Leafs Sign Dale Mitchell

Cliff Fletcher, general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, announced Sunday that the hockey club has signed forward Dale Mitchell to a three-year entry level contract.

May 4, 2008, 6:03 PM EDT

Cliff Fletcher, general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, announced Sunday that the hockey club has signed forward Dale Mitchell to a three-year entry level contract. Mitchell was originally the Maple Leafs first choice, 74th overall, in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

“We are excited to have Dale Mitchell join the Toronto Maple Leafs organization,” said Fletcher. “He had an exceptional run in the OHL Playoffs with the Oshawa Generals and we look forward to seeing his rugged style and scoring touch with the Toronto Marlies.”

Mitchell, a 19-year-old native of Mississauga, skated in 15 playoff games for the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League in 2008, during which he tied for the team lead in scoring with 16 points on 10 goals and six assists. In the 2007-08 regular season, the 5’9, 204-pound forward registered 24 goals and 36 assists for 60 points in 63 games. Over the past three seasons with Oshawa, Mitchell has played in 195 games, collecting 183 points (87 goals, 96 assists) along with 223 penalty minutes.

“It’s an honour to begin my professional career with the Toronto Maple Leafs,” said Mitchell. “This is the team I grew up watching and I couldn’t be more excited to one day have the opportunity to wear the Blue and White.”

Mitchell signed an amateur try-out contract with the American Hockey League’s Toronto Marlies on Wednesday and will join the Marlies for the Calder Cup playoffs.

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