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Damon Whitten

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Damon Whitten
Current position
TitleHead coach
TeamLake Superior State
ConferenceCCHA
Biographical details
Born (1977-04-05) April 5, 1977 (age 47)
Brighton, Michigan
Alma materMichigan State University
Playing career
1995–1996Detroit Freeze (NAHL)
1996–1997St. Michael's Buzzers (OPJHL)
1997–2001Michigan State
2001–2002Greenville Grrrowl (ECHL)
2002–2003Arkansas RiverBlades (ECHL)
2003–2004Lansing Ice Nuts (IIHL)
Position(s)Left wing
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2004–2005Michigan State (asst.)
2005–2006Wayne State (asst.)
2006–2008Alaska Anchorage (asst.)
2008–2010Michigan State (Dir. of Hockey Ops.)
2010–2014Michigan Tech (asst.)
2014–presentLake Superior State
Head coaching record
Overall143–196–31 (.428)
Tournaments0–1 (.000)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
2021 WCHA Tournament champion

Damon Whitten (born April 5, 1977) is an American ice hockey coach and former player. He is currently the men's hockey head coach of the Lake Superior State Lakers.

Playing career

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Whitten played junior hockey for the Detroit Freeze of the North American Hockey League in 1995–96 before moving to the St. Michael's Buzzers in the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League the following season. Beginning in the 1997–98 season, Whitten played four years for the Michigan State Spartans, and was named alternate captain in his senior season. After college, he turned pro, playing two seasons in the ECHL: in 2001–02 for the Greenville Grrrowl (winning the league championship Kelly Cup) and 2002–03 for the Arkansas RiverBlades.[1]

Coaching career

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Whitten returned to Michigan State in 2004–05 to serve as an assistant coach under head coach Rick Comley. He then spent one season as an assistant at Wayne State before moving to Alaska Anchorage for two seasons. In 2006, he returned to his alma mater where he was named Director of Hockey Operations. Whitten returned to the bench in 2010, when he was an assistant coach at Michigan Tech. On April 26, 2014, Whitten was named head coach at Lake Superior State.[2]

Head coaching record

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Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Lake Superior State Lakers (WCHA) (2014–2021)
2014–15 Lake Superior State 8–28–2 7–20–1 t-8th WCHA first round
2015–16 Lake Superior State 14–22–5 10–13–5 7th WCHA first round
2016–17 Lake Superior State 11–18–7 8–13–7 7th WCHA quarterfinals
2017–18 Lake Superior State 10–22–4 8–17–3 9th
2018–19 Lake Superior State 23–13–2 16–10–2–0 4th WCHA semifinals
2019–20 Lake Superior State 14–23–4 11–13–4–4 7th WCHA quarterfinals
2020–21 Lake Superior State 19–7–3 9–5–0 T–2nd NCAA regional semifinals
Lake Superior State: 99–133–27 69–91–22
Lake Superior State Lakers (CCHA) (2021–present)
2021–22 Lake Superior State 18–18–1 13–13–0 4th CCHA quarterfinals
2022–23 Lake Superior State 9–25–2 8–17–1 8th CCHA quarterfinals
2023–24 Lake Superior State 17–20–1 11–12–1 7th CCHA Semifinals
Lake Superior State: 44–63–4 32–42–2
Total: 143–196–31

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

References

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  1. ^ "Damon Whitten". Elite Prospects. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
  2. ^ Wellens, Matt. "New Lake Superior State coach Whitten savors connections to program's storied leaders". USCHO.com. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
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