Arlington Heights' Peter Whelan 'Captains' Blackhawks, Engages Kane

One of Patrick Kane’s final fist bumps in Chicago will forever live in the heart and mind of a young recipient, Peter Whelan, known as an “Honorary Captain” for an evening of NHL hockey the Chicago Blackhawks won in a shootout.

Like the throng of fans painfully aware that Kane could be traded any moment and be separated from his iconic Blackhawks’ sweater, Peter Whelan and his family savored the moment – Peter, up close.

The Special Olympic Illinois hockey player from Arlington Heights served as an honorary captain in February. Seated on the bench, overwhelmed by the palatial United Center and fist bumps with Blackhawk players, Whelan gazed through his helmet cage and suddenly realized he was face to face with the still boyish-looking Kane.

“How you doin’?’ asked Kane of Peter, offering up a gloved fist bump.

“Good,” said Peter.

Kane high stepped around the bench on the rubber flooring and around Peter and returned with one of his own new hockey sticks to present.

“Thanks for the stick,” said Peter.

“Are you having a good time?” Kane asked.

“Yes,” said Peter.

Kane smiled, and, quicker than a face off, turned and went to work, scoring en route to victory.

Peter’s parents in the United Center seats had managed their expectations coming into the big night, hoping to capture a few keepsake photos.

None may compare with those seared into Peter’s memory of being eye to eye with his modern-day hero. A reverse photo of the proceedings would frame his parents, Sarah and Michael, cherishing a chance human experience between two hockey players, one with God-given talents sometimes beyond comparison, and the other a floor hockey player whose goals are to score more friends through Special Olympics competition while pursuing the international mission and vision: “Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”

And within that scope, Peter is always a winner, sometimes on the scoreboard and other times as someone bringing others into his circle of friends.

Peter served as a modern-day Pied Piper when participation numbers waned in one suburban TOPSoccer floor hockey league. By Webster’s definition of the Pied Piper, Peter is “a charismatic person who attracts followers.”

And so it was, Peter recognized that participation numbers were falling which would cancel league play. Zooming his friends, Peter was able to recruit fellow floor hockey players to join a Mount Prospect TOPSoccer League, a community based training and team placement program for young athletes with disabilities. The program is designed to bring the opportunity of learning and playing soccer to any boy or girl who has a mental or physical disability

Peter, a master of inclusion through his computer, quickly rattles of the names of his recruits: “Christopher, Kevin, Jack, Ben, and Sammie.

The Whelans live in Arlington Heights, Illinois and Peter competes in District 214 as part of Region B. His involvement in Special Olympics Illinois began in 2018, competing in his favorite sports: volleyball, floor hockey, basketball, track, soccer and baseball, in which he bats lefty and rotates around the field.

He’s affectionately known around the diamond as “Sweet Pete” and “Pete the Heat” with a scouting reputation as a player who “never bunts” and “always swings for the fences.” His preferred “walk-up” music is “Takin’ Care of Music” by Bachman-Turner Overdrive.

Last year at the local, Region B Spring Games, Peter was the first athlete ever from D-214 to compete in the 1500m run. He advanced to the Summer Games, where he earned a bronze medal in the event last June.

Running may very well be his best performance sport given that he ran consistently through the pandemic with his family – older brother Michael and younger twins John and Cecelia. Golden retriever Rocky tagged along as well.

Peter’s opportunity to serve as an honorary captain was the result of the Blackhawks organization’s flexibility, creativity and generosity.

An epileptic seizure just before a scheduled tournament put Peter on the injured reserve. He ironically won a Jonathan Toews jersey. Unable to participate, the Blackhawks improvised and came up with an honorary captain role that proved to be a bonding experience between a future NHL Hall-of-Famer and a floor hockey player who makes and collects friends - like Patrick Kane.

In recent weeks, Peter has been trying to catch his friend Kane in a New York Ranger jersey. Tuesday night Kane tallied a goal and assist in a victory for the Rangers, Peter’s pick to win the Stanley Cup.

“Peter and I watched the Rangers play last night and he was rooting for old No. 88, and now the new No. 88 Patrick Kane with hopes the Rangers can get to the Stanley Cup,” said Peter’s dad Michael.