NAHL alum Gibson signs NHL contract with Capitals

April 5, 2023

Mitchell Gibson, seen here playing in the 2018 NAHL Top Prospects Tournament, has signed a contract with the Washington Capitals.

The Washington Capitals have signed goaltender and NAHL alum Mitchell Gibson to an amateur tryout agreement (ATO), senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced. Gibson served as the backup on Sunday versus the New York Rangers and is expected to sign an NHL contract at a later date.

The Capitals selected Gibson, 23, with their fourth-round pick, 124th overall, in the 2018 NHL Draft, following his lone season playing in the NAHL for the Lone Star Brahmas.

Gibson appeared in 27 games for Harvard University (NCAA) this season, posting a record of 18-7-2 with a 2.25 goals-against average, a .919 save percentage and three shutouts. The 6'1", 187-pound goaltender ranked third among ECAC goaltenders in goals-against average and save percentage. Gibson, who helped guide Harvard to its second-straight NCAA Tournament appearance, was named to the All-ECAC Hockey Second Team.

During the 2021-22 season, Gibson recorded a 18-10-1 record with a 2.17 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage. Gibson started 30 of Harvard's 35 games in 2021-22, helping the Crimson capture the 2022 ECAC Hockey Championship and a NCAA Tournament bid. Gibson ranked second in the conference in wins (18), fourth in minutes played (1,739) and fifth in goals-against average, earning Second Team All-ECAC Hockey honors.

The Phoenixville, Pennsylvania native appeared in 23 games in his first year at Harvard in 2019-20, compiling a record of 11-8-3. Gibson ranked first among ECAC freshmen in goals against average (2.61) and save percentage (.916) and was named to the ECAC Hockey All-Rookie Team and an All-Ivy League Honorable Mention. Gibson earned a shutout in his first collegiate start on Nov. 8, 2019 versus Princeton.

In 80 career games at Harvard, Gibson posted a record of 47-25-6 with six shutouts, a 2.32 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage.

Gibson spent the 2017-18 season with the Lone Star Brahmas of the North American Hockey League (NAHL), where was named the NAHL Goaltender of the Year after posting a 26-7-5 record, a 1.59 goals-against average, a .935 save percentage and 11 shutouts in 43 games.