I didn’t think we would be writing five posts about Garrett Mitchell today, but here we are. In the morning, we found out that the popular veteran would make his NHL debut during the Capitals’ final game of the season. The 25-year-old forward spoke about his dream coming true pregame with reporters. Later, the Hershey Bears released video of the emotional moment when Mitchell first found out about his call up. During warmups, the Caps gave Mitchell the rookie treatment. And now this.
To open the game, Mitchell started on the first line with Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin. Jaromir Jagr was also on the ice for the Panthers. In an incredibly gracious gesture, Nicklas Backstrom intentionally got kicked out of the faceoff — might I add in rather ridiculous fashion — so that Garrett could take it.
Video
Mitchell lost the faceoff, but how great is this?
CSN Mid-Atlantic’s Alan May gave even more context, which made this moment even more heartwarming.
“The best part about that is Wes McCauley is the most demonstrative referees in the NHL,” May said. “When he calls a penalty, no one does it better. I think he went to acting school at Michigan State. He turns around and points right at Mitchell and makes him take the faceoff. I thought that was classy.”
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