NCAA/USHS

Western Michigan Broncos 3 @ Mercyhurst Lakers 2
D Luke Witkowski, UWM: 0-0-0, +1, 2 PIM (Cross-checking), 2 SOG
Season totals: 3 GP, 0-1-1, -1, 4 PIM

Western Michigan wins their first road game of the season improving to 2-1. The two teams will play again Saturday night.

Canisius Golden Griffins 2 @ Western Michigan Broncos 3 (OT)
D Luke Witkowski, WMU: 0-1-1, Even, 0 PIM, 3 SOG
Season Totals: 2 GP, 0-1-1, -2, 2 PIM

Witkowski picked up his first point of the season assisting on Kyle O'Kane's first period goal.

#9 Denver Pioneers 1 @ Vermont Catamounts 1 (OT)
F Matt Marshall, UVM: 0-0-0, -1, 0 PIM, 0 SOG
Season Totals: 2 GP, 0-0-0, -1, 0 PIM

The Catamounts pick up a point against a ranked team. Vermont is now off until Oct. 23rd when they host Merrimack.

#9 Denver Pioneers 5 @ Vermont Catamounts 3
F Matt Marshall, UVM: 0-0-0, -1, 0 PIM, 3 SOG

Canisius Golden Griffins 5 @ Western Michigan Broncos 3
D Luke Witkowski, UWM: 0-0-0, -2, 2 PIM, 1 SOG

Vermont and Western Michigan each blow early 2-0 leads to drop their season openers 5-3. Both teams play again tomorrow night against the same opponents.

New Brunswick Varsity Reds 3 @ Vermont Catamounts 2 (Exhibition)
C Matt Marshall, UVM: 1-0-1, +1, 0 PIM, 2 SOG

Marshall scored with five seconds left in Catamounts' first preseason game.

Ontario Institute of Technology Ridgebacks 2 @ Western Michigan Broncos 5 (Exhibition)
D Luke Witkowski, WMU: 0-0-0, 0 PIM

The Broncos outshot UOIT 61-15 on their way to easily winning their preseason opener.

Name: James Mullin
Position: Center/Right Wing
Shoots: Right
Height: 5.10
Weight: 152 lbs
Born: 2/24/1992, Philadelphia, PA
Last Team: Shattuck St. Mary's Prep (Minnesota High School)
Rankings: CSS 165 (North American Skaters), RLR NR (Overall), THN NR (Overall)

2009-2010 Statistics:
Shattuck St. Mary's (USHS), 55 GP, 32-40-72, 26 PIM

Strengths:
Mullin can score, and that's the name of the game. He led the prestigious Shattuck program (of Sidney Crosby fame) last season in scoring when he was a teammate of fellow Lightning prospect Kirill Gotovets. Mullin is small, but he's a speedy, tenacious player, as well as a creative playmaker and a good finisher. He makes his linemates better with his style of play.

Weaknesses:
Size is a major issue for Mullin, who must add weight to his small frame. He also needs to make quicker decisions with the puck as time and space will shrink at the next levels.

Projection:
Mullin will have up to four years at the University of Miami (Ohio) to add strength and weight and could come out of collegiate play as a mid-round steal for the Lightning. He's got a long road to the NHL, but has a fine chance to be a solid contributor at the AHL level at the least. The more the game opens up, the more it favors players such as Mullin. As the Lightning's Martin St. Louis has proven, there's no substitute for heart, desire, and natural skill, but you have to have legs the size of tree trunks to make it as a small player in the big leagues.