By The 49er hockey team has changed in both style and talent over the last three years, and is “further along than any Long Beach [State] team in the history of the organization,” according to the team’s president, Ben Blankenhorn. Yet one thing has stayed the same: the presence of Frankie Mitrano between the pipes.
“Each year since starting to play we’ve gotten better,” Mitrano said. “So last season was better than my first and this season [is better than the last], so each year the expectations have gotten higher and the talent has gotten better.”
Despite the faith he has in his team, Mitrano still battles with fallacies in his own game.
“I’m slow and give up five whole goals,” Mitrano said.
With his team being 11-6-1-1, Mitrano is determined not to let his own shortcomings get in the way of leading LBSU to nationals.
“I work out a lot,” Mitrano said. “I train with the Edmonton Oilers strength and conditioning coach, I watch what I eat, and try to stay as physically fit as possible.”
Along with that, Mitrano said that he attempts to model his game after a few of his heroes like Roberto Luongo of the Vancouver Canucks, Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils and hall of famer Patrick Roy.
“I catch myself doing a little bit of each,” Mitrano said. “I watch NHL goalies and try and see what they’re doing and give it a shot in practice or in a game and see what works and what doesn’t work. You can model yourself after another goalie, but you still [have to] be able to do it yourself.”
Whatever Mitrano has done to improve his game seems to have worked because he has landed a firm spot as the team’s No. 1 goaltender, playing 18 of the seasons’ 19 games. Along with his solid starting position, Mitrano has been credited with shutting out the No 1-ranked Colorado on Nov. 15, and the University of New Mexico on Oct. 26.
Mitrano also finds the Long Beach State team of the 2007-08 season to be the best team he has ever played on, since donning a glove and blocker at the tender age of five.
Mitrano also showed great compassion for his fellow 49er net minders, Albie Sears, Ricky St. Louis and Chris Rougier.
“I think they’re all solid goalies,” Mitrano said. “Any of them could play, and they’re all nice guys.”
He believes that this year “we can make it to nationals and contend” after controlling a third overall western ranking and a sharing sixth place in the division with 24 points, only 11 away from the No. 1-ranked Colorado, which, Mitrano recalls, the 49ers were able to sweep last time the pair played.
Mitrano expects a continuation of such a series throughout their season.
