EXETER, N.H. – Before coming to Colgate, first-year Ross Mitton was already taking steps to help grow the game of hockey.
 
It was so monumental in fact, it landed him a place in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
 
From Aug. 8-11, 2020, the forward for the Colgate Men's Hockey program competed in the Beantown Summer Classic for a team that dressed 20 Black and Hispanic players from the United States, Canada, and Great Britain.
 
In the 17th edition of the annual summer showcase, Mitton and the NextGen team won the invitation-only tournament by going undefeated on the weekend. In addition to competing in a classic that regularly attracts NHL scouts, the all-minority team was coached by former NHL players Mike Grier and Bryce Salvador.
 
"It was an experience of a lifetime and one that I will never forget," Mitton said. "I believe we inspired and motivated many young minority athletes to play the game of hockey after winning the championship." 
 
In a team of 19 Black players and one Hispanic player, Mitton joined several other NCAA commits, including Jordan Harris (Northeastern/Montreal draftee) and Christian Jimenez (Harvard). By showcasing the team's high-level of minority talent, the NextGen program hopes to attract more players of color to the sport.
 
Not just on the ice, it was an effort of diversity carried through from the top-down, bench bosses and all.
 
From the start, Mitton was recruited for the NextGen tournament team by Rod Braceful, the assistant director of player personnel for USA Hockey's National Development Program.  As a top recruiter and talent evaluator for the NTDP, Braceful is one of the most prominent Black Americans in hockey with a role in helping launch college and professional playing careers.
 
"It was an honor to be invited by Rod Braceful to play for an all minority team coached by Mike Grier and Bryce Salvador," Mitton said of the experience.
 
Behind the bench, Grier was a New Jersey Devils assistant and the only Black assistant who worked behind the bench during NHL games last season, while Salvador was the third Black captain in the NHL when he played for the Devils.
 
The team was formed by NextGen AAA Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides mentoring and hockey programs to underprivileged youth and underserved communities. It was founded by Dee Dee Ricks, a philanthropist and hockey mom who has provided more than $1 million to help Black and brown student-athletes at some of the leading prep schools, colleges, and travel hockey programs throughout North America.
 
Ultimately, the talented squad not just inspired the tournament, but won it. It was a launchpad for diversity in the sport, and an experience that Mitton will carry with him.
 
And in case a reminder is ever needed on this important step in growing the game, one could always refer to the team's showcase at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, where the autographed tournament banner hangs.
 
UP NEXT
After the bye weekend, Mitton and the Raiders return to ECAC play this Friday and Saturday. Colgate first hosts Clarkson on Friday at Class of 1965 Arena, before traveling to Potsdam, N.Y. on Sunday.
 
FOLLOW THE RAIDERS
For more information on the Colgate men's hockey program, follow the Raiders on Twitter @ColgateMIH and Instagram at colgate_mih.