When Graham Mink left Hershey in 2007 after contributing mightily to the Hershey Bears success in attaining the Calder Cup, he most likely did not think he would be in Hershey racing for the Cup again just three seasons later. However, as fate would have it, Worcester\u2019s playoff woes–failing to qualify last season, and being ousted in the first round the year before–turned out to be Hershey\u2019s gain, and was a major element in Mink\u2019s decision to return to the Washington Capitals organization.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wanted to have a chance to win in the playoffs, so that was a major factor in my decision and we\u2019ve made a pretty good run here so far,\u201d said Mink, by phone from Providence on Saturday. \u201cI have a lot of friends in Hershey and Washington, so coming back was pretty much a no-brainer. After speaking with them, and them being interested, I didn\u2019t really care to look anywhere else.\u201d<\/p>\n
Returning himself to the familiar surroundings under the Capitals\u2019 radar proved beneficial to Mink, allowing him to see some NHL action, after two years of no call-ups to the San Jose Sharks. The call from our nation\u2019s capital from Mink\u2019s former coach in Hershey, Bruce Boudreau, caught the eight year pro mildly off guard.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was a little surprised, I was playing pretty well at the time and I had played for Bruce when I was here three years ago. Getting an opportunity to play in the NHL is a function of luck as much as it is of playing well and deserving to be there,\u201c said Mink, who was never drafted following the culmination of his three- year college career at the University of Vermont. \u201cYou need to have that opportunity, whether it be through injuries or suspensions or what have you. When things like that happen it gives somebody in the AHL an opportunity, and unfortunately for me, nothing like that happened when I was in Worcester for two years. I had a couple good years in Worcester. The Sharks are a first-class organization.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mink, one of Hershey\u2019s current alternate captains, and a leader on the 2006 Calder Cup team, while admitting that every team is different, surprisingly thinks that this year\u2019s contenders may have a slight edge over the \u201806 squad.<\/p>\n
\u201cI notice similarities in the character level of the guys. I think we\u2019re a lot different team than we were three years ago,\u201d said Mink, who had previously served as captain for both the Portland Pirates and the Worcester Sharks. \u201cI think the team this year is a lot deeper. We\u2019ve got four plus lines of forwards, and three plus lines of D that are capable of doing the job. I think three years ago, we had some players step up and play very well in the playoffs. The character level between the two teams is similar; the never give up, never-say-die attitude is there.\u201d<\/p>\n
An unrestricted free agent after the termination of this season, Mink, while admitting he has put a little thought into his future beyond this season, says he totally focused on the task at hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cCertainly once the playoffs are over here, I\u2019m going to talk with Washington and Hershey and see what their thoughts are,\u201d said Mink, who turned 30 on May 21st. \u201cI\u2019d love to come back, but that\u2019s the stuff you have an agent for and you worry about right now. The major goal is to win the championship, and that makes everybody\u2019s life a lot easier in the summertime.\u201d <\/p>\n
Hopefully, life will be easy and the champagne will be flowing all summer long in Chocolatetown.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"