Upon joining the Junior Senators in time for the 2015-16 campaign, Cameron White immediately became the team’s primary shut-down defenseman. Now in his final Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL) season, Captain Cameron has become a team leader as well as one of the finest blue-liners in the 12-team loop.
Named captain this year, White takes his additional responsibilities seriously—on and off the ice.
“I try to lead by what I do and to set a good example for the rest of the guys,” he said. “I’m one of the older guys so I know how much hard work is required. Hockey also needs to be fun to I try and keep it loose in the locker room and it’s especially important to make the new guys feel welcome.”
After joining Ottawa from the Upper Canada College Hockey Club, White spent his first season diligently going about his business, showing the coaching staff that he was a solid, defensive player. In 60 games, the Toronto native score a goal and five assists, while accumulating just 21 penalty minutes. Last season, White stepped up offensively, scoring three goals and adding 10 assists in 47 matches, and as a second-year player he consciously tried to play more of a leadership role.
During both of those campaigns the 6-3, 200-pounder, helped the Junior Senators reach the CCHL/Bogart Cup finals. In his rookie season, Ottawa boasted the lowest goals against in the league and the Junior Senators had the second lowest total a year ago. Both times, however, Ottawa fell to the Carleton Place Canadians in the finals. He’s clearly hoping that the third time is the charm for his team.
“The experience of the last few years definitely helps because the veterans know how hard we had to work to get there,” White said. “Now we have a little more offense and I really believe we have a strong shot to win the Bogart Cup, and we’d like to get another shot at Carleton Place. It was tough losing to them two years in a row.”
White is determined to do his part to help make that happen. That might mean giving a pat on the back to a teammate who had a rough shift, making new players feel welcome, or maintaining a positive attitude when things are not going well for the team.
So far, so good for both White and the Junior Senators, who are sitting in first place in the Yzerman Division. Ottawa—with two young goalies between the pipes—owns the third-best goals against average in the league.
White has seen loads of ice time in the 17 games he’s played and has contributed a pair of goals and five assists. More important, he’s been a steadying influence on the blue line and, as captain, has helped the netminders adjust to life in the CCHL.
White’s stellar play and commitment to the team have not gone unnoticed. The Ottawa defender has accepted a scholarship and will play at St. Lawrence University next season. A visit to the campus in upstate New York sealed the deal. Still, first things first and there’s that matter of chasing that elusive CCHL title, as well the Fred Page Cup, which the Junior Senators will host in May.
“Our goal right now is to win the Bogart Cup,” White said. “There will be some bumps along the way and it’s part of my job to keep the guys focused. We have a good group. We’ve battled through some injuries, but we’re getting better and more confident as a team.”
