Graham Mink - Playing Career

Playing Career

Undrafted, Mink originally played high school hockey with Stowe High School, winning the Division III state championship in his sophomore year and Division II state championship in his senior year. After high school he attended Northfield Mount Herman school for a post graduate year. He then was a recruited walk on to play collegiate hockey with the University of Vermont in the ECAC. After an unimpressive freshman year, Mink gradually improved within the Catamounts and in his junior year placed second on the team in scoring with 17 goals and 29 points in 32 games. Just prior to his senior year in 2001–02, Mink was suspended from Vermont after he was arrested in an off campus fight. He subsequently left Vermont and turned pro, signing with the Portland Pirates on September 25, 2001.

In his first professional season, Mink made his debut in the ECHL, appearing in 29 games with the Richmond Renegades before moving up to the Pirates. Following an impressive 34 points in 56 games, Mink was signed by their NHL affiliate, the Washington Capitals for the 2002–03 season and continued to play for the Pirates and later on the Hershey Bears, helping them as an assistant captain to the 2006 and 2009 Calder Cups.

On July 8, 2009, Graham signed a two-year free agent deal with the Florida Panthers. He was then assigned to AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans where he served as an alternate captain for the 2009–10 season.

On August 3, 2010, Mink was traded by the Panthers to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for T.J. Fast.

On July 13, 2011, Mink left the Peoria Riverman and signed a one-year American Hockey League contract to return to the Hershey Bears for the 2011–12 AHL season.

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