All minor-leaguers strive for a callup, but few get to hop on the owner’s private plane for a trip to the big club.
Zack Mitchell experienced that Wednesday night.
After the Iowa Wild suffered a 2-1 loss to Rockford, Mitchell was informed he was being promoted to the NHL for the third time this season and fifth time in his young pro career.
The difference this time?
The Orangeville, Ontario, native and former Guelph Storm forward had to hustle because instead of a four-hour drive north in the back of an Escalade, Wild owner Craig Leipold, General Manager Chuck Fletcher, Senior VP of Hockey Operations Brent Flahr and coach Bruce Boudreau were waiting to give Mitchell a ride to the show on Leipold’s Dassault Falcon 2000.