Faced with the potential of beginning his professional career, Ian Mitchell‘s mind kept coming back to his Denver teammates and the stirring run the group made to the Frozen Four, a development few outside of the Pioneers’ locker room envisioned.

So the sophomore defenseman, a second-round pick of the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, cleared the air Wednesday and announced he will return for a third season in the Crimson and Gold.

“I felt mentally, physically I wasn’t ready to take the next step to the next level,” Mitchell said. “My heart is still here at DU. I didn’t feel comfortable leaving with the group we have here.

“College is the best years of your life, so I want to make sure I enjoy those. And we have a really good team. We’re going to make a push for a national championship, and I want to be a part of that.”

That is a team that will return all but four players from a roster that won 24 games and came within an overtime goal of playing for national championship. The chemistry the team forged over the course of this season played a massive role in that, said Mitchell, who was one of the Pioneers’ alternate captains.

“The big thing was no expected us to do very well this year,” he said. “Within our dressing room we all used that as a rallying cry, to tighten together and make sure it was us against the world. That’s why we became such a tight group.”

There’s also the environment at Denver, something that has put Mitchell’s attention in a headlock.

“There’s a lot of factors,” he said. “It’s such a good place, the coaching staff is unbelievable. My best friends are everyone on the team. So it’s a really tough decision, and not something I really wanted to leave because I really enjoy it here.

“There were a lot of reasons that made me want to stay.”

Mitchell has led DU’s defensemen in scoring in each of his first two seasons, including 27 points and a career-high six goals this season. He also played for Canada’s World Junior Championship squad and had three points in five games. In other words, he’s not the type of talent that is easily replaced.

“Ian has established himself as a premier player on our team, in our conference and in the country,” DU coach David Carle said. “And that’s not even taking into account how outstanding of a person he is. He’s a big piece of our team in a lot of ways.”

Suffice to say there were plenty of conversations between Mitchell, his parents and the Blackhawks in recent days about which course to follow next. His coach’s input also played a valuable role.

“For sure my parents, and DC was big, too,” Mitchell said. “(He was) asking my decision making and I asked what his thoughts were, and obviously the Blackhawks, too. Taking what they saying and listening to it, and making my decision from there. There definitely were a lot of people. My parents are the definitely the most important.”

Mitchell also relied on some intel from a couple of former teammates who made the pro leap last season, including one to the Blackhawks.

“I talked to (Blackhawks prospect) Blake (Hillman) and (Anaheim Ducks forward) Troy Terry,” Mitchell said. “They both stayed three years. They each said it was a good decision for them, that the extra year was very beneficial. It helped them have good starts to their pro careers.”

After last season’s exodus of five players to the pros and then Monday’s departure of goaltender Filip Larsson, who signed an entry-level contract with the Detroit Red Wings, was Carle waiting for another shoe to drop? Not exactly.

“We never were worried too much with Ian, but at the same time, he’s an elite player so you never know,” Carle said.

Another thing DU had in its favor was Mitchell’s focus on academics. The finance major is a two-time NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete (3.5 GPA or higher).

“School has always been important to my family and me,” he said. “It’s definitely a contributing factor as to why I wanted to come back, too.”

©First Line Editorial 2019