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NEW YORK — Former Cornell men’s hockey defenseman Travis Mitchell ’23 made his NHL debut with the New York Islanders on Friday afternoon as they fell to the Philadelphia Flyers, 4-3, in a shootout at UBS Arena.

Mitchell became the 41st Cornell men’s hockey alumnus to appear in an NHL game and the 40th to play in a regular-season contest.

The rookie defenseman logged 9:05 of ice time across 11 shifts, registering three shot attempts (two blocked, one missed) and one hit in his first NHL action.

“I felt he played well,” Islanders head coach Patrick Roy said. “I’m sure he was very nervous, but I thought he did a lot of good things. I mean, he kept his game simple, and I think that’s how we got successful.”

Mitchell’s debut was made even more special with family in attendance — his parents and sister traveled from Michigan and his girlfriend were able to witness the moment.

“It was cool to do the rookie lap and everything like that. It’s pretty special, especially when you have family in the building,” Mitchell said. “A little bit of nerves kind of going out there. I don’t know what to expect, but once you kind of get through it, it’s all a bunch of fun.”

 

Welcome to the @NHL, Travis Mitchell! pic.twitter.com/FFJSRv5XtS


— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) November 28, 2025

Mitchell follows in the footsteps of his father, Jeff, who played seven games with the Dallas Stars during the 1997-98 season.

After being recalled multiple once last season and again two weeks ago without appearing in a game, Mitchell was grateful for the opportunity to finally take the ice.

“Other times I’ve gotten called up, it’s a little disappointing you don’t get to play, but you’re just excited to be here and be a part of the team,” Mitchell said. “Being able to actually finally step out on that ice, knowing that you’re going to play, is pretty special.”

The South Lyon, Mich., native focused on keeping things simple in his debut, following the advice that has guided his progression through college and professional hockey.

“Just try to settle in, play my game, keep it simple, move pucks north,” Mitchell said. “That’s what I just try to do every shift.”

Despite the disappointing result, Mitchell was impressed with his team’s resilience in erasing a 3-0 deficit.

“It was pretty cool to see our team battle back,” Mitchell said. “You wish you could get that extra point and get the win, but it’s pretty good to get that one point, and hopefully next time out we can get two.”

Prior to his call-up, Mitchell was playing for the Bridgeport Islanders of the AHL, where he recorded four points and 37 penalty minutes in 14 games this season.

Mitchell could make his next appearance as soon as Sunday, Nov. 30, when the Islanders host the Washington Capitals at UBS Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET, with the game available regionally on MSG or on ESPN+ and NHL Network (subject to blackout restrictions).