FRESHMAN FACEOFF: CASEY MITTELSTADT
Oct. 6, 2017
MINNEAPOLIS – Rookie Casey Mittelstadt made a strong first impression for Gopher Hockey as he netted a goal and added three assists in his unofficial debut donning the Maroon & Gold against Alberta last Sunday.
The eighth overall pick by Buffalo in this summer’s NHL entry draft, Mittelstadt unofficially tallied the first score of the year for Minnesota, tapping home a rebound with a backhand just 5:53 into the opening frame against the Golden Bears.
Before coming to campus, the Eden Prairie native helped lead the Eagles to the state tournament for the fourth-straight season and earned the 2017 Mr. Hockey Award in Minnesota. His arrival marked the latest from the Eden Prairie High School pipeline to the University of Minnesota, a list that includes Stanley Cup Champion Nick Leddy and Minnesota Wild forward Kyle Rau.
This week, Mittelstadt and the Gophers travel a few hours north for the Icebreaker Tournament hosted by Minnesota Duluth for the formal start to the 2017-18 campaign. Ahead of the weekend, GopherSports.com caught up with the Minnesota freshman to talk about his debut season.
GopherSports.com: You’ve been training with the team for a while now, but how have the first few official weeks of practice going? Is it as expected?
CM: Yeah, I think so. Obviously, you get a few hours a week and get a little bit of an idea what practices will be like [before formal practices start]. So, to finally have full practices, it’s nice. It’s a little more relaxed which is good for the players. We get more comfortable and are able to have better practices. It’s gone really well.
GS: You’ve been playing hockey for a while, but now, you’re adjusting to that and college life. How has that process been, taking on the life of a student in addition to playing college hockey?
CM: Sometimes, the days get long, but I’m getting used to it now. It’s a blast. I’m getting used to the guys and getting to know them really well. I’ve definitely been enjoying it. It’s been a lot of fun.
GS: The team has 15 upperclassmen (juniors and seniors). Has anyone in particular taken you and the other freshmen “under their wing,” so to speak?
CM: I’m not sure if there’s one specific guy. A lot of older guys have been really good leaders. Coming in, I knew some guys like Ryan Lindgren and Jack Sadek. Mike Szmatula has been really good with the freshmen. As a whole group, they’ve been really good to us. It’s not been too much of ‘make fun of the freshmen, make the freshmen do everything.’ They’ve been helping us out a lot.
GS: You arrive at Minnesota from Eden Prairie, which has produced several Gopher Hockey players such as Kyle Rau. Have you had a chance to speak to any Gophers alums about their experiences here?
CM: I’ve talked to Rau a few times, not really about playing here but just catching up. Everyone I have talked to has said how much they loved it here and how it was everything they ever expected. I’m coming here to try and do the same thing and have some fun.
GS: In last weekend’s exhibition game, you made a splash with a goal and three assists in your unofficial Gopher debut. What was the experience like finally performing on the ice at 3M Arena at Mariucci?
CM: Throughout the day, you get more and more excited, especially going in the locker room for the first time and putting that jersey on, things like that. There are nerves to overcome, but once you get out there and start playing, it ends up just being a hockey game. You try to and make plays the best you can and go from there.
GS: What’s your advice to young athletes who aspire to one day be a college hockey player?
CM: Just stick with it. I had adversity, but I had good people around me to help me stick with it. That’s important, too. But just stick with it, follow your dreams, and they should come true.
Quick Hits
Who Plays You in a Movie
[Senior Leon Bristedt walks by] “What do you think Leon?” [LB: “You’d need a good looking guy, maybe me?”] “I’ll go with Leon Bristedt.”
Favorite Hobby
Golf
Go-To Karaoke Song
“Blank Space” by Taylor Swift
Best Fictional Hockey Player
Dean Youngblood
Play a Sport at the ‘U’ Other Than Hockey
Golf
Best Chirper on the Team
There’s actually not too many. Tyler Sheehy is pretty good. Out of the freshman class, the guys I’m closest with, I think Cullen Munson is low key pretty funny. One of those two.
Favorite Class at Minnesota
Freshman Writing
http://www.gophersports.com/sports/m-hockey/spec-rel/100617aaa.html
Oct. 6, 2017
MINNEAPOLIS – Rookie Casey Mittelstadt made a strong first impression for Gopher Hockey as he netted a goal and added three assists in his unofficial debut donning the Maroon & Gold against Alberta last Sunday.
The eighth overall pick by Buffalo in this summer’s NHL entry draft, Mittelstadt unofficially tallied the first score of the year for Minnesota, tapping home a rebound with a backhand just 5:53 into the opening frame against the Golden Bears.
Before coming to campus, the Eden Prairie native helped lead the Eagles to the state tournament for the fourth-straight season and earned the 2017 Mr. Hockey Award in Minnesota. His arrival marked the latest from the Eden Prairie High School pipeline to the University of Minnesota, a list that includes Stanley Cup Champion Nick Leddy and Minnesota Wild forward Kyle Rau.
This week, Mittelstadt and the Gophers travel a few hours north for the Icebreaker Tournament hosted by Minnesota Duluth for the formal start to the 2017-18 campaign. Ahead of the weekend, GopherSports.com caught up with the Minnesota freshman to talk about his debut season.
GopherSports.com: You’ve been training with the team for a while now, but how have the first few official weeks of practice going? Is it as expected?
CM: Yeah, I think so. Obviously, you get a few hours a week and get a little bit of an idea what practices will be like [before formal practices start]. So, to finally have full practices, it’s nice. It’s a little more relaxed which is good for the players. We get more comfortable and are able to have better practices. It’s gone really well.
GS: You’ve been playing hockey for a while, but now, you’re adjusting to that and college life. How has that process been, taking on the life of a student in addition to playing college hockey?
CM: Sometimes, the days get long, but I’m getting used to it now. It’s a blast. I’m getting used to the guys and getting to know them really well. I’ve definitely been enjoying it. It’s been a lot of fun.
GS: The team has 15 upperclassmen (juniors and seniors). Has anyone in particular taken you and the other freshmen “under their wing,” so to speak?
CM: I’m not sure if there’s one specific guy. A lot of older guys have been really good leaders. Coming in, I knew some guys like Ryan Lindgren and Jack Sadek. Mike Szmatula has been really good with the freshmen. As a whole group, they’ve been really good to us. It’s not been too much of ‘make fun of the freshmen, make the freshmen do everything.’ They’ve been helping us out a lot.
GS: You arrive at Minnesota from Eden Prairie, which has produced several Gopher Hockey players such as Kyle Rau. Have you had a chance to speak to any Gophers alums about their experiences here?
CM: I’ve talked to Rau a few times, not really about playing here but just catching up. Everyone I have talked to has said how much they loved it here and how it was everything they ever expected. I’m coming here to try and do the same thing and have some fun.
GS: In last weekend’s exhibition game, you made a splash with a goal and three assists in your unofficial Gopher debut. What was the experience like finally performing on the ice at 3M Arena at Mariucci?
CM: Throughout the day, you get more and more excited, especially going in the locker room for the first time and putting that jersey on, things like that. There are nerves to overcome, but once you get out there and start playing, it ends up just being a hockey game. You try to and make plays the best you can and go from there.
GS: What’s your advice to young athletes who aspire to one day be a college hockey player?
CM: Just stick with it. I had adversity, but I had good people around me to help me stick with it. That’s important, too. But just stick with it, follow your dreams, and they should come true.
Quick Hits
Who Plays You in a Movie
[Senior Leon Bristedt walks by] “What do you think Leon?” [LB: “You’d need a good looking guy, maybe me?”] “I’ll go with Leon Bristedt.”
Favorite Hobby
Golf
Go-To Karaoke Song
“Blank Space” by Taylor Swift
Best Fictional Hockey Player
Dean Youngblood
Play a Sport at the ‘U’ Other Than Hockey
Golf
Best Chirper on the Team
There’s actually not too many. Tyler Sheehy is pretty good. Out of the freshman class, the guys I’m closest with, I think Cullen Munson is low key pretty funny. One of those two.
Favorite Class at Minnesota
Freshman Writing
http://www.gophersports.com/sports/m-hockey/spec-rel/100617aaa.html
