The '99 native of Mount Kisco, NY is in his first season with the Express, and is one of the strongest defensive players in the league. Coming in a 6'6", Whitehouse uses his size to his advantage, and plays a very defensive defenseman style game.

"Sam has been a great addition for us on the backend," said Express head coach and general manager Cody Campbell. "Coming to us just prior to the deadline, he has jumped in and made an impact with our group both on and off the ice. We couldn’t be happier to be a part of Sam accomplishing his goal of being a college hockey player.”

The Arcadia University Knights are a new program, that will kick-off their inaugural season two falls from now, in October of 2021. Competing out of the United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC), Arcadia will jump right in with some of the top teams in all of NCAA Division III hockey. Whitehouse is excited about helping to set the foundation for the new program.

"As soon as I stepped on the Arcadia University campus, I felt like I was where I belonged," said Whitehouse. "It is a perfect fit for me academically, with an excellent business program, and plenty of other great academic opportunities. As a smaller school, the class sizes allow for more individualized attention from professors, which will help me to get the most out of my collegiate experience. The Arcadia University hockey program presents a unique opportunity to be a part of a brand new program, with every player and staff member playing their part in building a new team. With Coach Pietrangelo leading the way, there is no telling what this new program will be able to do.”

Whitehouse, an alum of the Eastern Hockey League Premier (EHLP), went on to talk about how it was ultimately his time with the Express that led to this decision.

"I am very grateful that I was able to join Coach Campbell and the Walpole Express when I did," added Whitehouse. "My first practice with the team, I immediately knew that this was a special group. Every single player has bought into what Coach is teaching, giving full effort every time we step on the ice. They made me feel like I knew them from the beginning of the year. Coach Campbell began helping me with the college process as soon as I joined the team, and helped me reach a goal I had set when I was a child. I am extremely grateful for that. Lastly, I wanted to thank everyone who helped me along the way, especially my parents and younger brother. Without you guys, none of this would be possible."

Whitehouse and the Express are gearing up for their matchup with the Seacoast Spartans, in next week's Play-In Round of the EHL Playoffs. Puck drop is scheduled for 1:00pm on Wednesday at Rodman Arena.

Learn more about the Express on the team's official website, and check out the full 2019-20 NCAA commitment list.