Michigan hockey defenseman Mark Mitera signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Anaheim Ducks yesterday, according to the Ducks’ website. The signing was confirmed by a Michigan Athletic Department spokesman.
Mitera will immediately report to the Iowa Chops, Anaheim’s American Hockey League affiliate. The Ducks drafted Mitera with their first-round selection in the 2006 NHL Entry Level Draft. Yesterday’s release didn’t include financial details of the contract.
Mitera, who was named Michigan’s captain last April, returned for his senior year after deciding not to leave early for the NHL. But less than a period into the season-opening game on Oct. 10, Mitera collided with a St. Lawrence player and suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
He underwent ACL reconstructive surgery on Nov. 6, the start of an extensive rehabilitation process. Given a three-to-six month recovery period, Mitera said he almost wrote off the season at that point.
But by early January, Mitera was skating. He initially practiced alone, gradually working his way up to full-contact practices. He returned in time for the Wolverines’ final regular-season series against Ferris State on Feb. 27-28.
Mitera posted a 1-2-3 scoring line in the eight games he competed in this season, which includes five playoff appearances. He was named Inside College Hockey’s defenseman of the year in the 2007-08 season when he served as an alternate captain during the Wolverines’ CCHA Championship and Frozen Four berth.
Mitera finished his four-year career at Michigan with 54 points in 131 games. Because he will report immediately to Des Moines, Iowa to play for for the Chops, he will miss the Michigan hockey team’s annual banquet on Sunday, according to the Michigan Athletic Department spokesman.