Mitchell poised for break out season

Published on October 30, 2003 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Plymouth Whalers News Release


The Ontario Hockey League is a developmental league. It's easy to assume development occurs only with rookies. The truth is every player on the Plymouth Whalers is in some kind of development.

Take Paul Drew. An overage goaltender now in his fourth season in Plymouth, Drew backedup Rob Zepp and Jason Bacashihua in his first two seasons.

Last year - Drew's first as a regular starter - he led the league with a 2.49 goals against average and backstopped Plymouth to the Western Conference finals.

Look at Ryan Ramsay. A first round draft pick by Peterborough (13th overall) in the 1999 draft, Ramsay bounced from Peterborough to Kitchener, playing on third and fourth lines.

Ramsay's trade to Plymouth in the summer of 2002 afforded him a fresh start. Ramsay made the most of a new situation, scoring 33 and 55 assists for 88 points in 59 regular season games last year. for Plymouth this season as he plays for a professional contract next season.

Many fans' perception of third year center John Mitchell coming into the season is he's a soft perimeter player who is a bust as a first round pick (19th overall) in 2001.

That's not the impression of Colorado scout Rick Pracey, who appreciates what Mitchell brings to the rink. Although the Toronto Maple Leafs selected Mitchell last summer in the fifth round (158th overall) in last summer's National Hockey League Entry Draft, Mitchell was nearly taken by Colorado.

"I've always liked him," Pracey admitted. "We were going to take him in the (NHL) draft in the fifth round if Toronto hadn't taken him first."

With Mitchell off the board, five picks later Colorado selected Owen Sound center Brad Richardson with the 163rd selection. Players tend to develop at different times and different rates.

Mitchell is doing all he can to turn an early first impression around this year. A year older and a year stronger, Mitchell has 7 goals with 6 assists for 13 points this season in 13 games. Mitchell is playing well with linemates John Vigilante (7-4) and Dan Collins (3-3).

Plymouth general manager-head coach Mike Vellucci sees Mitchell's development differently from many fans.

"A lot of people don't understand, in John's first year he played pretty well here (9-9 for 18 points in 63 games) as an underage on a team that was stacked with veterans," Vellucci explained. "Last year he put a lot of pressure on himself to score goals (18-37 for 55 points in 68 games) and he had a lot of chances. I've never seen a guy hit the cross bar or posts like John did last year. He was a little snakebitten.

"He's a good player who's playing well right now. He's getting his opportunities and he's doing things like shooting the puck a little quicker instead of holding on to it too long."

Mitchell is well aware of the fans' perception of his play.

"I worked very hard last summer to get bigger and stronger," he said. "I knew coming in this year I had to bring a physical presence to the team a lot more. We lost guys like Karl Stewart and Chris Thorburn, who hit a lot. So I needed to pick up my game in terms of the physical aspect."

Mitchell discovered playing more physical and competing hard in traffic has given him more ice in which to operate.

"It really helps you to play physical," Mitchell explained. "If you hit out there, players on the other team tend to give you more respect. If you don't hit as much, they'll take advantage of you. If you play physical, the other team is going to say, `Hey, this guy's here to play.'

"If I play a lot more physical, they give me a lot more room to see where the play is and see where I need to shoot or pass the puck. Hitting a lot more has definitely helped me this year."

Using an effective combination of speed, skill and grit, Mitchell's line scored the game-winning goal in wins Oct. 19 in Brampton and Oct. 24 against Belleville.

Vigilante snapped a 3-3 early in the third period in the Brampton win and then Mitchell found Collins for the winner in a 3-0 victory against Belleville.

"We have a lot of speed on our line, which is good," Mitchell said. "We can all shoot the puck very well. Dan has a surprisingly good shot for someone so young, so I'm glad to have him on the line. The linemates I'm with are a little smaller than I am, so I pick up a little more on the physical part of the game."

The Whalers have shown the trait of coming from behind this season, winning one game and tying two others when they were trailing going into the third period. In a tightly competitive Western Conference, teams need to get some kind of point every game in they plan to stay in the race.

"It's early in the year, still, but these points are big," Mitchell said. "When it comes to the end of the season, you need every point you can get."

ANNIVERSARY OF A SPECTACULAR DEBUT: Plymouth goaltender Jeff Weber was acquired from Sault Ste. Marie Oct. 25, 2002 for future considerations. Five days later, Weber made his debut with the Whalers in Sault Ste. Marie at the Memorial Gardens against his former team.

Weber was the game's first star Oct. 30, 2002 in a 6-2 Plymouth victory, stopping 32 of 34 shots - including two penalty shots awarded to the 'Hounds in a span of 1:17 in the second period. Referee Brad Beer awarded Rob Hisey a penalty shot midway through the second period when he was hooked to the ice on a breakaway.

"I was extremely nervous when I saw that we had a penalty shot called against us," said Weber. "Hisey was my best friend when I played for the Greyhounds, so it was kind of ironic that he got to shoot. I had a hunch that he was going to come in and go fivehole. He tried to deke it through my legs and was fortunate enough to get the pad down just in time.

"I think I stopped the puck right on the line."

1:17 later, Beer set an unpublished OHL record when he ruled Weber threw his stick at the puck in trying to poke-check Jeff Carter, setting the stage for another penalty shot.

"I didn't purposely throw my stick on the play, but it must have looked that way to the referee," Weber explained. "So he called another one. I thought Carter was going to shoot (in tight) on me, because that's what he's always done. He came in and I thought I read it pretty well. He tried to deke (and go) far side. I went into the splits and was fortunate enough to make another save.

Weber heard cheers of `Weber, Weber, Weber', from the Soo fans after stopping both penalty shots. "That was definitely very special," Weber said with a smile. "I was there all year last year, so I got to know those fans pretty well. So it was a special night for me, having them chant my name and stuff. It will be something I'll remember for a long time."

Upcoming Promotions

Nov. 22 - Teddy Bear Toss
Dec. 5 - DARE/TEAM Night
Dec. 29 - Kids Day
Call (734) 453-8400 for details Order Tickets Online www.plymouthwhalers.com or by calling (734) 453-8400

Upcoming Games

Home Games
Friday, Nov. 7 vs. Windsor
Saturday, Nov. 8 vs. Saginaw
Friday, Nov. 14 vs. Brampton
Saturdy, Nov. 15 vs. Sarnia
Away Games
Thur., Oct. 30 vs. Barrie
Fri., Oct. 31 vs. Sudbury
Sun., Nov. 2 vs. SS Marie
Tickets for all home games are $9 and $12. Call (734) 453-8400 for more information.

Teddy Bear Toss Night November 22

Bring out a new stuffed animal to be donated to the Plymouth United Way Children's Fund. When the Whalers score their first goal, throw the stuffed animal on the ice.

Whalers acquire Belleville forward

Plymouth Whalers General Manager/Head Coach Mike Vellucci announced Wednesday the Whalers have acquired LW Jordan Grant from the Belleville Bulls for future considerations. Grant (6-3, 195) was a fourth round pick by the Bulls in the 2002 OHL Priority Draft and is expected to add depth at the forward position.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from October 30, 2003


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