Sidelines: Scoring duo White, Lopez have Perrysburg hockey team soaring (1.7.10)
Printer-friendly versionArticle published January 07, 2010
By MARK MONROE BLADE SPORTS WRITER
Perrysburg senior center Matt White has produced mind-boggling numbers this season with senior linemate Ben Lopez serving as his vital wingman.
White, a prolific scorer, shares the bounty with Lopez.
White has tallied an astonishing 47 goals this season. He also has dished out an incredible 31 assists, and his 78 points are just nine shy of tying the school record for a season.
Lopez, a left winger, has scored 29 goals and has 32 assists for 61 points.
Through 18 games, White is averaging 4.3 points and 2.6 goals per game.
“They're tearing it up,” Perrysburg coach Jeff LaCourse said.
The pair have Perrysburg (11-7-0 overall) positioned atop the Northwest Hockey Conference White Division standings. The Yellow Jackets are 4-0-0, including a 9-6 win over Bedford, the preseason favorite.
White said the chemistry has been mutually beneficial.
“When he and I have the puck, good things happen,” White said. “I love playing with Ben. I can find him on the ice anytime. Every time we're on the ice we think we can score a goal.”
White had six goals in an 8-3 win over Central Catholic last Saturday. Lopez chipped in with four assists.
“It doesn't feel real,” Lopez said. “It's pretty amazing to have put that many points up.”
Last season, White set the school record for goals scored in a season with 53. He also had 27 assists for 80 points. Lopez, who broke his collarbone last year, still had 18 goals and 18 assists.
The duo has been working on their chemistry since they learned to skate.
“It goes back to when we were real young,” White said. “We'd play hockey in the basement. We could always find each other. Even when I'm not looking, I'll know where he is going to be.”
Lopez said he has been playing hockey with White since they were 6.
“Matt and I grew up together. We played a lot of pond hockey,” Lopez said. “I always know where he is on the ice. It's a good feeling to have this unspoken thing we have. If I get the puck to Matt, it's most likely going in the net. That's my plan.”
LaCourse said White and Lopez are on the same club teams with players from St. Francis de Sales, which is ranked No. 1 in the state.
“They work well together,” LaCourse said. “They're very good at getting themselves open and creating opportunities. Sometimes I wonder how they know the pass is going to be there.”
White said the entire team maintains an up-tempo pace.
“Perrysburg hockey is playing with speed,” White said. “We're not physical. We put a lot of pucks on net.”
LaCourse said White has “unbelievable speed.”
“He is a fast kid,” LaCourse said. “The thing that impresses me most is that he changes directions so well. He turns people around.”
But LaCourse said White also has really good hands.
“He has a little bit of everything,” LaCourse said. “He can finish.”
He said White often creates odd-man rushes. “A lot of times he's all by himself,” LaCourse said.
The third-year Yellow Jackets coach said Lopez, who is the team captain, is a very smart player.
“Ben makes everyone on the ice better with his passing and he plays great defense,” LaCourse said. “He's a good shooter and he's creative.”
But the duo said they don't focus on individual feats.
“I don't really look at the stats. I just don't like to take credit. I'm low key,” White said. “I'm not one to brag.”
But the records still matter to him. He said he had 47 goals late last year when he was told the record in a season was 48.
“When I broke it I had four goals in a game against Clay that we came from behind,” White said. “It was a lot more special because we won.”
White also knows the record for points in season is 87.
“One of my goals is the single-season record in points,” he said. “So far I'm right on track.”
With at least 10 games left, Lopez and White will have ample opportunity to keep lighting the lamp. Yet White will have difficulty setting the school's career record for points. That record (277) is held by Ben Lopez's brother, Danny, who graduated in 2008.
As a freshman, White said he was only 5-5 and 115 pounds.
“I did not have much success,” he said. “I got pushed around.”
He has since grown five inches and put on 50 pounds.
“I have a weight bench in my basement,” he said. “I work on the upper body and the legs.”
LaCourse said White was “a tiny little kid” who played on his fourth line. Then as a sophomore, White played defense.
“He turned into one of the top defensemen in the league,” LaCourse said. “As a junior, we moved him back to forward and he really took off.”
White said he is considering playing junior hockey, perhaps for the Toledo Cherokee. But White, who also is a standout outfielder in baseball, may also opt to attend a small college to play both sports.
Lopez said he may play for the club team at the University of Toledo.
But White and Lopez's current priority is winning a division title and getting back to the district final. As sophomores, they helpedPerrysburg upset Findlay and Bowling Green to reach the district championship.
Bedford (4-1) has won four straight division titles at the expense of the Yellow Jackets, who have consistently finished second.
The teams meet again tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. at the Ice House. Then Perrysburg plays Anthony Wayne (3-1) on Saturday.
“If we follow through with two wins we will be in the driver's seat,” Lopez said.
Contact Mark Monroe at:mmonroe@theblade.comor 419-724-6354.
