Mike White, quarterback for the New York Jets of the National Football League, is a Florida Panthers fan and fantasy hockey enthusiast. He sits down with hosts Pete Jensen and Anna Dua in the latest episode of “NHL Fantasy on Ice,” which is available on NHL.com and multiple iOS and Android podcast Apps.
White made his first start of the season for the Jets in their 31-10 win against the Chicago Bears on Sunday. He was 22-for-28 with 315 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions despite the cold, rainy weather at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Jets are 7-4 and currently in contention for the NFL Playoffs through the first 12 weeks of the season.
But before White got the call from Jets coach Robert Saleh last week and delivered on the big stage, he was backing up teammates Zach Wilson and/or Joe Flacco earlier in the season. During the time waiting for his opportunity, he found another passion — fantasy hockey.
“Definitely keeps your competitive juices flowing,” White said about the experience of playing NHL Fantasy for the first time this season. “It’s my first year doing it and I’m hooked. … But anytime you’re a backup in any sport, it’s all about your preparation and your mindset. You need to be ready because, the moment your time does come, you have to be able to seize it.”
[Listen: Jets QB Mike White joins NHL Fantasy on Ice podcast]
Selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft out of Western Kentucky University, White was signed by the Jets to their practice squad in 2019 and has played five NFL games over the past two seasons. He’s from Pembroke Pines, Florida, which is not far from FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, home of the NHL’s Panthers.
In the “NHL Fantasy on Ice” interview, White provided his reaction to the Panthers’ big offseason trade to acquire the forward Matthew Tkachuk, their rivalry with the Tampa Bay Lightning, the highlights of his first season being involved in fantasy hockey and his appreciation for the talent of NHL players. He also said he plans to attend the 2023 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend on Feb. 3-4 in Sunrise.
[Read: White, Jets honor ‘Mighty Ducks’ upon arrival in Minnesota]
Florida (10-9-4) is fifth in the eight-team Atlantic Division but won the Presidents’ Trophy last season after having the best record in the NHL (58-18-6, 122 points).
“We would go to games a lot when I was younger; I always liked just the live action, the fast pace of [hockey] – there’s really no breaks,” White said. “And then I feel like I really got more into it the past 7-8 years. … The fact that [the Panthers] having had so much success lately just made it that much more fun. I just kind of became enthralled with it.”
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