Source: UVM Athletics

Author: Chris J. Wojcik
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Catamounts in the NHL
BURLINGTON, Vt. - Former Catamount captain Torrey Mitchell '07 makes his National Hockey League debut with the San Jose Sharks on Thursday at Edmonton. Mitchell, a 22-year-old rookie, has been working on San Jose’s second line at practice this week along with Milan Michalek and Devin Setoguchi. Mitchell is one of six former Catamounts that will play in the NHL this season. Uvmathletics.com had a chance to catch up with Mitchell as he prepares for his NHL debut.

UVM: What will you be thinking about before you hit the ice on Thursday?

TM: I’m sure I’ll have some pretty big butterflies but once the game gets going I’ll be fine. I’m excited to get started.

UVM: What player has had the biggest influence on you throughout the preseason?

TM: Jeremy Roenick is giving Devin Setoguchi and myself advice all the time. He has been great giving us tips and being a nine-time all-star he certainly knows the game. Following him some growing up its been kind of cool to have him helping us along.

UVM: What did you learn as a player at Vermont that has been most helpful with San Jose?

TM: Coach Sneddon was so good at stressing all the details of the game and that has helped me so much during training camp. I learned to be detail oriented at Vermont and that has made things a lot easier for me. Every little detail matters so much here.

UVM: What’s Ron Wilson like as a head coach?

TM: He’s fair. You have to work hard and show up prepared. He will give you a chance. The whole San Jose organization is based on merit. If you get the job done you will get the opportunity. I had a good camp and showed them I could play.

UVM: What’s been one of the toughest parts of preseason?

TM: One of the hardest things is not to read too much into anything. You just have to go out on the ice and play. You can’t start thinking about who is getting sent down and who is staying. If you get caught up in the mental game it will affect your play.

UVM: Do you sometimes look around the rink and think…wow that’s Joe Thorton over their or that’s Patrick Marleau?

TM: You have to take things in stride but when Joe Thornton or Patrick Marleau makes a great play you can’t help but to say wow. Joe is so impressive and Marleau is so fast. You can learn so much from them. Just watching them and seeing how they make plays can help my game.

UVM: Lastly what is the average day like?

TM: I leave the hotel around 7:45am to get to breakfast for 8:00am. Then we have team stretch and practice preparation or video around 9:00am. We practice from 10:00am to 11:00am and then they resurface the ice. We usually scrimmage from 11:15am to noon. Then we have what’s called practice after practice here. We spend 20 minutes after practice working on our skills. Then we have strength training and get a lunch. We have two chefs that cook for us. Then it’s back to the hotel where I have been watching a lot of movies. Setoguchi and I usually grab a nice meal for dinner and its back to the hotel.

UVM: Thanks for your time Torrey and good luck on Thursday.

TM: You’re welcome. Any time. Good luck to the Catamounts on Sunday.