Eric White Jr's Rookie Experience

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Eric White Jr. Hit Riga

 

Eric White Jr, one of the few rookies Riga has this season has had an interesting season so far. Heading into the season White Jr was projected 7th among all rookies for this season which was a good sign for Riga fans. Eric started living up to that potential if not better and then all of the sudden was not putting up any points. White Jr went from leading Riga in points, a seven game point streak to now being a respectable 3rd in points for Riga, un-consistent, 7th in rookie points and not even in the top 10 of Rookies to watch. Well we will figure that out.

 

White Jr has had an interesting journey since his draft in S90. Getting drafted 3 times once in all leagues. In the VHL he was drafted by the D.C. Dragons, in the VHLE he was drafted by the reigning champions Cologne Express and in the VHLM he was drafted by the reigning champions San Diego Marlins who he was a part of being picked up through waivers.

In the VHLM for his 2nd season he went and did decent with 104 points on a dominant San Diego team and even though the Marlins lost in the 2nd round of the playoffs White Jr had the best playoffs but was unable to win Playoff MVP because the marlins didn’t make the finals. White Jr had 20 points in 11 games which included 8 goals and 12 assists, only 5 points behind the playoff leader Sebastian Thunder in 9 less games.

 

In the VHLE Cologne had just won their 2nd straight Championship and 3rd in 4 seasons. An okay season for White Jr in a low scoring VHLE getting 60 points. 20 goals and 40 assists. Heading into the playoffs it looked like White Jr was going to have to turn on his playoff play and he did 8 points in 9 games 3 goals and 5 assists while helping Cologne win their 3rd straight championship and 4th in 5 seasons.

 

Now how did White Jr end up in Riga? Well he was a part of a 1st round flip. The trade does not matter as Eric was heading to Europe to play for Cologne. 

Riga is a young team and with a strong 5 European Conference teams and what should be 6 with Warsaw Riga wasn’t supposed to be good but sitting 6th in the European Conference right now might be good and all Riga needs is a complete 180° if they want to make the playoffs.

So why has White Jr’s production slowed down massively? The 2nd line hasn’t been doing it’s part to help Riga win and it is not because of White Jr as most of the points the 2nd line gets involves Eric. So when Benjamin Zeptenbergs was asked “What are your thoughts on White Jr’s play thus far?” Zeptenbergs said, “He's doing pretty fine, one of the best young Riga players. The +/- may turn people off, but it's just growing pains going on. Now it's just matter of time before he matures and becomes a force to be reckon with.”

The VHL is a big league and all that White Jr needs is some veteran help to get comfortable with the VHL. White Jr said “The team has been a great welcoming for me and the other rookies and overall we expect Riga to be at the top soon”

 

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