Sports

SAN JOSE (AP) ― Torrey Mitchell reported to the San Jose Sharks' training camp last month with a sneaking suspicion he might make his first NHL roster.

``Well, I just thought I could do a few things they would like,'' he said.

The speedy forward's suspicions proved correct this week. Just seven months after Mitchell was leading his Vermont college team in scoring as a 22-year-old junior, he'll be in coach Ron Wilson's lineup when the Sharks open the regular season against the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday night.

Mitchell's mother almost cried when he shared the news by phone, and his brother immediately booked a flight to Edmonton. Mitchell set about arranging to stay in Silicon Valley changing his uniform number from 69 to 17, making sure his favorite sticks get on the team plane, even tracking down some elbow pads that fit a bit better.

``I'll have some butterflies, that's for sure,'' the Montreal native said. ``The only thing I know about Edmonton is just from watching them on 'Hockey Night in Canada' when I was growing up. I'm sure once the game starts, I won't be thinking about it too much.''

Devin Setoguchi, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2005 draft, also made the roster with a preseason performance that was just as impressive as Mitchell's work. The rookies will join Milan Michalek on a line that could be the speediest group Wilson has ever put together.

``I think I bring speed, and speed kills on this whole team,'' Mitchell said. ``It's so much fun to be out there with guys who are skating as fast as me.''

Jeremy Roenick is particularly impressed by his youngest teammates' moves.

``Guys weren't driving cars that fast when I came into the league,'' Roenick said. ``It's crazy.''

Mitchell, a former fourth-round pick, did more than the Sharks expected after finishing last season strong with their top minor-league affiliate in Worcester. He scored three points in five exhibition games before sitting out the Sharks' final two after blocking a shot with his foot, but Wilson already knew what Mitchell and Setoguchi could do.

``They've both got incredible speed and finishing ability,'' Wilson said. ``They're physically mature to play at this level, and we're going to give them a shot. I'd play three rookies together. It doesn't matter to me, as long as they can play.''

SECRET SIXTH: Wilson doesn't plan to reveal the identity of his sixth defenseman until game time Thursday night, but the coach already acknowledged he's not completely sold on either candidate for the final spot in his defensive rotation.

Rob Davison and Doug Murray are vying to fill the vacancy left when Scott Hannan San Jose's leader in ice time the past three seasons left for the Colorado Avalanche as a free agent.

While Davison and Murray both have NHL experience, they've rarely been regular contributors. Neither distinguished himself in the preseason, either.

``I think they both can play better, and they have to if they want to play regularly on the team,'' Wilson said after the club's exhibition finale against Calgary. ``They have to be more physical and just generally play better.''

The Sharks invited veterans Alexei Semenov, Sandis Ozolinsh and Brad Norton to training camp, but Semenov and Norton will start the season on injured reserve, while Ozolinsh couldn't officially sign with the club until next week.

Wilson expects goalie Evgeni Nabokov to start both of the Sharks' first two games in Edmonton and Vancouver. The longtime veteran will get most of the work this season, and Wilson hasn't decided when backup Dimitri Patzold will get his first start after replacing Vesa Toskala.

``I've barely looked beyond the first two games to decide anything like that,'' Wilson said. ``Last year it was easy. Tosk gets odd numbers, Nabby gets even numbers, and we go from there.''

COLD OPENING: The Sharks set a franchise record with 26 road victories last year, and they'll get an early start on bettering that number this fall.

San Jose begins the season with four straight road games, including three in four nights. All told, nine of the Sharks' 12 November games are away from the Tank.

But Joe Thornton doesn't see the schedule's slant as a bad development.

``It's good to get out on the road with the guys and bond together as a team,'' Thornton said. ``I think in some ways, it's an advantage to get that experience early. We might thank (the NHL) later on for that.''

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