Mitchell, who tipped the scales at 185 pounds
as a freshman, has added 40 pounds to his 6-foot-5
frame over the last two years. |
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Key Statistics: After
suiting up for just 18 games as a freshman, Mitchell
doubled his playing time and quadrupled his offensive
production last season, seeing the ice in all 40 of
the Badgers’ games and putting up 13 points. At
6-foot-5 without skates, Mitchell is the tallest Badger
and is known to dunk a basketball for fun.
What He Does: With nine
goals in two seasons of college hockey, Mitchell isn’t
a prolific scorer, but he seems to save his offense
for the most opportune times. Six of those nine goals
have been scored in WCHA games, and he lit the lamp
versus Denver in the NCAA playoffs last season (in a
6-2 Wisconsin win), as the Badgers ignored the chatter
that they shouldn’t be in the tournament and came
within an overtime goal of the Frozen Four.
The Bigger Picture: “Bigger,”
indeed, as Mitchell has grown from a lanky 185 pounds
to a more robust 225 in his two-plus years in Madison.
Wisconsin’s capital city is known for great restaurants,
and Mitchell has apparently frequented many, many of
them. He spent the summer on the Isthmus working in
the weight room, skating a few times a week and, in
his words, “definitely shoveling food into my
body.” He hopes to add “10 more pounds of
improvement” before Wisconsin opens the season
with a brutally tough slate (trips to Boston College,
New Hampshire, Denver, and North Dakota before Nov.
1). Mitchell says the added bulk is a big plus when
he skates on the “grind line” for the Badgers
but admits he’s still growing into his body, learning
to be stronger on the puck and control himself on the
ice.
Badgers coach Mike Eaves on Mitchell:
“He was a string bean when he got here, but John
has worked hard in the weight room to improve himself.
The physical thing has really helped his confidence
and made him a better all-around player. This season
we’re going to have to put him in situations where
he can take that next step.”
—
Jess Myers |
