Chopping It Up with Comets’ Defenseman, Colton White
Oct 13, 2025Utica, NY – With eight seasons and 410 games of pro hockey under his belt, Colton White is back for another season in Utica.
White grew up in London, a large city in southwestern Ontario and the home of the OHL’s London Knights since 1968. His love for hockey began on his family’s backyard rink where he spent countless hours skating with his dad, a former goaltender, and his brother who’s four years his senior.
White left home for the first time at the age of 16, moving nearly seven hours away to Sault Ste. Marie, ON to play for the Soo Greyhounds. He spent four seasons there, living with two different billet families. He lived on a big farm during his last two seasons, frequently spending time outdoors, playing paintball with teammates, and developing an interest in hunting, which led to a few up-close encounters with bears as he recalls.
In addition to the great setup he had with his billet families, White loved his time with Soo from a hockey standpoint. He said some of his best memories were spending time with his teammates on long road trips and getting to see his parents at several of the away games that they trekked for several hours to attend.
White made his professional debut in 2017, spending time with both the Binghamton Devils (AHL) and Adirondack Thunder (ECHL). He said one of the challenges he dealt with was the fact that there were a lot of defensemen ahead of him in Binghamton, which resulted in being sent down to Adirondack for part of the season which, according to White, was a blessing in disguise. “It was some of the most fun I’ve had playing hockey. We had a great group of guys. We went on a good run in the playoffs, going to the conference finals. The coach (Brad Tapper) was great to me, and I really enjoyed my time there.”
The following season, White had a great start to training camp, and the 47 games he played for Binghamton the previous season turned into 71 games that next season. Not only did White play a full AHL season, but on March 13th, 2019, he realized his lifelong dream, making his NHL debut with the New Jersey Devils. “I eventually got called up to play my first NHL game in Edmonton (with the Devils). It was surreal, getting to play against (Connor) McDavid and (Leon) Draisaitl, and to have my parents there, it was something I’ll never forget.”
White continued to grind, spending the majority of the next few seasons in Binghamton while getting a handful of games with New Jersey. His hard work and perseverance paid off when he was rewarded with 27 games with the NHL club during the 2021-22 season. The following year, that number grew to 46 games when White moved out west to play for the Anaheim Ducks. “It was a bit of a culture shock. Being on the east coast is really nice. You take for granted how close you are to family and friends. I didn’t really know anyone in Anaheim and was kind of going in blind. It was a little tough being further from family. It was a great experience though. The weather’s awesome and it was a special place to play.”
White returned to Utica last season and suited up in 61 games for the Comets. Looking at the current season, he said, “We have a great group of guys. Last year, even with the tough start we had, we were able to get things on the right track and end the season on a good note. I think it’s only going to get better from here. We have a lot of returning guys and a lot of new guys that bring a lot of energy and positivity to the dressing room, so I think it’s going to be a great year.”
The one constant over the course of White’s career, he says, has been his parents. “They sacrificed so much for me growing up and continue to do so. Even just coming to visit whether it’s close to home or wherever we’re playing. They gave up a lot for my brother and me to play hockey, and being able to share the experiences I’ve had (through my career) with them has been special.”
When the veteran defenseman is not grinding away at the rink, he enjoys spending time with his family, going for walks, and even juggling from time to time. White and the Comets are back at home this Friday, October 17th at 7 PM against the Rochester Americans. For tickets, just visit uticacomets.com/tickets or call 315-790-9070.