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Willie Mitchell

NHL, the National Hockey League is a premier professional North American Sports League played in indoor stadiums. It is divided into two conferences, each comprising of three divisions of ice hockey teams. Willie Mitchell was born on April 23, 1977 in Port McNeil, British Columbia. He is a professional ice hockey defenseman player. He is the eighth round, 199th overall selection of the New Jersey Devils in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft. His height is 6 feet 3 inches with a weight 205 pounds. He shoots left-handed in the game. He currently plays for the Vancouver Canucks.

He was enrolled at the Clarkson University in the fall of 1997 and went on to play two seasons with the Golden Knights before making his professional debut following his sophomore year. In his brief collegiate career, he has received numerous honors including ECAC, Eastern College Athletic Conference Second All-Star Team in 1998, Co-Winner ECAC Rookie of the Year in 1998, ECAC First All-Star Team in 1999 and NCAA, National Collegiate Athletic Association, East Second All-American Team in 1999.

Following two impressive seasons at Clarkson, he had joined the AHL American Hockey League's Albany River Rats and spent the better part of the next two seasons in the AHL while seeing limited action with the parent club in New Jersey. In his first full season with the Wild in 2001-2002, he had registered 13 points in 68 games while struggling with a plus or minus of minus 16. In 2002-2003, he upped his point total to 14 and bettered his plus or minus to a plus 13 while helping the Wild reach the Western Conference Finals. Following a successful season in 2002-2003, the Wild struggled in 2003-2004 and missed the playoffs.

Following a lock-out year in 2004-2005, he had returned to the Wild for his fourth season with the club, where he continued to be an steady competitor on the team's blueline, however, with the club struggling somewhat, the former Clarkson star was dealt to the Dallas Stars at the trading deadline.

Willie Mitchell is a sound defenseman with some offensive upside player who applies his intelligence in his play and is totally devoted in his play. He completely believes in hard work. He is has been totally been aware of the importance of teamwork in the game.

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