Mitchell Vande Sompel

Canadian ice hockey player

Ice hockey player
Mitchell Vande Sompel
Born (1997-02-11) February 11, 1997 (age 27)
London, Ontario, Canada
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Left
AHL team
Former teams
Charlotte Checkers
Bridgeport Islanders
Colorado Eagles
Chicago Wolves
NHL Draft 82nd overall, 2015
New York Islanders
Playing career 2017–present

Mitchell Vande Sompel (born February 11, 1997) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Charlotte Checkers in the American Hockey League (AHL). He was selected by the New York Islanders, 82nd overall, in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

Junior

Vande Sompel played as a youth within the London Jr. Knights program and the London Nationals of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOJHL) before he was selected 14th overall in the 2013 OHL Priority Selection by the Oshawa Generals.[1] He made an immediate impact playing major junior in the Ontario Hockey League with the Generals in the 2013–14 season, earning a place in the First All-Rookie Team after contributing offensively from the blueline with 5 goals and 20 assists through 47 regular season games.

In the 2014–15 season, Vande Sompel assuming the top-pairing role with the Generals, recorded his career highs with 51 assists and 63 points through just 58 regular season games. In the post-season he helped Oshawa win the 2015 OHL title and Memorial Cup championship.[2]

Off the back of his successful season, Vande Sompel was selected in the third-round, 82nd overall, by the New York Islanders of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. He was later signed to a three-year, entry-level contact with the Islanders on October 12, 2016.[3]

During his fourth and final junior season, Vande Sompel was traded by the Generals to his hometown London Knights midway through the 2016–17 season.[4] He totalled 20 goals through 67 regular season games, which ranked second among OHL defensemen.

Professional

Embarking on his professional career, Vande Sompel was reassigned following training camp with the New York Islanders to AHL affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, to begin the 2017–18 season. After registering an assist in his professional debut against the Binghamton Devils on October 7, 2017, Vande Sompel quickly adapted to the AHL and impressively led all Sound Tigers defenceman with 22 assist and co-led with 29 points.[5] As a rookie he also represented Bridgeport at the 2018 AHL All-Star Classic, scoring three goals, tied for most out of any player.[6]

Vande Sompel continued to grow in his development the following season, solidifying his role on the blueline with the Sound Tigers in recording 10 goals and a career high 31 points through 70 regular season games.

Entering his final season of his entry-level contract, Vande Sompel suffered an arm injury during training camp with the Islanders, ruling him out for the entirety of the 2019–20 season.[7]

He was re-signed as a restricted free agent by the Islanders to a two-year contract extension on October 28, 2020.[8] In suffering a setback through his injury, Vande Sompel struggled making his return during the pandemic-shortened 2020–21 season with no just 5 assists with a -19 rating in 20 games.

Entering his fifth season within the Islanders organization, Vande Sompel continuing in the AHL slowly regained his confidence and finished the season 18 points through 56 regular season games.[9]

As a free agent from the Islanders, Vande Sompel having been unable to secure another NHL contract, was signed to a one-year AHL contract with the Colorado Eagles, primary affiliate to the Colorado Avalanche, on July 21, 2022.[10] In the 2022–23 season, Vande Sompel used in a utility role featured in 47 regular season games, posting 5 goals and 15 assists for 20 points.

As a free agent, Vande Sompel left the Eagles and opted to sign a one-year contract with the lone AHL independent club, the Chicago Wolves, on July 18, 2023.[11] In the 2023–24 season, Vande Sompel regressed offensively, posting 2 goals and 7 points in 31 regular season appearances with the Wolves. On March 8, 2024, Vande Sompel was traded by Chicago to the Charlotte Checkers in exchange for Jake Wise.[12]

Personal life

Vande Sompel is the cousin of Buffalo Sabres defenceman Jacob Bryson.[13]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2012–13 London Nationals GOJHL 2 0 1 1 0
2013–14 Oshawa Generals OHL 47 5 15 20 18 12 1 2 3 0
2014–15 Oshawa Generals OHL 58 12 51 63 38 21 5 9 14 4
2015–16 Oshawa Generals OHL 46 10 28 38 36 5 1 3 4 8
2016–17 Oshawa Generals OHL 37 17 20 37 35
2016–17 London Knights OHL 30 3 13 16 0 14 1 5 6 2
2017–18 Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL 58 7 22 29 36
2018–19 Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL 70 10 21 31 28 5 0 0 0 4
2020–21 Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL 20 0 5 5 8
2021–22 Bridgeport Islanders AHL 56 2 16 18 20 6 0 0 0 4
2022–23 Colorado Eagles AHL 47 5 15 20 38 7 0 3 3 2
2023–24 Chicago Wolves AHL 31 2 5 7 4
AHL totals 282 26 84 110 134 18 0 3 3 10

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2014 Canada Ontario U17 5th 5 1 1 2 4
2014 Canada IH18 1st place, gold medalist(s) 4 1 1 2 0
Junior totals 9 2 2 4 4

Awards and honours

Award Year
OHL
First All-Rookie Team 2014
J. Ross Robertson Trophy 2015
CHL
Memorial Cup (Oshawa Generals) 2015 [2]
AHL
All-Star Game 2018

References

  1. ^ "Mitchell Vande Sompel commits to Oshawa Generals". Oshawa Generals. May 17, 2013. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Oshawa Generals win 2015 Memorial Cup". Memorial Cup. May 31, 2015. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  3. ^ "Vande Sompel agrees to entry-level contract". New York Islanders. October 12, 2016. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  4. ^ "London completed two trades". London Knights. January 9, 2017. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  5. ^ "Binghamton, Bridgeport game summary". American Hockey League. October 7, 2017. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  6. ^ "Vande Sompel, Gibson added to AHL All-Star Classic". oursportscentral.com. January 24, 2018. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  7. ^ "Islanders' Mitchell Vande Sompel likely done for season". CBS Sports. November 19, 2019. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  8. ^ "Islanders sign four to contracts". New York Islanders. October 28, 2020. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  9. ^ "Islanders prospect Mitch Vande Sompel is finding his game again in Bridgeport". nysportsday.com. December 9, 2021. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  10. ^ "Eagles add defenseman Mitchell Vande Sompel". Colorado Eagles. July 21, 2022. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  11. ^ "Wolves sign five to deals". American Hockey League. July 18, 2023. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  12. ^ "Checkers acquire Mitch Vande Sompel from Chicago". Charlotte Checkers. March 8, 2024. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  13. ^ Lysowski, Lance (November 11, 2021). "Sabres' Jacob Bryson will finally get to play NHL game in front of family". The Buffalo News. Archived from the original on November 12, 2021. Retrieved February 12, 2023.

External links

  • Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or The Internet Hockey Database