A petition is making its way around the region to change the name of the Sarnia Arena to honour the life and career of Pat Stapleton, frequently called “Whitey.” Stapleton passed away in April at the age of 79 but before that registered 635 NHL games, most of them with the Chicago Black Hawks. Brian Keelan started the petition after writing about Whitey’s passing and career in a monthly news magazine in Sarnia. The petition is on change.org and is climbing by the day with signatures. Keelan says they have a fitting signature target they’ve set out to achieve before submitting it to city council.
He says it would be not just because of his contributions on the ice, but off it as well.
Keelan grew up playing a couple leagues behind Stapleton growing up in Sarnia minor hockey, and said he and his buddies would watch him play after their own games. They knew it at that time by his skill set Whitey would make it to the big leagues. He noted Stapleton was not only a prolific defenceman but a gentle soul, who routinely helped out in the community under the radar. He spent his later years living in Strathroy. Here is the to the petition.