Rockford IceHogs forward Garrett Mitchell has been a consistent American Hockey League (AHL) player and leader for the better part of the past 10 years.  Now considered a Veteran within the league, Mitchell is using his experience to help safely navigate the IceHogs through an unprecedented 2020-21 season.

Mitchell was born and raised in Regina, Saskatchewan, and dreamed of one day playing for his hometown Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League (WHL).  In 2006, that dream became a reality when he was drafted by the Pats.  He would go on to star with the team for four seasons between 2007 – 2010, his final season as team captain.  Mitchell describes the experience as an honour to simply put on the Pats’ jersey.

“It was a surreal experience.  My family even had season tickets when I was a kid. I grew up idolizing former players Iike Rick Rypien and Garth Murray; they were guys I modelled my game after. It was really neat being able to still live at home and stay at the same school while playing for the Pats.”

His style of play caught the attention of the Washington Capitals, leading them to draft Mitchell in the 6th round (175th overall) in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.  Following his final season with the Pats, where he recorded 52 points in 70 games, he was assigned to the Hershey Bears, Washington’s AHL affiliate.  His rookie season in Hershey was one of his most enjoyable experiences thus far.

“When I first went to play in Hershey as an 18-year-old kid, the team was in the midst of back-to-back championships. Being there for their second playoff run, getting to experience the culture and see how much fun the team was having, it was something I try to hold onto throughout my career.”

Mitchell was a fixture with the Bears over the next seven seasons, whose hard work was rewarded when the Capitals called him up to the NHL on April 9^th, 2017.  From the moment he found out to his first NHL shift, he fondly reflected on so many memorable moments throughout his hockey journey.

“I remember being in Toronto to play the Marlies when my coach, Troy Mann, came in the dressing room and announced to the team that I was getting called up for Washington’s last game of the regular season against the Florida Panthers. Just to see how excited my teammates were for me was unbelievable.”

“My parents got to come, even my wife who had just given birth to our second child days ago made it, which was awesome. I started the game on a line with Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin, which was surreal. The referee was Wes McCauley, who kicked Backstrom out of the opening face off so I could take it. I am pretty sure that was intentional, but I was just trying to soak it all in.”

Mitchell played the following 2017-18 season back with the Bears before embarking on a season in Slovakia.  He then returned to North America for the 2019-20 season, playing the majority of the year in the ECHL with the Reading Royals, along with stints in Laval and Rockford where he suited up for 15 games.

Now in his second season with the Rockford IceHogs, the Chicago Blackhawks’ AHL affiliate, Mitchell’s leadership abilities did not go unnoticed, and he was named team captain ahead of the 2020-21 season.  Having previously spent three seasons as Hershey’s captain, Mitchell considers himself a quiet leader.

“Since I was young, I always tried to lead by example. I know I am not the most skilled player on the ice, so a lot of my success comes from working hard and maintaining a good work ethic. The mentality I try to instill in the other players is ‘if I can make the NHL in year 10, you can make it in year 1’.”

The 2020-21 AHL season has been unprecedented to say the least due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.  The season eventually began on February 5th, 2021 with 28 of 31 teams participating, including for the first time an all Canadian Division.

During the off-season, Mitchell became the Ice Hogs Player Representative with the Professional Hockey Players’ Association, a position he had held in the past while with Hershey, and along with other Player Representatives throughout the league, were instrumental in working with the AHL and PHPA to safely begin the season. While it was a longer absence than many expected, the players are simply happy to be back on the ice and honing their skills.

“I remember when the league shut down last March, being in the room with my teammates, we didn’t anticipate it lasting 11 months.  I was involved in several Zoom meetings with the PHPA staff, attorneys, and other Reps throughout the off-season.  With all of the hurdles, we were never 100% sure if the season would even happen until opening night. It definitely feels great to be back playing.”

In order to keep all players and team personnel safe, the league has implemented stringent COVID-19 protocols that teams must adhere to daily. Mitchell, alongside his teammates, are very pleased with how the protocols are being implemented so far this season.

“Our organization has done an amazing job with our protocols. The league requires players get tested at least three times a week, but we get tested daily. I know other teams do the same, which is great.  We are always wearing a mask when not on the ice, and we even take two buses on road trips so each player gets the required space.”

“It is definitely tough on the families though. I have two children myself, so ensuring they are safe and occupied, all while I am focused on the season can be challenging. At the same time, we are all fortunate to be playing and have our jobs throughout the pandemic.”

The AHL Return to Play structure has created an environment intended to keep everyone as safe as possible, while providing the much needed opportunity for the next wave of NHL players to develop their skill set. The planning for the 2020-21 season took weeks to prepare and was constantly being discussed.

“As players, we understand that there are still a lot of unknowns in the world. When we thought about it as a league, we believed that if we did not play, it would hurt the players in so many ways. It would hurt the veterans who would be unsure of their future if there was no season. For the rookies, they were worried that it may impact their development and potential NHL career. Finding the balance while maintaining safety was vital.  Overall, I believe we have had success thus far.”

In a season like no other, it is vital that players are aware of the benefits offered to them through the PHPA.  As their union, the PHPA can aid in a variety of categories, including health insurance and off-ice benefits, workers’ compensation, a Career Enhancement Program, Membership Assistance Program, marketing partnerships, and numerous other aspects. Mitchell helps to ensure that his teammates are well aware of the benefits available to them. 

“Being in the league for a while and becoming a Player Representative for multiple teams, I understand how vital the PHPA is for us. I feel it is my job to make sure the younger guys understand how important our union is. Factors like providing our healthcare during this season have been huge for us.  Players who are 19 or 20 years old may not see that yet, so it is important for them to know they can call the PHPA about any issues they may have and be confident that they help work towards a solution.”

After lending his experience to better serve his teammates, opponents, and the league, Mitchell can now focus on leading his IceHogs teammates on the ice, in what is hopefully a safe and healthy 2020-21 season.