A long-time local basketball player and coach has been named the 2022 winner of the George Martyn Memorial Trophy for outstanding contribution to the sport of basketball.
Mike Mitchell started his basketball career playing high school at Chippewa Secondary School. His most successful season came in his last year as he led the Raiders to both the NDA and NOSSA titles. He also captured the NDA scoring title and was selected as the league’s most valuable player.
From 1993-95, while attending Queen’s University, Mike was a member of the Men’s Basketball program as a walk-on.
Returning to North Bay after his university career, Mike began coaching at his alma mater. In 1997-98 he helped coach the Raiders to an NDA and NOSSA championship.
After a brief hiatus, Mike returned to coaching at Chippewa in 2014. His team won consecutive Intermediate boy’s titles in 2017 and 2018. His Raiders senior team captured NDA titles in 2022 and 2023. In both years they were undefeated during NDA play.
Mitchell has been involved in the Spartan (rep basketball club) organization as a coach and executive member since 2015. His team captured a silver medal in 2017 at the OBA Ontario Cup.
In 2017, he assumed the role of president of the Spartans, taking over from Larry Tougas who started the program in 2005.
“Mike Mitchell took over the program and deserves a great deal of the credit for building it into a strong provincial power. His leadership, dedication and commitment were the driving force to the Spartans program, fielding at one time 10 boys and girls teams, ” Tougas said.
Mitchell will be receiving his award at the 42nd Annual Induction and Awards Dinner to be held at the Davedi Club on Saturday, May 6th, 2023. Tickets are available by calling Bill Jacko at 705-492-3961.
