Graham Mink Explained

Position:Right Wing
Shoots:Right
Height Ft:6
Height In:3
Weight Lb:220
Birth Date:21 May 1979
Birth Place:Newport, Vermont, U.S.
Draft:Undrafted
Career Start:2001
Career End:2014
Played For:Washington Capitals
Dornbirner EC

Graham Christian Mink (born May 21, 1979) is an American former professional ice hockey winger.

Playing career

Undrafted, Mink originally played high school hockey with Stowe High School, winning the Division III state championship in his sophomore year and Division II state championship in his senior year. After high school, he attended Northfield Mount Hermon school for a post graduate year. He then was a recruited walk on to play collegiate hockey with the University of Vermont in the ECAC. After an unimpressive freshman year, Mink gradually improved within the Catamounts and in his junior year placed second on the team in scoring with 17 goals and 29 points in 32 games. Just prior to his senior year in 2001–02, Mink left Vermont and turned pro, signing with the Portland Pirates on September 25, 2001.

In his first professional season, Mink made his debut in the ECHL, appearing in 29 games with the Richmond Renegades before moving up to the Pirates. Following an impressive 34 points in 56 games, Mink was signed by their NHL affiliate, the Washington Capitals for the 2002–03 season and continued to play for the Pirates and later on the Hershey Bears, helping them as an assistant captain to the 2006 and 2009 Calder Cups.

On July 8, 2009, Graham signed a two-year free agent deal with the Florida Panthers.[1] He was then assigned to AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans where he served as an alternate captain for the 2009–10 season.

On August 3, 2010, Mink was traded by the Panthers to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for T.J. Fast.[2]

On July 13, 2011, Mink left the Peoria Rivermen and signed a one-year American Hockey League contract to return to the Hershey Bears for the 2011–12 AHL season.[3]

After 12 seasons of professional hockey in predominantly the AHL, Mink was signed to his first European contract, agreeing to a one-year deal with Dornbirner EC of the Austrian Hockey League on August 10, 2013. Mink played one season with Dornbirner, totaling 23 goals and 23 assists in 51 games before retiring from hockey.

Personal

Mink is married and has two children. He also has his insurance and real estate license in his home state of Vermont.[4]

Career statistics

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
1998–99University of VermontHE2742634
1999–00University of VermontHE17741118
2000–01University of VermontHE3217122952
2001–02Richmond RenegadesECHL29891778
2001–02Portland PiratesAHL5617173450
2002–03Portland PiratesAHL71221537115
2003–04Portland PiratesAHL681819377430114
2003–04Washington CapitalsNHL20002
2004–05Portland PiratesAHL6318213986
2005–06Hershey BearsAHL4321194050218132129
2005–06Washington CapitalsNHL30000
2006–07Worcester SharksAHL613132635261568
2007–08Worcester SharksAHL7124315567
2008–09Hershey BearsAHL6832275910122781516
2008–09Washington CapitalsNHL20000
2009–10Rochester AmericansAHL6720173786632523
2010–11Peoria RivermenAHL70242650122400010
2011–12Hershey BearsAHL481626425550114
2012–13Providence BruinsAHL33108188730314
2013–14Dornbirner ECEBEL5123234687
AHL totals71925325851186674223052108
NHL totals70002

Notes and References

  1. News: Florida Panthers sign RW Graham Mink. Florida Panthers. July 10, 2009. June 16, 2018.
  2. Web site: Pair of veterans in Rivermen's mix. pjstar.com. August 3, 2010. June 16, 2018.
  3. Hershey Bears - Graham Mink Returns To Hershey Lineup For 2011-12. July 13, 2011. June 16, 2018.
  4. News: Amerks.com to profile Graham Mink. . August 3, 2009. August 4, 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110707133717/http://amerks.com/news/press/index.html?article_id=79. July 7, 2011. mdy-all.