

Illustration by Kyle Mace

Along with the Hershey Bears opening night roster, Thursday morning the club announced forward Garrett Mitchell was named team captain. “Mitchy” will be the 43rd captain in team history, joining the ranks of guys like Boyd Kane and Bryan Helmer.

“A franchise like this, the history obviously Hershey has, you know it’s really special for me and I’m excited for it. Obviously coming in as a fifth year guy, it seems like I was the same age as (Jakub) Vrana last year.”

“For myself, obviously I’m vocal, but at the same time for me my biggest asset is just leading by example and my worth ethic and everything else on the ice. I’m not going to change who I am or what I do.” This is not the first time Mitchell has been captain. In 2010-11, at the time a 19-year-old Mitchell was named captain of his junior team, the Regina Pats. “I’ve had the leadership rolls in the past, it’s something that hasn’t really changed me. It’s for me to help younger guys out in the situations that I remember asking a lot of questions, being 18, 19, 20-years-old, first time moving away from home. Just trying and help those guys out and be a good guy around the dressing room.”

Mitchell is currently the longest tenured Bear, playing five full seasons and parts of seven overall with the Chocolate and White. “I was pretty lucky I came in early on, 18-years-old, and was able to come to here and see a Calder Cup run. I think for me that was pretty important just in growing up. I was able to see how pros did it. It was definitely an eye opener for me because I’ve always lived at home.

“I think for me that helped me grow as a leader and just being around older guys here in Hershey, that’s definitely helped me a lot being around those guys. The Boyd Kane’s, Keith Aucoin’s, obviously Bourquey my first couple of years, it’s been awesome for me.”

“I’ve known the kid since he came as a junior way back when,” head coach Troy Mann said. “I think he’s earned it. He’s paid his dues in organization. They don’t call him the ‘Mayor of Hershey’ for nothing.”

For the first time under Mann, the captain was picked by the players. “We did a team vote with is not something I’ve ever done. We were curious with the number of young guys coming through the pipeline to see who they should be the captain and alternates. Along with the coaches and the team, we came to the decision that Mitchy would a great fit. And we’ve got three alternates that are well deserving.”

The alternate captains this season include Mike Moore, Chris Bourque and Zach Sill. Moore wore the ‘A’ last season, while Bourque has worn it before with Hershey. Sill, a new comer to the team this season, will be the final alternate on this Bears roster.