UBC goalie Jordan White gets emergency call to NHL tonight

For one night at least, Jordan White’s dream of playing in the NHL will come true. Sort of. The 22-year-old Surrey native and starting netminder for the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds will serve as the backup goalie for San Jose when the Sharks face the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena tonight (January 20).

When Antero Niittymaki suffered an undisclosed injury during today’s morning skate, San Jose didn’t have time to recall a goalie from its minor league team based in Worcester, Massachusetts. So the Sharks turned to UBC to find a goalie who could serve as Antti Niemi’s back-up tonight.

White got the call around 12:15 p.m. while his Thunderbirds were getting ready for practice.

"Coach called me into his office and told me the situation. At first, I was just trying to put it into perspective. You've heard about these stories on TV or in the papers and I'm looking forward to the experience and taking it for what it is," White said in a statement released by the UBC Sports Information department.

White becomes the second UBC goalie to sign as an emergency backup. Chris Levesque dressed for the Canucks on December 9, 2003, in a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

White has junior hockey experience in both the Western Hockey League and B.C. Hockey League. He is currently in his second season at UBC.

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