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Lightning takes OHL center Mitchell Stephens with top pick

 
SUNRISE, FL - JUNE 27:  Mitchell Stephens poses after being selected 33rd overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning during the 2015 NHL Draft at BB&T Center on June 27, 2015 in Sunrise, Florida.  (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) 560358021
SUNRISE, FL - JUNE 27: Mitchell Stephens poses after being selected 33rd overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning during the 2015 NHL Draft at BB&T Center on June 27, 2015 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) 560358021
Published June 28, 2015

SUNRISE — Mitchell Stephens' nickname is "Chubby," and it has nothing to do with his 5-foot-11, 188-pound frame.

Stephens, 18, selected in the second round (33rd overall) by the Lightning in Saturday's NHL draft, was 5 years old at his local rink in Peterborough, Ontario, when his foot hurt.

"Just suck it up," his father, Lee, told him.

But when Stephens continued to complain, they took off his skate and found a cap from Chubby's soda inside.

"Even now, people call him 'Chubby,' '' Lee Stephens said. "Some people don't even know his real name is Mitchell."

The Lightning got it right Saturday at the BB&T Center, making the center from Saginaw of the Ontario Hockey League its top pick of the draft.

"It's an amazing feeling," Stephens said. "I'm a little tight for words."

Tampa Bay used many words to describe Stephens' two-way game, a relentlessly competitive and versatile forward with great hockey sense.

But the highest compliment was comparing Stephens to a veteran Lightning wing.

"If people want to get an impression of what Mitchell Stephens looks like, think Ryan Callahan," said Al Murray, the Lightning's director of amateur scouting. "We're not saying Mitchell Stephens is the next Ryan Callahan, but he's the same size, he works just as hard and can play either wing, can move up and down the lineup."

Stephens isn't a household name, but Murray said Tampa Bay had him ranked much higher than most before the world under-18 tournament.

"Some of the lists didn't even have him on the list, or you could barely find him on certain lists, including Central Scouting," Murray said.

"I wanted to prove them wrong," Stephens said.

Stephens sure did, shining for Canada on that international stage at the Ivan Hlinka Tournament in Switzerland, playing with Islanders 2015 draftees Matt Barzal (16th overall) and Anthony Beauvillier (28th). Stephens had 10 points in seven games, while providing key leadership, said defenseman Matt Spencer, the Lightning's other second-round pick.

"His dedication to the game of hockey is just incredible," Spencer said.

The Lightning also lauds Stephens' character, and Lee Stephens said his son had to grow up fast. Stephens' teammate for Saginaw, Terry Trafford, killed himself after getting kicked off the team in 2014. There was some thought that Trafford, 20, suffered from depression. Lee Stephens, a social worker, said his son was "crushed" by the news.

"After Terry died, Mitchell calls me on FaceTime, and we sat there for two hours, watching TV," Lee said.

Lee said Mitchell "still has a special place for Terry," with several former teammate still wearing his name tags. "He's one of those guys you're going to remember the rest of your life," Lee said.

Mitchell Stephens certainly carries that passion on the ice.

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"He may not be the player that is going to be the most gifted," said TSN analyst Craig Button, "but he's always in the game, always dialed in. That competitiveness he has, he'll do anything to help the team. Anything. He's all in. He's in it to win it."