The CJHL Trade Deadline was last Friday and the Dauphin Kings made some additions to their roster through trades. One of the additions was 20-year-old goaltender Levi Mitchell. He started the season with the Selkirk Steelers where he would play 31 games.
Levi also played 21 games with Selkirk last season.
"I loved playing for Selkirk. I had a great opportunity to play a lot of games with them," said Mitchell. "We had a great group of guys and it was always a fun time in the dressing room."
Levi would then pack his bags and he was City of Sunshine bound to join his new team in his final junior hockey season.
Mitchell made his debut with the club last night against the Virden Oil Capitals and what a game he had. He ended up making 39 saves as the Kings took down the red-hot Oil Capitals, 5-2. Many of the saves were highlight-reel saves as he propelled the Kings to victory while Kaden Bryant, who also made his debut last night, led the way offensively with two goals.
Mitchell is no stranger to great performances when a game involves the Kings. Back on November 15, he made 29 saves to help Selkirk beat Dauphin, 3-1. On December 17, Mitchell made 33 saves as Selkirk took down Dauphin. Prior to both of those games, Levi made 26 saves in a 5-0 win for Selkirk over Dauphin earlier this season.
All in all, that was against the Kings and now he's hopes to help Dauphin win games and he sure did on Sunday night in Virden.
"Things went great, we played a full 60 minutes and our defenders made the job easier on me," said Mitchell. "Our offence also got going, it was a solid effort and a big win for us."
Levi has only spent a few days now in Dauphin, but he has enjoyed every single minute of it.
"I love the organization, it's been a great time so far," said Mitchell. "Right off the hop, everyone has been so welcoming and I'm living in a beautiful house with great people just outside of town."
Mitchell and the rest of the Kings are right back in action tomorrow as they take on the OCN Blizzard at the Gordon Lathlin Memorial Centre. Dauphin dropped a 3-1 decision against them last week; however, tomorrow's team is different than what OCN saw last week.
With two points tomorrow, Mitchell and the rest of the team could move within three points of sixth place and four points of fifth place. Moving forward into March, the top four teams will get home-ice advantage for a minimum of the first round of the playoffs.
Mitchell has now racked up 13 wins this season and he owns a .909 save percentage. That save percentage is the third-highest of active goalies in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League, only behind Matt Lenz of Steinbach and Mikael Foucher of Swan Valley.
Dauphin is 2-2 against OCN this season and they're 8-2 in their last 10 regular-season meetings.
"I have a ton of confidence in this team," concluded Mitchell. "Once I was told I was coming to Dauphin, I knew we had a great lineup. With the pieces that were added and the pieces that are already here, it's great. With the way the organization is run, I would say we have a good chance of making a deep playoff push."
Dauphin's one other game this week comes on Friday against the Portage Terriers at Credit Union Place. That is the team's final game for a week. Eight Dauphin players will represent the team at the MJHL/SJHL Showcase in Regina later this month.
Get to know Levi:
Best warmup music in the MJHL? I'd have to say, Dauphin. I've played a few games here and I really like the music here.
Favourite NHL team? Edmonton Oilers.
Favourite professional athlete? John Gibson of the Anaheim Ducks. I really like how he plays.
Favourite pre-game meal? Anything pasta, spaghetti or fettucini, whatever it is.
Do you have any pre-game rituals? I like to end off on a save in the morning skate and I'll have a nap during the day. There really isn't anything crazy about it, I think about some things, but that's about it.
Hometown? Olds, Alberta.
You can hear my full interview with Levi during the Dauphin Kings broadcast tomorrow right here on 730CKDM. It'll play during the first intermission with the Voice of the Kings, Darnell Duff.
