Checking In with Mark Mitera
9/20/2005 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
Mark Mitera is one of only two defenseman among U-M's 11-member freshman class. In case you have forgotten Jack Johnson is the other newcomer to the Michigan blue line. Mitera is quite comfortable playing alongside Johnson, his teammate of the past two seasons at the U.S. National Team Development Program. Though he's hardly flashy, Mitera can't help being noticed thanks to his six-foot, three-inch, 210-pound frame.
| | Mitera |
On his roommate ...
"I'm with Tyler Swystun. It's going well. It's a long way for him (from Calgary) but it's going great right now. We started talking over the summer. Billy (Powers) gave me his number and address probably halfway through the summer. We talked and figured out who was going to bring what. He's a great kid."
On if he has any pre-game rituals ...
"Not really. The only thing I do when I get dressed is if there is a left and a right pad of something I always put the left one on first, so skates, elbow pads and shin pads. That's probably the only thing."
"It must just be a coincidence. I probably started playing hockey when I was six or seven. I never played in Livonia. I played at Honeybaked and Little Caesar's in Plymouth. I played with (Zac) MacVoy for a summer but other than that I haven't played with anyone else (other than at USA)."
On what he got out of playing for the U.S. National Team Development Program ...
"It was definitely helpful developmental-wise, like with strength, the small details of playing defense and just the international stuff, which was great and a lot of fun."
On the exhibition game the U.S. NTDP played against the NHL stars last December ...
"It was awesome. It was just amazing to see them come out on the ice. One of the lines I was out against was (Sergei) Fedorov, (Steve) Yzerman, (Nick) Lidstrom on the point and (Chris) Chelios. You don't even want to take the puck from them. You're in awe just watching them out there. They pretty much did what they wanted with the puck. We were just watching them in awe. I think I beat a couple of guys to the puck. I stopped Fedorov on a one-on-one but that's about it."
On playing with Jack Johnson ...
"On the ice, I really like playing with him because both our styles are different; he's more offensive and he has a lot offensive talent, where I'm more defensive. I like playing with him. Off the ice, he's a great kid. We've had a lot of fun the last two years. This year we've already had a ton of fun. It's a good relationship on and off the ice."
On how he feels about Johnson getting so much attention ...
"It's part of hockey I guess. He's a great player. I can't be mad that he's getting the shine over me because he's an outstanding player."
On what are the most important things to him when he plays ...
"I pride myself on strong defensive play, getting the puck up to the forwards, clearing guys out and being physical. I chip in a little offensively when the time comes, but I pride myself on just good strong defense."
On how Michigan was the right school for him ...
"It's always been a big choice for me growing up in Michigan always watching Michigan games. It was my number one choice before any recruiting started. Once it did start and the offer was there there was no way I was going to pass up on it. I think I verbally committed during my (USA) Under-17 year, almost at the end of the year."
On his Michigan connections ...
"Family-wise, we always have the flag hanging on the football game days and we're always watching the games. I've never been a (Michigan) State fan or any other fan. It's always been Michigan.
"My mom went to U-M Dearborn. My dad I believe went to grad school here. He went to Cornell originally. I have an older brother who is here. He actually lives right below me in the dorms. I see him all the time. He's a sophomore. It's a lot of fun. He's really helpful with homework. He tells me where I need to go to get things done. It's a big plus."
On if he ever played any other positions ...
"I've always been a defenseman. I played forward for maybe half a season when I was little but I didn't really like it."
On if he saw many Michigan hockey games growing up ...
"I didn't really come to many games at Yost. We always watched them on TV. I don't know how my parents handled it with our hockey schedule between me and my brother. It seemed like we were always traveling somewhere."
On his favorite game ...
"For a Michigan game the biggest one for me, even though I know all the older guys will disagree, was when we (USA NTDP) played them (Michigan) last year. It was a lot of fun. I know hearing the other side of the story it's hard for them to get pumped up to play us in their schedule, just like for us going back from college games to junior games. For me that was a ton of fun knowing that I was going to come here the following year. It was great."
On his favorite Michigan player ...
"The only one I really remember is (Brendan) Morrison because of all the talks about him. He just dominated college hockey basically. My billet family that hosted me at USA was good family friends with his family. I heard a lot of talk about him. He was a great player."
On the NHL player he likes to watch the most ...
"A current one would be Nick Lidstrom. He just rarely makes a mistake. He's so smooth skating with the puck. He's offensive and an all-around defenseman."
On his biggest goal ...
"The only big goal is probably when we (USA NTDP) beat Brown 1-0 and that was the only goal of the game. Other than that my goals are kind of far between. Then any goal at Worlds is a great feeling when you bury one against Russia or Canada. I had a goal against Russia."
On what it's like to play for Team USA ...
"It's a great feeling to be able to wear that sweater and represent your country. With all the talk about the Olympics watching that 1980 Olympic game is just amazing. To somewhat re-experience it winning internationally is a great feeling. If the opportunities (to again play for Team USA) come I would definitely hope to be a part of it."
On when he's having a solid game ...
"Physically, I'm feeling good with a couple big hits and not allowing any big goals is a big thing. Staying out of the box is a good game. Other than that it's moving the puck up right away, good passes, strong defense, not getting beat one-on-one. The basic defensive things."
On how quickly he can name the 11 freshmen ...
"Fardig, Turnbull, me, Swystun, Naurato, MacVoy, Johnson, Bailey, Miller, Cogs and Sauer."
Mitera reset the record at nine seconds. However, an asterisk may be warranted since he mentioned that he'd read one of the other interviews and knew what the last question was going to be. To his credit, he said he didn't study and just had to go through the players by roommates, so it wasn't too complicated.
Checking In with ... Schedule
Sept. 12 -- forward Jason Bailey
Sept. 13 -- forward Andrew Cogliano
Sept. 14 -- forward Danny Fardig
Sept. 15 -- defenseman Jack Johnson
Sept. 16 -- forward Zac MacVoy
Sept. 19 -- forward Tim Miller
Sept. 20 -- defenseman Mark Mitera
Sept. 21 -- forward Brandon Naurato
Sept. 22 -- goaltender Billy Sauer
Sept. 23 -- forward Tyler Swystun
Sept. 26 -- forward Travis Turnbull
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423
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/ Ice HockeyBack for Another Season, Hughes Using Summer to Relax, Recharge
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