Patrick White Patrick White ( born January 20 , 1989 ) is an American ice hockey center who currently plays for EHC Klostersee in the Oberliga . White previously played for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association ( WCHA ) . Prior to joining the Golden Gophers , he played four seasons of high school hockey in the Minnesota State High School League with the Grand Rapids High School Thunderhawks . Although he was drafted twice by junior ice hockey teams — the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League ( WHL ) in 2004 and the Tri - City Storm of the United States Hockey League ( USHL ) in 2005 — he chose to play for his high school instead . Described as a skilled forward with a good wrist shot , White was drafted in the first round , 25th overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft , before being traded to the Sharks in 2009 . Playing career . Grand Rapids High School . White joined the hockey team at Grand Rapids High School when he began his education at the school . In his first season , he finished with seven points in 26 games . At the end of the season , White was drafted in the tenth round , 195th overall by the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League ( WHL ) in the 2004 WHL Bantam Draft although he declined to join the team , opting rather to continue with Grand Rapids . The next season , White greatly improved his statistics , finishing the season with 33 points in 26 games . In the offseason , he was drafted in the second round , 13th overall by the Tri - City Storm of the United States Hockey League ( USHL ) in the 2005 Futures Draft , although opted once again to continue with Grand Rapids . In his third season with Grand Rapids , White led the team with 52 points in 30 games , earning Associated Press ( AP ) All - State honorable mention , " Duluth News Tribune " Second Team All - Area , and Iron Range All - Conference honors . He also helped Grand Rapids finish runner - up at the Minnesota State High School Boys Hockey Tournament , earning All - Tournament Team honors after finishing with five goals in three games . Prior to his senior season with Grand Rapids , White signed a letter of intent to play for the University of Minnesota and their Minnesota Golden Gophers men ' s ice hockey program following his season . In his final season at Grand Rapids , White finished scored 49 points in 30 games to be named AP Player of the Year , " Duluth News Tribune " Player of the Year , AP All - State First Team , St . Paul " Pioneer Press " All - State First Team , " Duluth News Tribune " First - Team All - Area , and Iron Range All - Conference . He was also a finalist for the Minnesota Mr . Hockey award , eventually losing the award to Cretin - Derham Hall High School defenseman Ryan McDonagh . Once again , he led Grand Rapids to a second place finish at the Minnesota State High School Boys Hockey Tournament , earning All - Tournament Team honors for the second consecutive year . White also played in twelve games for the Tri - City Storm of the USHL , split before and after his high school season , scoring eight goals and one assist . Following the season , White entered the 2007 NHL Entry Draft ranked 23rd overall among North American skaters . The NHL ' s Central Scouting Service described White as " a skilled forward with the ability to make a difference " and able to get " his wrist shot off with ease . " He was also said adept at going into corners of the ice and fighting for the puck . On June 22 , 2007 , he was drafted 25th overall by the Vancouver Canucks . University of Minnesota . White joined the University of Minnesota for the 2007 – 08 season . Early into his freshman season , he scored the game winning goal against the University of Michigan in the championship game of the 2007 Ice Breaker Invitational . The goal was the first of White ' s college career . White finished his freshman year with ten points in 45 games while leader the Golden Gophers with a plus / minus rating of plus - nine . Furthermore , the Golden Gophers failed to lose any game in which White scored a point , earning seven wins and two ties . White ' s sophomore season with the Golden Gophers began as a disappointment . He did not record his first goal until the last weekend of November in the Golden Gophers ' fourteenth game of the season . However , White quickly turned his play around , scoring four goals in the Golden Gophers ' next ten games , including the game winning goal 1 : 38 into overtime at the 2009 Dodge Holiday Classic to lead the Golden Gophers to a 3 – 2 victory over Northeastern University . White scored two goals in the two - game tournament , earning All - Tournament Team honors . He finished the 2009 – 10 season with nine goals and eight assists in thirty - nine games for the Golden Gophers . On August 28 , 2009 , White was traded from the Canucks to the San Jose Sharks , along with fellow prospect Daniel Rahimi , in exchange for defencemen Christian Ehrhoff and Brad Lukowich . White had a career season in his third year with the Golden Gophers . He set career highs in goals , with nine , and points , with seventeen . He also tied for third on the team in goals , and tied for seventh in points . German Premier League . In the following season of 2011 - 12 he signed with EHC Klostersee , the runner - up of season 2010 - 11 , in the Oberliga , the third tier of ice hockey in Germany . International play . White was first exposed to international ice hockey when he represented the United States at the 2005 Under - 17 Five Nations Tournament in Huttwil , Switzerland , competing against teams from the Czech Republic , Germany , Slovakia , and Switzerland . White helped the United States to first place with a record of 3 – 0 – 1 , finishing the tournament with two points including an assist on the game - winning goal in the final game . Two years later , White was named to the United States team for the 2007 IIHF World U18 Championships in Finland , his first International Ice Hockey Federation - sanctioned event . White scored three goals and two assists in seven games — including a two - goal performance against Latvia in which he scored the game - winning goal — as the United States lost 6 – 5 to Russia in the gold medal game . Personal life . White was born in Grand Rapids , Minnesota . Mark , his father , played Division III college hockey in Minneapolis and had experience coaching ; he coached White in minor hockey , and also did work with a community college in Grand Rapids . In honor of his father , White wore the number six , the same number Mark used . While at the University of Minnesota , White pursued a management major at the Carlson School of Management .