Don Wheldon
American ice hockey player
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Donald Edward Whelden (December 28, 1954 – June 3, 1985) was an American professional ice hockey defenseman who played two games for the St. Louis Blues in the 1974–75 season. He was born in Falmouth, Massachusetts.
Born
December 28, 1954
Falmouth, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died
June 3, 1985 (aged 30)
Falmouth, Massachusetts, U.S.
Height
6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight
185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
| Don Wheldon | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
December 28, 1954 Falmouth, Massachusetts, U.S. | ||
| Died |
June 3, 1985 (aged 30) Falmouth, Massachusetts, U.S. | ||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) | ||
| Weight | 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb) | ||
| Position | Defense | ||
| Shot | Right | ||
| Played for | St. Louis Blues | ||
| NHL draft |
87th overall, 1974 St. Louis Blues | ||
| WHA draft |
178th overall, 1974 Indianapolis Racers | ||
| Playing career | 1974–1977 | ||
Wheldon became the youngest US Player to appear in an NHL Game post 1967 Expansion at 19 years and 10 months. He supplanted Joe Noris. Bobby Carpenter supplanted Wheldon in 1981.
Whelden was killed on June 3, 1985, when a bolt of lightning hit a tree outside the home and broke a window above the head of his bed. His wife Linda was at his side and survived the tragic incident.[1]
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1971–72 | Riverview Reds | NBJHL | 24 | 6 | 11 | 17 | 59 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1971–72 | Moncton Beavers | NBJHL | 15 | 3 | 12 | 15 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1972–73 | London Knights | OHA | 65 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 70 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1973–74 | London Knights | OHA | 70 | 5 | 27 | 32 | 88 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1974–75 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1974–75 | Denver Spurs | CHL | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1974–75 | Columbus Owls | IHL | 43 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 28 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | ||
| 1975–76 | Winston-Salem Polar Twins | SHL | 70 | 11 | 28 | 39 | 52 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | ||
| 1976–77 | Winston-Salem Polar Twins | SHL | 37 | 9 | 13 | 22 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| SHL totals | 107 | 20 | 41 | 61 | 66 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | ||||
| NHL totals | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
