Patrick White's dream year continued Friday night in Columbus, Ohio.
The recent Grand Rapids graduate was selected by the Vancouver Canucks with the 25th pick in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft, believed to be the highest a player from Northeastern Minnesota ever has been taken.
The Dallas Stars drafted Matt Niskanen of Mountain Iron 28th in the first round in 2005. Niskanen went on to play two years at Minnesota Duluth before signing a pro contract earlier this year.
Whether or not White will fulfill his commitment to the University of Minnesota remains to be seen. The 6-foot-1, 186-pound center, who made the trip to Nationwide Arena in Columbus, did not return phone calls Friday night.
It's likely that the Canucks would want White to play college hockey for a year or two in order to become stronger and more physically adept at playing a longer season.
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"His future looks good, whether it's playing with the Gophers or when the pros come in time," Grand Rapids coach Bruce LaRoque said from Lake Kabetogema, where Thunderhawks coaches gathered to watch the draft at a coaching retreat.
White's draft stock rose after the state tournament his junior year when he scored four goals in a quarterfinal vs. Roseau. The Thunderhawks went on to finish second in Class AA to Cretin-Derham Hall. Minnesota offered him a scholarship before his senior year and he accepted.
White then turned down an offer to play on the National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, Mich., and returned for his senior season at Grand Rapids. After missing several games due to an early season ankle injury, he came back to score 18 goals and tally 31 assists and lead the Thunderhawks back to the Class AA title game.
LaRoque says returning to school was the best decision for White and shows that players don't need to play junior hockey and abandon their high school teams.
"He's a great character kid who loved to play with his teammates," LaRoque said.
White was named Associated Press and News Tribune players of the year and was a Mr. Hockey finalist. The Mr. Hockey winner, Ryan McDonagh of Cretin-Derham Hall, was taken 12th Friday by Montreal.
White played briefly in the spring for Tri-City of the United States Hockey League, scoring eight goals in 12 games, and then traveled with the United States U-18 team at the World Championships. He was ranked 23rd among North American skaters by the NHL Central Scouting Service.
LaRoque says White's assets include his playmaking ability, vision, unselfishness, puck control and increased strength level.
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Other Northland players could be taken in today's second day of the draft. Virginia senior center Nico Sacchetti, Hermantown senior center Drew LeBlanc, former Grand Rapids defenseman Joe Stejskal, former Cloquet-Esko-Carlton center Tyler Johnson and former Duluth East defenseman Cade Fairchild all are ranked by the Central Scouting Service. Former Cloquet-Esko-Carlton goalie Reid Ellingson is rated the 10th-best North American goalie. All have landed NCAA Division I scholarships.
RICK WEEGMAN can be reached at (218) 723-5302, (800) 456-8181 or e-mailed at rweegman@duluthnews.com
