By JOE GROSS, Sentior Staff Writer
Published October 31, 2007
Capital Gazette Newspapers -- Annapolis, MD

If Adam Mitchell was the average high school athlete, he would be preparing for the hockey season with his former teammates at South River. But Mitchell was a step above the competition among the club teams that represent the Anne Arundel County schools.

During the summer, while looking forward to his senior year at the Edgewater school, Mitchell received a telephone call from the Texas Tornado of the North American Hockey League. He had been selected to play with the team that prides itself on the number of players its sends to NCAA Division I college teams.

It was sure to be a great difference from playing with the Washington Nationals of the Atlantic Junior Hockey League. He was coached locally by former Washington Capitals player Mark Tinordi and trained in the offseasons with another former Cap, Craig Loughlin.

"The level I’m going to is a huge step up in terms of strength, skill and speed," Mitchell said. "I hope to get a lot of interest this year from Division I schools while I continue to develop my skills and knowledge of the game from the excellent coaching staff in Texas."

But a funny thing happened on the way to showing his abilities to the college scouts.

Last week, Mitchell was named as one of three members of the Tornado and just 11 in the entire NAHL as a "Player to Watch" by the National Hockey League Central Scouting.

Central Scouting rates the players as A, B or C players. None of the 11 NAHL players was on the A list, which is made up of potential first- or second-round entry draft picks by the NHL teams. Mitchell was B Rated, which means he is a potential third- or fourth-round pick.

Mitchell caught the eye of the Tornado staff while performing in July at the National Hockey Festival at St. Cloud, Minn. He was one of 100 players invited to the Texas team’s tryout. And shortly after completing five days of drills and scrimmages, he got the call.

Before leaving, the Crofton resident said, "It will be tough. I’ll have to work my way up because nothing’s going to be given to me. I’ll have to fight for playing time, prove myself. And next year I will be one of the veteran forwards."

Mitchell worked his way up to the top group of players quickly.

Mitchell’s days are long and arduous, beginning with a half day of school, a trip to the rink, an intra-squad scrimmage if no game was scheduled in the evening.

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