Robert Whitelaw (October 5, 1916 â October 6, 1972) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played 32 games in the National Hockey League with the Detroit Red Wings during the 1940âÂÂ41 and 1941âÂÂ42 seasons. The rest of his career, which lasted from 1936 to 1948, was mainly spent in the minor leagues. Whitelaw was born in Motherwell, Scotland, United Kingdom and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba.