For many long-time Plymouth Whaler fans, the name DeBoer is very familiar. They likely have fond memories of Peter DeBoer standing behind the bench and directing the Whalers.

In a show of how things sometimes come full circle, that name is now on the back of the jersey of Peter’s son, Jack. He was born in Plymouth, Michigan, when his father was coaching the team, and now is suiting up for the U.S. National Team Development Program Under-17 squad.

“It’s really cool. I only lived here for a year,” said DeBoer. “When we came in here at the start of the year, my mom showed us our old house and she was showing us around town. It’s pretty cool to play in the rink that your dad coached in.”

For DeBoer, hockey just came naturally. Of course his dad, who currently serves as the head coach for the National Hockey League’s San Jose Sharks, had some influence for him.

“I started playing hockey when I was four,” he said. “My dad got me into it. He was coaching at the junior level at the time. I really didn’t have a choice. I was kind of born into it. I loved it from the start.”

He tried other sports, but in the end, being on the ice just suited him for a few reasons.

“I tried soccer and baseball but nothing really stuck,” remarked DeBoer. “It was all about hockey. I loved the speed of the game and the physicality. Other sports there is standing around and waiting. I loved the pace of hockey. You can meet new teammates every year.”

It should be no surprise that he is always appreciative of the little words of advice and lessons that he receives from his dad. It is these words of advice that keep him grounded as he has three helpers in 18 games this season.

“He always said to keep your head up. As long as you work hard, the goals are going to come. You need to keep working hard. Stick to your game and play your game but make sure to have fun. Everything else will work itself out,” said DeBoer on his dad’s words.

It also helped him in the transition to the NTDP where one of the toughest obstacles was being away from his family.

“My family lives in New Jersey but my dad is in California so we are all over the place,” DeBoer said. “I miss seeing my brother and sister every day after school. I love my billets — they make you feel at home.

“I think that was the toughest transition to be away from my family and friends back home. The guys here are awesome. We are all really close here already.”

With his dad in California, the 6-foot-2, 179-pound forward is always excited to hear from him after games.

“His advice is something that sometimes I take for granted,” he said. “I don’t think he’s right but most of the time he’s right. After every game, he will call me and we will talk about some things I can do better or some things I did well. I take his advice and try and put it into my game.”

Nothing was more special for DeBoer than seeing his very own USA Hockey jersey hanging up for the first time when he walked into the locker room.

“It was surreal,” he remarked. “It’s an honor to wear that jersey everyday, whether in practice or in games. I definitely don’t take it for granted. When you first walk in and see the red, white and blue everywhere, it’s a pretty cool sight. I’m really excited to be here.”

One of DeBoer’s best memories was the first time he was able to wear the USA sweater as part of the gold-medal winning U.S. team from the Youth Olympic Games in 2016. The experience definitely helped shape him.

“That was probably the best hockey experience in my life so far,” he stated. “We really came together as a team in a short amount of time. We really bonded well. They did a great job with the village and the hockey.

“To play Canada in the finals and beat them really topped it off. It was the first time throwing on the USA jersey too so that was really cool.”

It is part of why the first international tournament, the Under-17 World Challenge in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, was such a special event for DeBoer and his teammates. The U17s finished fifth at their first international event and came back with some valuable lessons.

“We have to keep doing the little things well,” he said. “We need to keep improving our game. We are still molding together as a team. We are still trying to find each other, especially our strengths and weaknesses as a team.

“We need to come together. That is the big thing in the international play, you really need to come together. You have to play your best game, every game. You can’t have an off day or you are going to get beat.”

The coach’s son can dish out some pretty good advice himself.

Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.