1
Jackson
Whistle
Netminder
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Date Of Birth 09/06/1995 -
Height 6'1" -
Hometown Kelowna, BC, Canada
Biography
First arriving in Belfast from Canadian side Kelowna Rockets in the 2016/17 season, Whistle has since played over 150 games in all competitions across five spells with the Giants. The 30-year-old has also previously iced for fellow Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) sides, Sheffield Steelers and Nottingham Panthers, accruing an additional 78 games to his tally.
Son of inaugural Belfast Giants Head Coach, Dave Whistle, the dual-national – originally from British Columbia in Canada – is no stranger to Belfast or The SSE Arena, Belfast, having spent a portion of his childhood in Northern Ireland while his father led the Giants between 2000 and 2003.
It was no surprise that Jackson made the move across the Atlantic in his first-year pro, after a junior career spent mostly with his hometown Kelowna Rockets in the WHL. Whistle helped the Rockets to an Ed Chynoweth Cup in 2014-15, taking his side all the way to OT in the prestigious Memorial Cup final against the eventual Champion Oshawa Generals.
After two seasons as a Giant, Whistle spent time with the Sheffield Steelers and Nottingham Panthers between 2018-21, winning the EIHL’s Streaming Series as a Panther during the COVID-19 shutdown whilst being named Best Goaltender, Best SVS%, Best GAA and an All-Star.
But the call of his ‘second home’ proved too strong and Whistle returned to Belfast in 2021-22 to help the Giants to an EIHL League and Cup double and again in 2022-23 where he played a key role in helping the Giants secure the first domestic treble – Challenge Cup, Elite League, and Elite League Playoffs, in the club’s history.
During the 2023/24 season, Jackson recorded an impressive .926 goals against average across 21 EIHL regular season games, playing an integral role in helping the Giants reach the Playoff Finals Weekend at the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham.
Whistle, who has become a staple of the Belfast Giants, is now entering his sixth season with the club. His performance throughout the 2024/25 season earned him well-deserved MVP honours, consistently delivering under pressure and sealing key games.
Across all competitions last season, Whistle’s quick reflexes, strong positioning, and stalwart composure saw him post a 92.75% save percentage across all competitions. Anchoring the Giants’ defensive core, his ability to rise to big moments and maintain consistency throughout the season earned the admiration of teammates, coaches, and fan alike.
VIEW FULL CAREER STATISTICS HERE.
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