MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich. – Mitch Forton is on the move again.
After leaving his Petoskey, Mich., home in the fall of 2019 and again in the fall of 2020 to play for the Metro Jets, Forton is now off to play college hockey at Indiana Tech University, starting with the fall of 2021.
The 2000 birth year forward noted that he’s not heading to Fort Wayne completely in the dark.
“Indiana Tech had some interest in me, and I knew that from my many college-oriented meetings I had with the Metro coaching staff,” said Forton. “It also ended up working to my advantage that my childhood friend’s dad is good friends with the DiCristofaro family, so there was a good connection there (Frank DiCristofaro is Indiana Tech’s head coach). Indiana Tech had a good nationals run and after they took care of business, there Coach Frank contacted me, and I decided to visit and liked it a lot.”
Over his two seasons with the Jets, Forton played 79 games for the MJDP team, compiling 33 goals and 63 points during the regular season and another 11 points in 10 USPHL playoff games. He also served as an alternate captain this past season.
More than points, Forton said his overall development is ultimately what led to his college hockey opportunity.
“The Metro Jets organization played a huge role in my development, both on and off the ice,” said Forton. “They facilitate a professional atmosphere from Square 1 and that transfers over onto the ice as well as in a public setting. Because of Metro’s outstanding focus on player development and the facilities they provide for their players, I am now ready to make an impact on the ice with the habits I developed there. I am also mentally equipped to handle the workload and stress of college learning environment, balance schooling and athletics in an efficient manner and handling any adversity that life throws my way.
“I think that, overall, my seasons with the Jets were good seasons. I picked up a multitude of good habits on the ice, in the gym, and on the road my first year and then solidified their application more so in my second. Top that off with a strong national tournament showing for MJDP my second year, and I’d say that in the end as an individual and as a program, they were successful.”
Jets coach-GM Justin Quenneville saw Forton join the team as a green junior player, but after two seasons, is ready to watch his excel in college.
“’Forts’ is a player who will be sorely missed,” Quenneville said. “You do not see many throwback players much these days and that was a big a reason why he garnered so much attention from colleges. He developed so much while he was here for his two years and is deserving of this opportunity. He plays the game the right way, he’s physical, he’s strong, he commits to the hard areas, and he played a huge role in the team success.
“What is most impressive with this young man is his maturity and mental toughness. Not only was he a leader, but he was a player coaches could count on night in night out to play the game needed to win. He gets it and we just wish we could clone him every year. The Jets organization would like to thank Mitch for his efforts here and wish him the best of luck at a top-notch program in ITU.”
After a summer of boating, jet skiing and working construction, Forton will leave for college with zero expectations.
“G.K. Chesterton once said, ‘Expect nothing and you’ll be gloriously surprised,’” said Forton. “I expect nothing to be given to me and everything to be earned. I have no preconceived notions of where I’ll fit, but I do know my strengths and I plan to work hard and let the coaches decide where I fit in best based on my work ethic and skill set.”
Forton plans on focusing on a Business Administration-Entrepreneurial Studies curriculum.
Coming from a family of 10 children (Mitch is ninth in line), Forton said family has always mattered when it came to hockey.
“I have to thank my mom and dad for pushing me to get into hockey as a kid and then supporting me when I decided to play junior hockey instead of head right to university,” Forton said. “They were the ones who dressed me when I didn’t want to go to practices and, ultimately, that turned into my love of for the sport. I have to thank Metro coaching staff – Justin (Quenneville), Jamie (Lovell), Randy (Wilson), Tina (Ciraulo), and Dan (Pszenyczny) – for developing my skill sets over the last two years and being positive role models in the two years I was there. I also would like to thank the staff at Petoskey Ice Arena for being good to me in the offseason as well.
“Each has played a huge part respectively in my development.”
