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WILLIE MITCHELL
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#8
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1997-1999
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Defense
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6-3, 215
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Port McNeill, British Columbia
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April 23, 1977
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AT CLARKSON—One of the most dominant and most intimidating defensemen in the nation during his brief collegiate career … Left Clarkson after his sophomore campaign to pursue a professional career, but not before he made a significant contribution to the Golden Knights’ storied tradition … Helped Clarkson to 48 victories during his two-year stint with the Green and Gold and played a leading role in the Knights’ ECAC regular season and tournament championship titles in 1999 … A tough competitor and smart hockey player, who possessed perhaps the hardest shot in college hockey … Scored 55 points from the blueline on 19 goals and 36 assists through 68 games from 1997-99 ... Named as one of the top five college players ready to make the jump to the NHL by Sports Illustrated Magazine (3/2/98).
SOPHOMORE YEAR (1998-99)—Second-Team Titan All-America … First-Team ECAC All-Star … ECAC All-Tournament MVP … Clarkson’s top scorer from the blueline with 29 points on 10 goals and 19 assists through 34 games … Also tallied four power-play goals, two game-winners, 40 penalty minutes and a +13 plus/minus rating … Scored perhaps the most dramatic goal in Clarkson’s lengthy ECAC playoff history when he connected from center ice in the ECAC Tournament semifinal round against Princeton (3/19) for the winning goal with just 2.7 seconds left in regulation … Clarkson’s top scorer in postseason play with six points (3-3) in four games … The top scoring defenseman in ECAC play (.79 ppg) … Tallied a career-high three goals, along with one assist, in 9-3 victory over Brown (2/26).
FRESHMAN YEAR (1997-98)—Named ECAC co-Rookie of the Year along with classmate Erik Cole after a banner campaign when he excelled in just about every aspect of the game … A force offensively with a team-high 26 points (9-17) from the blueline … Shared the team lead in power-play goals with six … Second on the team in penalty minutes (31/105) … Named to the ECAC 
Championship All-Tournament team after scoring four points (2-2), including two power-play goals and an assist in title game vs. Princeton (3/21) … Boasted a team-high plus/minus rating of +25 … Only rookie in the league to earn honors on the conference’s first two all-star teams, gaining second-team ECAC accolades … Had eight two-point games … Posted 14 points (4-10) in last 12 games … recorded three assists in 6-3 win over Yale (2/20) … Named to the ECAC Honor Roll three times during the season.
BEFORE CLARKSON—Played in the very competitive atmosphere of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey league (SJHL) prior to Clarkson … Skated for the Melfort Mustangs, coached by Marc Habscheid … A 1997 “unanimous” first-team SJHL All-Star and the league’s Top Defenseman … Recorded 56 points (14-42) and 227 penalty minutes in 64 games.
PERSONAL—Son of Nadija and Reid Mitchell … Born April 23, 1977 … Shoots left … Business major … 1996 NHL Draft choice of New Jersey (8th round, 199th) … Grandfather Les Mitchell still played hockey at age 72.
|
Year |
GP |
Goals |
Asst |
Pts |
P/M |
PPG |
SHG |
GWG |
HT |
+/- |
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1997-98 FR |
34 |
9 |
17 |
26 |
31/105 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
+25 |
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1998-99 SO |
34 |
10 |
19 |
29 |
16/40 |
4 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
+13 |
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Totals |
68 |
19
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36 |
55 |
47/145 |
10 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
+38 |
