By ALLAN WOLFE
Ernie Mitchell, jokingly referred to as Les Quebecois’ “token Indian”, is a proud member of the Mohawk tribe. He’s also one of. the premier goaltenders of the National Lacrosse League. A goaltender throughout his lacrosse life, Ernie graduated through the ranks of reservation teams to Les Quebecois, where he is presently starring. Easily one of the fan favorites, Ernie seems unmoved by all the adulation.
Lacrosse started back on the St. Regis Indian Reservation 11 years ago, where Ernie still resides. Starting with the bantams, Mitchell advanced to the midgets. But he got bumped from the team by a better goalie, and went to Cornwall to play junior lacrosse. Two years later he was back with the St. Regis juniors. In 1969 he joined the Rochester Iroquois, of the now- defunct North American Lacrosse League. Until coming to Les Quebecois, he has been playing with the St. Regis seniors. Asked to compare the NLL with past lacrosse, Ernie was quick to point out that there are more superstars in the NLL. ” They are a much better calibre lacrosse player. I have never seen such teamwork. “Before, I used to play in leagues where each team had just one star. All I would have to do was key on him, and I looked good all season.”
Ernie listed Some of the NLL opposition. who give him the most trouble. “I don’t like to face Travis Cooke (Syracuse) or Rick Dudley (Rochester). They have the hardest shots.” As the most difficult players in close, Ernie listed Maryland’s Paul Suggate and Philadelphia’s John Grant.
During the off-season, Ernie works as a steelworker, the same job that his father did. “It’s nice to be able to do the same thing your father did; to follow in his footsteps. ” Les Quebecois started the year with Bill Bradley as the coach, then switched to team co-owner-general manager John Ferguson. “He’s not that mean a guy,” Mitchell commented about Bradley. ‘ ‘He should have had a whip. We needed a guy who could direct the players.
For a little man (5’6″, 150 lbs), Ernie has had to develop his talents. “l use a lot of speed, and good reflexes. ” Those reflexes were tested in Les Quebecois’ second last regular season home game against Maryland. Ernie was caught out of the net in the first period with Paul Suggate in possession of the ball. Suggate moved over to get a better angle on the net and shot what he thought would be an unimpeded goal. But, from a prone position on the floor, Mitchell lunged high into the air, and managed to get his stick in the way of the ball. “That was the flukiest save I ever made,” he ad- mitted. But the fans appreciated it so much that they gave him a standing ovation. “That really woke me up. “It’s funny what you can do when you really want to win.”
Looking ahead to the future, Ernie believes there are only enough. good players left on the continent to staff about three expansion teams. Of course, there are those who will try to prove him wrong. He would also like to see teams deyelop farm systems. “We need a minor system,” he insisted.