By By DAN WEISS / Niles Daily Star
NILES -- Most people enjoy the sports their children participate in.
Playing those sports, however, is a different story.
Carol found out how hard what her son, Cody Mitchell, was doing when she decided to give ice hockey a try more than five years ago.
There were obvious obstacles to Carol's becoming a bona fide hockey player, like she is today as a member of the Michiana Sting women's hockey team that owns a record of 10-8-2 in only its second season as a travelling team.
Cody is now 16 years old and plays for the South Bend (Ind.) Adams High School Eagles. But there is another member of the family who skates regularly.
Bridgett Mitchell recently completed her high school volleyball career at Brandywine High School, but may have found a sport she can continue to be active in well beyond high school.
Bridgett has been accepted by Oakland University and may have the chance to be a member of the school's women's hockey team.
Oakland's team is not a varsity sport, which is perfect for Bridgett because she did not register with the NCAA Clearinghouse since she wasn't planning on playing sports in college.
Once a month the Sting conducts an intra-squad scrimmage at The Ice Box in South Bend. At the most recent scrimmage Carol was called for a couple penalties after knocking Bridgett to the ice.
The rivalry between mother and daughter, however, is a friendly one.
Carol is part of the Sting's travelling squad while Bridgett plays on the recreational team The recreational team serves as a type of training ground for players to eventually become travel team members.
Sting is also an outlet for female players who have few options to play organized hockey.
Carol, who also plays softball in the summer, has become an avid hockey fan since she started playing.