandparents on the weekends. His focus is already on next season, aiming to round out his game, and continuing to spend hours doing the little things.
“Faceoffs and defensive zone play are very important when you get to higher levels,” Whitehead said. “That helps a lot going into next year. I’ve been doing video with Norm [Milley] to get prepared. I’m excited about it, but I want to nail down all of the small things that people don’t see, that lead to goals and wins. I’m just trying to master those things before the season.”
Determined to reach his ceiling, Whitehead’s offseason mission wouldn’t be possible without the support of his family around him.
“I like to focus on myself,” Whitehead said, while thanking his parents for allowing him to pursue his dreams. “When I’m alone and I have all the resources I do in Ottawa, there’s no excuse for anything. My days are full, and it’s strictly hockey-focused.”
“The other thing for me is I have my grandparents here. I still get to see my parents, and that’s good, but they understand and respect that sometimes, you need that cocoon where you can dial in.”
