Two years after The Unofficial Web Site's first Exclusive Interview with Jed Whitchurch, and 10 months after he made the difficult decision to retire, we caught up with the man who remains a favorite among Trenton Titans fans:

20 Questions with Officer Whitchurch
• 1) How is your new career in law enforcement?
  I love my new career in law enforcement. I get to deal with the good side and bad side of the general public everyday but at the end of each shift I feel confident that I made a small contribution towards bettering society.
  
  
• 2) Did you enjoy the police academy?
  The academy was challenging and very detailed. It was set up in a military fashion with uniform inspections every day and marching. It formed discipline and I learned so much from great instructors. The days were long. I was usually up at 4:00am and would get home around 6:00pm. It was a long 11 weeks but it was well worth it. I enjoyed the physical training aspects the most but not far behind that were the practical training parts such as crimes in progress, vehicle driving, and the range.
  
  
• 3) Have you made any arrests yet?
  I have been in a few situations thus far that have been interesting. I have been on the scene when arrests have been made and have made a couple myself. You never know what reaction you will get in these situations but the challenges of this type of work are great for me.
  
  
• 4) How is married life treating you and Danielle?
  Married life is great for Danielle and I. We bought our first home 3 months ago in a city with a population of 50,000 that sits in one of Chicago's western subs. We are both enjoying our new life together and things have worked out well for the both of us. We both enjoy our jobs and we are looking forward to our future together.
  
  
• 5) Can we expect a Jed Jr. on the ice in the future?
  There will be no Jed Jr. any time soon. My wife and I going to be patient and wait for the right time. It will not be a Jed Jr. anyway because my sister named her son Jed (who will be 2 in October). Another Jed will just make it too confusing at family gatherings.
  
  
• 6) Any other major events happen in the Whitchurch family?
  Not really. I lost one of my best friends in my dog Co-Co. He was getting old and suffering so my family had him put down. I definitely miss him for he was a true friend.
  
  
• 7) Have you done much fishing since your retirement from hockey?
  Since I have retired from hockey I have had little chance to enjoy my second passion which is fishing. Part of my new job is to enforce Conservation Law so it gives me the chance to check anglers every day, so I am learning the hot spots around my county. I will take advantage of this information and put it to personal use now and especially in the fall and winter months.
  
  
• 8) Have you picked up any new hobbies?
  I have not really picked up any new hobbies. I pay close attention to training for my job now. I try to stay up to date on all the technological advances in Police work. I work on defensive tactics and firearms training monthly so that I am well prepared in the field. Of course golf is an old hobby that I still play often.
  
  
• 9) Do you keep in close contact with any of your former teammates?
  There are a few guys that I still keep in contact with. It is hard when every guy goes in different directions while playing and after playing. I met a lot of great people along the way and some are friends that will last a lifetime.
  
  
• 10) From amongst your former ECHL teammates, pick 2 forwards, 2 defensemen, and a goalie that you most enjoyed playing with?
  This is tough one. I could name so many people. If I had to break it down and name 2 forwards they would probably be: Mike Hall and Mark Murphy.... Hall because I learned a great deal from him. Butch Cassidy always told me during my first year that I reminded him of a younger Mike Hall. Mike is just a great person and was always fun to hang out with and interact with on a daily basis. While in Lowell’s training camp we roomed together and made those hard camps a great deal of fun. Murphy because we were both in the same situation. We were fresh out of the ECAC and playing on the same team our first year and we also clicked well as line mates. To compound that we lived together and were able to interact well and he really made a difference my first year. Guys like Cail MacLean and Scott Bertoli are top-notch people and are rated pretty high in my books as well. I could go on forever about great people but this is my short list.
  
  As far as defensemen go, I would have to say that Ryan Brown was up there. A quiet guy but a true team guy. We sat next to each other in the locker room so we chatted often and got to know each other well. Steve Cheredaryk from New Orleans is a great person as well. This guy plays hard every night and demands a great deal from the supporting cast. He made my transition to that team an easy one and I owe him for what he did for me. Mike Marostega is one of my great friends and stood up with me in my wedding. Although our playing time together in the pros was short we had fun at Colgate together and we fish together often in the off seasons. There are many other here as well... Guys like Steve O’Brien, Dave Risk, Jeff Lazaro, Vince Williams, are all great people who were so much fun to be around and yet very professional.
  
  Picking a goalie is hard. I cannot think of just one. I liked them all. Here is a list: Amidovski, Lendzyk, Vogel, Valiquette, Murphy, and Tamburro were all great guys that competed hard.
  
  
• 11) If you had to choose which coach to play for (ignoring their current league or team differences), would it be: Bruce Cassidy, Mike Haviland, Troy Ward, or Ted Sator? And why?
  This question is another hard one. I learned a great deal from all of them but two standout. I would love to play for Butch Cassidy or Mike Haviland. Butch gave me opportunities my first year that I never dreamed of. He believed in us younger guys and we performed for him. I will always be in debt to him for what he did for me. I was so pleased for him when I learned that he would be coaching in the NHL. There is no question in my mind that he will do well up there. Mike Haviland and I are good friends and although we don’t talk as much as I would like to, it is he who brought me to Trenton. He scouted me during my senior year at Colgate and liked what he saw. He touched base with me soon after my senior year at school and he is the main reason that I played in Trenton. Aside from being a great friend he knows his hockey. I think he silenced a lot of critics last year with his coaching performance. All that knew him well had no doubts he would succeed as a head coach.
  
  
• 12) Do you miss all of those wonderful ECHL bus rides?
  I do not miss those bus rides. I like driving around in my patrol vehicle much more. It was not that bad in New Orleans because we had a top notch decked out sleeper bus. Trenton rides were long and hard on certain body parts.
  
  
• 13) Other than the hockey (players, fans, etc...), what do you miss most about New Jersey?
  The one great thing about NJ is that you are never far away from anything exciting to do. But to go against the scope of the questions, I miss the people, support and fans the most.
  
  
• 14) Who would you like to thank most in Trenton?
  I would thank all the fans and the front office staff. Rich Lisk played a huge roll in my career as a friend and as a boss and I am forever grateful for what he did. Rich if you are reading this thanks a million and give me a call! Joe Zydlo, and Steve Lipinski are in this category as well. Great people who are great at what they do. Joe, "if you need another voice up there let me know", Pinner no offence but I saw the inside of the training room enough getting stitches and all but I would love to join you for our favorite drinks a nice cold, tall, dark Guinness. Thanks to both of you as well.
  
  
• 15) Are there any special fans that stick with you in your memories?
  Without question there are many. The Waraksy’s are fantastic people. Joe, Marcia, and Karen have kept supporting me after my career and I thank them so much. They made the trip out the Illinois to watch me graduate from the Police Academy and our families spent some quality time together. I would like to thank them for the friendships and guidance since we first met. Last, but certainly not least, Jim and Jo Ann Tupper have become close friends of mine. We keep in regular contact and I could never repay them for what they have done for my family and me. I hope one day that we get to sit and watch a Titans game together in person.
  
  
• 16) What do you miss the most about New Orleans?
  New Orleans is just a fun city. The nightlife and the people are always fun. I miss playing in the NHL style facility they had. It was a great rink to play in. I really miss the food. I love my hot’n spicy food and I got my fill living down there. Like Trenton, I miss the people and fans as well.
  
  
• 17) Are you surprised by the recent turn of events with the New Orleans Brass suspending operations?
  I was somewhat surprised by the recent events in New Orleans. That is the best facility in the ECHL to play in if you ask me. We as players knew that the cost of being the primary tenant was high and with the NBA coming in there it was hard. I feel for the players who were established down there with families and all because now they have to go elsewhere to play. Dan Belisle and the management team did a great job with what they had to work with but tasks like these are hard to overcome. I guess if I had continued to play last year I would be a free agent and could sign anywhere. I think we all know if I continued to play I would have tried to play in NJ somewhere.
  
  
• 18) Do you watch any hockey these days (Chicago Blackhawks, Chicago Wolves, ...)?
  I still watch all the hockey I can. I saw the Penguins play the Hawks last year and my favorite Mario was out of the lineup but my other favorite Kovalev put on a nice show. I still check all the news in the hockey world online and watch as much as I can in person and on TV. I still love the game and am still passionate about it.
  
  
• 19) Is it going to be difficult not attending training camp this fall?
  It will be tough not attending training camp this fall. People have e-mailed lately hearing rumors that I just took the year off and am coming back to play this fall. This is not true. I have moved on and my new career is for me. I miss the guys and all the people and I also miss competition. Every player in my shoes will have to leave the game at some point and that decision to leave the game will not be any easier 2 years or 10 years from now. I will be 26 soon and I am glad that I moved on with mine.
  
  
• 20) What's your favorite line from the movie "Slap Shot"?
  My favorite Slap Shot line would be "Trade me right &*$#@%^ now" - I know what it is like to be traded and the vernacular of that word fits in well. It is a hard thing to handle because you give so much for so many people and in return you get treated so well by so many and then a small few pull one over on you.