White leads Bears in semi today

University of Maine women’s hockey team center Cheryl White has been playing in pain since suffering a knee injury at the University of North Dakota in November.

But she hasn’t let that deter her from having a productive senior season.

Her 14 goals is a career single-season high and ties her with Brigitte Laflamme for the team goal-scoring lead. She also has seven assists.

“I just try to do whatever I can, whether it be setting up plays or finishing. I just want to contribute,” said White, who has been at Maine five years because she was a medical redshirt her sophomore year due to a wrist injury.

White will hope to contribute this weekend when Maine plays in the Hockey East semifinals at Northeastern University’s Matthews Arena in Boston. The fourth-seeded Bears will take on the nation’s No. 1 team, New Hampshire, in Saturday’s noon semifinal. Boston College and Providence meet in the other semi.

White acknowledged that her knee has imposed limitations on her.

“I can’t skate as hard as I would like to at times. It’s difficult to get up when I fall down. But I don’t think about it when I play. I put it in the back of my mind,” said White. “It’s sore after the game. I put a lot of ice on it and rest it as much as I can.”

White had 21 goals and 32 assists in 102 games entering this season and she said she has enjoyed her career at Maine, a career that has included two years as a varsity softball player. She will join the softball team after hockey ends this season.

“I don’t have any complaints. I’ve learned a lot. I’ve gotten to play with some great players here. I’ve played whatever role the team needed me to play. I’ve been a little frustrated by the injury bug but everything has worked out all right and I hope to pitch in this weekend,” said the Portage la Prairie, Manitoba native.

Maine coach Guy Perron said White has improved every year.

“A lot of people don’t know that she has been hurt. She’s got an ice pack all the time,” said Perron. “She works extremely hard and you can’t say enough the things she does off the ice. She has been tremendously helpful to the coaching staff. She has made cakes for the team. She’s a really thoughtful person.

“She’s great to the kids who come to our games and any time you ask her to do something, she goes beyond it. She’s a great ambassador for our program,” said Perron.