Ross Mitton attacks the net in the 2022-23 semifinals of the ECAC playoffs in March.

Colgate Men’s Hockey has long had a reputation as a team that makes life difficult for opponents. 

Whether it’s the battles in the trenches or a race for the puck, the Raiders strive to outwork the opposition and compete to the end. 

Many who have donned the maroon-and-white jersey have exemplified Colgate’s gritty and relentless style of hockey. But if an example was needed, look no further than Ross Mitton ’24. 

Mitton, a native of Copiague Harbor, N.Y., was named an alternate captain for the 2023-24 season for the first time in his Colgate career. 

On and off the ice, he leads by example. During every shift, he’s a menace for opponents while doing whatever it takes to help add to Colgate’s win column.

He’s evolved as a leader and has become a reliable threat on offense. 

On March 17, when the Raiders faced No. 1-ranked Quinnipiac in the knock-out round of ECAC playoffs with a chance to advance to the championship game, Mitton scored the game-winner in double overtime. 

It was the biggest goal of his Colgate career. It allowed the fifth-seeded Raiders to pull off the unthinkable by toppling the mighty Bobcats — who later won the national championship. 

But in the ECAC championship game, it was Colgate versus Harvard for the league trophy. The Raiders went on to sink the Crimson to win the conference title for the first time in more than three decades.

Now with the 2023-24 season underway, Mitton and his teammates are itching to build on the success of last season and hoist another Whitelaw Cup. One goal is to have a stronger regular season than in 2022-23, when the Raiders were a .500 team before their magical run in the playoffs.

“It’s an honor,” Mitton said of being chosen as an alternate captain. “A lot of people told me I was chosen for my style of play. I like to work hard to make my teammates better. That’s what I hope for this year. We have a lot of unfinished business from last year when we won the championship.”

Colgate beat Quinnipiac twice last season, which Mitton said shows the potential of the Raiders. 

“Rankings mean a lot in a lot of different sports, but in hockey, anyone can win on any given night,” he said. “It’s a matter of whoever brings their A game and makes the least amount of mistakes. In hockey, teams capitalize off mistakes.”

The Raiders are charging forward with a new coaching unit following the retirement of Head Coach Don Vaughan, who was at the helm for 30 years. Mike Harder ’97, Colgate’s all-time leading scorer, is now the head coach. He’s assembled a coaching staff that has brought fresh ideas and tons of enthusiasm and energy.

While there are some new faces on the roster, things don’t feel that much different than the previous season, Mitton said.

“It feels like we’re picking up where we left off and are improving on things we needed to improve on,” he said. “I like the things Mike Harder is doing and the assistant coaches are very involved, which is what I like. They are honest and open. It has been great so far.”

As for the style of hockey, not much has changed, either. 

“We still stick to our integrity,” Mitton said. “We play hard, we play fast. We’re still a heavy, hard team to play against. But the difference from last year — we’re bringing more skill. We have a lot of guys stepping up and playing big roles. You won’t see three main scorers and everyone else drops low. It’s going to be a big contribution from the whole team.”

THE JOURNEY TO COLGATE

Mitton grew up on the south shore of Long Island. While it’s not Canada, hockey is immensely popular on the island, with plenty of opportunities for people who want to play the sport. 

At a young age, Mitton watched his uncle play hockey in local leagues. Mitton was eager to try it for himself. His uncle taught him how to play and became an enormous figure as Mitton evolved as a hockey player in leagues around Long Island.

Mitton would go on to wear No. 44 — his uncle’s number — for much of his hockey life before switching to No. 17 at Colgate. 

He played for the Long Island Royals as a high school student, then joined the New Jersey Avalanche, a U16 team in Hackensack, N.J. He was 15 at the time. Playing with older teens was a big change in skill and pace. 

It was there that he met future Colgate teammate Pierson Brandon ’24, who grew up nearby in Irvington, N.Y. They became friends, and kept in touch as they took separate routes to Colgate.

Mitton’s experience with the Avalanche was crucial in his development as a hockey player. It was an excellent opportunity for Mitton to advance to the next stage. But it came at a price. He lived more than an hour away, with New York City traffic in his path.

Mitton had to finish his homework as soon as the school day was over, then wait for his mother to pick him up and drive him to New Jersey three times per week, then bring him home. Sometimes he carpooled with teammates who also lived on Long Island.

But it still meant long days. He wouldn’t get home until midnight, only to wake up at 6 a.m. and drive an hour to his high school. He also played hockey at his high school while with the Avalanche. 

Hockey was a nonstop lifestyle for Mitton. But he wouldn’t have it any other way.

After two years with the Avalanche, Mitton was eligible to be drafted by the United States Hockey League. At age 17, he was selected by the Fargo Forest, a team in Fargo, N.D.

By joining the USHL, Mitton was one step closer to his goal of playing D-I hockey. The league’s age group ranged from 17 to 21. Mitton was now going against tougher competition while under the watch of college recruits. 

Living in a small town also came with the benefit of a lively fanbase. The Fargo Forest was the only team in the area. Fans packed the arena for each game and treated the players like celebrities.

“You had a lot of fans,” he said. “You had fans coming up to you in public. It was a pretty cool experience.” 

He won the Clark Cup in his only season with the Fargo Forest. Then he was traded to the Lincoln Stars in Lincoln, Neb., for a few months before he was traded again to the Omaha Lancers in Omaha, Neb. Throughout his experience in the USHL, he was living with host families. 

While in Omaha, Mitton met Colgate coaches, who started to recruit him. By this point, Brandon, his former teammate with the Avalanche, had committed to Colgate and was calling Mitton each day to sell him on becoming a Raider.

Mitton was looking for a college that offered outstanding academic programs and a strong D-I hockey program. As he learned more about Colgate, he was impressed with everything he saw. 

“I wanted to go somewhere with great academics,” he said. “You never know how long hockey is going to be there. I always wanted to have a backup plan by getting a great degree. I really loved the coaching staff. They are personable, easy to talk to.”

Mitton is now an economics major. Math and problem-solving have long been his strengths, making the major an ideal choice. While he wants to play hockey for as long as he can, he’s also interested in a career in finance. 

“It has always been a dream of mine to work on Wall Street,” he said. 

Mitton said he’s loved his experience at Colgate. He is a member of the Raiders of Color Connect, a club for student-athletes of color. He’s also an avid fisherman, a hobby he picked up as a child. He’s taken advantage of the fishing opportunities in the area by going out on the water with teammate Tommy Bergsland ’25, who’s also fond of the activity.

And as far as his courses, they’ve proven to be as rigorous and enlightening as he hoped. 

“It has been very interesting but also very challenging. I’m always up for a good challenge. I like being tested. It’s one of the reasons why I came here. I went to a school with very small class sizes in Long Island. I like one-on-one conversations with teachers.”