Garrett Mitchell Recalled by Washington, Expected to Make NHL Debut Sunday Night
After over 350 AHL games, and parts of eight seasons in Hershey, Garrett Mitchell has finally made it to the NHL.
Days after clinching the President’s Trophy, the Capitals rewarded the Bears captain with his first call-up almost eight years after being drafted by the organization. The Regina, Saskatchewan native has only played in a limited number of preseason games for the Capitals in his career, and never an NHL regular season game. Sunday night that should all change.
Mitchell, 25, has played 352 games for Hershey, scoring 46 goals and 102 points. In this season, Mitchell has played 70 games scoring ten goals and 20 points for the Bears.
Bears center Chandler Stephenson was also recalled a day after scoring the Bears game-winning goal against Toronto.
The Capitals play Florida Sunday night in Washington at 7 pm.
Press release:
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have recalled forwards Garrett Mitchell and Chandler Stephenson from the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today.
Mitchell, 25, has earned 20 points (10g, 10a) in 70 games with Hershey (AHL) this season. The 5’11”, 198-pound forward has served as captain for the Bears the last two seasons (2015-17) and served as an alternate captain during the 2014-15 season. Last season, Mitchell tallied a career-high 16 assists and posted a career-long six-game point streak (1/2/16-1/15/16: 4g, 4a). In addition, he earned a career-high three points on April 10, 2016 at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. During the 2012-13 season, Mitchell earned career highs in points (30), goals (15) and games played (75). The Regina, Saskatchewan, native was selected by the Capitals in the sixth round, 175th overall, in the 2009 NHL Draft and has recorded 102 points (46g, 56a) in 352 career AHL games with Hershey.
Stephenson, 22, has played in three games with the Capitals this season and made his 2016-17 season debut on Jan. 24 at Ottawa. He played in nine games with Washington last season and made his NHL debut on Oct. 15, 2015 vs. Chicago. The Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, native has earned 38 points (10g, 28a) in 71 games with Hershey (AHL) this season and ranks fifth on the team in assists and seventh in points. Stephenson has set AHL career highs in points, goals, assists and games played this season. The 6’0”, 204-pound forward has earned 81 points (25g, 56a) in 173 career AHL games with Hershey. He was drafted by the Capitals in the third round, 77th overall, in the 2012 NHL Draft.