Veteran American Hockey League winger Garrett Mitchell announced his retirement on Thursday.
Mitchell, who turns 32 on Saturday, played 537 games in the AHL over a 12-year pro career that included stops in Hershey, Laval and Rockford. He totaled 66 goals and 70 assists for 136 points, and wore the captain’s “C” for the Bears (2015-18) and IceHogs (2020-23).
Mitchell was also his team’s winner of the IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year award twice, recognizing his efforts in the Hershey community in 2017-18 and the Rockford community in 2022-23.
A sixth-round pick by Washington in the 2009 NHL Draft, Mitchell also skated in one National Hockey League game, debuting with the Capitals on Apr. 9, 2017, vs. Florida.
The PHPA would like to extend a sincere congratulations to Simpson, who spent several years as a PHPA Player Representative and member of the PHPA Executive Committee.