By Dave Pollard, guelphstorm.com exclusive

When the Guelph Storm selected Zack Mitchell in the fourth round of the 2009 Ontario Hockey League draft, many people around the league probably felt it would take nothing short of a miracle to get the highly-skilled forward to sign with the team.

Mitchell, one of the top-rated players available in the draft, was committed to play at Harvard University in 2011 after a couple of seasons at a prep school in Connecticut.

Playing in the OHL didn't appear to be in Mitchell's immediate hockey future but that didn't stop Storm head coach and general manager from taking a flyer on him. Brooks took a flyer and gambled a fourth-round pick on Mitchell, who had first-round talent.
Somehow Brooks convinced Mitchell that playing in Guelph was in his best interest and, lo and behold, it took almost no time for the the 5-foot-11, 160-pound winger to ink his name to an OHL contract.

"Zack looked at the big picture and saw (minor hockey) teammates playing in the league," Brooks said. "His initial plan was to go to school, he was committed to Harvard. We brought him in following the draft and kind of talked to him and showed some interest. We told them what we have to offer. But we said to them as a family that we weren't going to push them. We feel pretty fortunate to have gotten him."

Mitchell's skill level hasn't really showed up on the stats sheet this season -- he has three goals and six assists in 43 games, well down the Storm's scoring list -- but he was touted as a top pick for 2009 after racking up 42 goals and 48 assists for the OHL Cup-champion Toronto Marlboros. Four of his Marlie teammates were taken in the first round of the draft and another went in the second. All but one of that quintet are playing in the OHL this season.

That decision to attend prep school in the U.S. and eventually make his way to Harvard would have allowed him another two years to mature physically and mentally while honing his game. But it sounds like Mitchell, who has admitted in the past he preferred playing in the OHL even after committing to Harvard, has absolutely no regrets about forgoing his original plan to play NCAA hockey.

"It's been a lot of fun," he said. "I knew it was going to be hard. I'm under-developed physically but I've definitely developed as a hockey player. I think every game you get more adjusted to the speed. It's definitely a hard transition coming from minor hockey to the OHL. It's not intimidation but you're aware guys are bigger and stronger. But you still have to go in the corners. I think it gets easier every game. It seems easier. After Christmas you get more adjusted."

It took 12 games for Mitchell to score his first goal, a third-period marker in a 4-3 loss to the London Knights. He didn't score again until December, again against the Knights.

But since the calendar changed, Mitchell, who recently turned 17, has put up five points in 13 games and looked more dangerous around the net. In recent games he's been patrolling the wing on a line with veterans Peter Holland and Michael Latta, both NHL draft picks.

That said, the best, clearly, is still to come for Mitchell. He should wind up being a point-per-game player before long and could start finding the net with regularity next season.

"Zack has had a very good year (but) he's been a bit snake-bitten," Brooks said. "I think we've all seen the skill he possesses. His skill set and hockey smarts are off the charts. He had some of the best hands in the draft, his hockey IQ was very good. He has such a good hockey IQ and skill set I see him putting up pretty good numbers as he develops physically. You've seen some of the plays he's made as a 16-year-old. Hopefully we see the same development out of Mitch (as some of the other Storm forwards)."

A big reason for Mitchell's improved play -- and higher level of confidence -- can be traced to him playing for Team Ontario in the World Under-17 Championship in Timmins over the Christmas holidays along with Storm teammate Carter Sandlak. It was also a bit of a Marlies reunion, with Mitchell, Lucas Lessio, Ryan Strome, Brett Ritchie and Stuart Percy hooking up again on the Ontario team.

Mitchell had one goal in six games and Ontario had to settle for the silver medal but the tournament allowed him to play with his own age group again, rather than in a league with players up to four years older.

"I came back from the under-17 (tournament) with more confidence," Mitchell said. "I've always wanted to represent my country and representing my province is the first step towards that. It was a lot of fun to see what other countries bring to the table. It was a good experience, for sure."

Brooks, who has coached Team Ontario in the past, was happy to see Mitchell make the provincial squad.

"Any time you can make a team like that it's an accomplishment," Brooks said. "The thing for me that was exciting was when the tournament ended, he's on the phone with me saying he wants to get back home and get going. He's a character kid."