Colgate sophomore Ross Mitton's journey to college hockey began when he was introduced to the sport by watching his uncle John Osei-Tutu play.

Osei-Tutu played for the Freeport Arrows, Long Island Royals, Portledge School, and the New York Applecore junior program during his career, competing against many high-level players.

"At a very young age, I went to one of my uncle's games, and usually, little kids are just running around the rink and playing mini hockey and not really paying attention. But I sat there, I knew he was number 44, and my eyes just stayed glued to him the entire time," Mitton said.

As Mitton got older he went on to play for the New Jersey Avalanche and was then drafted into the USHL and played for the Fargo Force, Lincoln Stars, and Omaha Lancers before coming to Colgate.

While both Mitton and Osei-Tutu have been successful in their careers, there have been many challenges along the way being that they are both Black men in a sport predominately made up of white players.

Mitton said he hopes his decision to continue playing hockey, despite these challenges, can help influence the next generation of players like him to do the same.

"I hope to see young players like me, who are young African American-born players, just give it a try at hockey because I was actually a phenomenal running back at a very young age, but I decided to quit football and play ice hockey," he said.

Click HERE  to read the full story by Nick Perri of the New York Hockey Journal, a subscription-based magazine.