Rochester Americans defenseman Mitch Eliot is entering his second season in the Flower City after re-signing a one-year American Hockey League contract with the Amerks back on July 14.

After spending the entire 2021-22 campaign with the Amerks, Eliot is ready to return to Rochester and continue to establish himself in the AHL with another tight-knight group. Last year, Eliot registered career-highs with three goals, seven assists and 10 points.

Along with appearing in a career-best 51 games and posting highs in all offensive categories last season, it was easy for Eliot to show up to the rink every day and do what he loved because of the teammates and staff he was surrounded by.

“It just makes showing up to the rink every day so much more fun when you have guys that you really love being around and care about and you know that’s reciprocated – from coaches to players to staff – everybody truly cares about each other, and it just makes for a really cohesive and enjoyable atmosphere to be a part of.”

Eliot also went on to appear in four Calder Cup Playoff games with the Amerks during their prolific run last season that saw them in the North Division Finals for the first time in 18 years. That extra month of postseason play, and practice, took a little bit of a toll on Eliot’s body, requiring additional time to get his mind and body right before he took the ice again to make sure he was prepared for main camp in Buffalo.

“I think the first thing was just getting my body back feeling right and feeling good,” said Eliot when asked what the focus was over the summer after a longer than usual season. “It’s a long season and the extra month or six weeks or so we spent takes more of a toll. So, I took a little time off and got my mind and my body right and then once I got back on the ice, I was just getting back up to speed, making sure I came to training camp feeling like I was fast again.”

And indeed, he was. Eliot spent this past week participating in Buffalo Sabres training camp before he and 20 others were reassigned to Rochester over the weekend.

The Amerks defenseman began his pro career in 2019-20 when he combined for eight points on three goals and five assists in 34 games between the Utica Comets and Kalamazoo Wings (ECHL) before the season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 104 career AHL games between the Amerks and Utica Comets, Eliot has totaled 19 points (4+15) and 104 penalty minutes.

Eliot looks to continue the upward trajectory he’s seeing in his professional career this season with the Amerks with a group that he feels fortunate and excited to be a part of.

“I was just so excited to get back here and for everyone to see each other again, coaching staff included,” explained Eliot when asked how nice it was to be back with a team that was so close last season.

Eliot then finished with, “It was really cool, we all bonded a lot last year and then there’s a lot of familiar faces back here this year – we’re very fortunate that way.”