Upon first glance, Ian Mitchell and Cale Makar appear to be near mirror images on the ice.
As one sifts through their shared history, it’s easy to understand how the two relatively small, offensively skilled right-shot defensemen could be so similar.
Makar, the Avalanche rookie, is from the Calgary area and Mitchell, a junior for the top-ranked DU Pioneers, grew up farther north in Alberta near Edmonton.
They were defensive partners for Canada at the 2016 World Junior Challenge in Ontario and roommates at the 2017 NHL combine in Buffalo, N.Y. They both starred in the Alberta Junior Hockey League and proudly represented Canada at the World Junior Championship.