// Workers AI · dad joke modeWho's Mike Wanchuk? Mike Wanchuk who?
| Mike Wanchuk | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
October 10, 1954 St. Paul, Alberta, Canada[1] | ||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) | ||
| Weight | 161 lb (73 kg; 11 st 7 lb) | ||
| Position | Right wing | ||
| Shot | Right | ||
| Played for | Kalamazoo Wings | ||
| Playing career | 1974–1980 | ||
Michael Wanchuk (born October 10, 1954) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played right wing. He spent his entire professional career with the Kalamazoo Wings of the International Hockey League (IHL) from 1974 to 1980.
Playing career
[edit]Wanchuk played major junior hockey with the Regina Pats of the Western Canada Hockey League (WCHL), recording 258 points in 181 games between 1971 and 1974. In his final season with the team, they won the WCHL and went on to win the 1974 Memorial Cup.[2]
At the start of his professional career, he went to the Montreal Canadiens training camp before joining the Kalamazoo Wings for the franchise’s inaugural IHL season in 1974–75.[3] In his rookie season, Wanchuk became the team's star player, scoring 45 goals and 81 points in 71 games despite breaking his leg late in the season.[4] He was also named the most valuable player of the 1975 IHL All-Star Game.[5]
In the 1975–76 season Wanchuk scored 53 goals, sharing the league lead with Len Fontaine, and 91 points, the third result in the league.[6] He was also selected for the second All-Star Team.[7]
In the 1976–77 season he scored 47 goals and 97 points and earned a first All-Star Team selection.[8] He also scored four goals, including the game winner, against the reigning Soviet champion HC Spartak Moscow to lead the Kalamazoo Wings to a 7-6 victory.[9]
Wanchuk remained with Kalamazoo for six seasons. He scored a total of 239 goals for the team, a franchise record at the time.[10][11]
Wanchuk helped the Wings win back-to-back Turner Cup championships and retired from professional hockey following the club’s second championship.[10]
Wanchuk was the first player in Kalamazoo Wings history to have his number (22) retired.[12]
Draft
[edit]Wanchuk was selected by the Winnipeg Jets in the 1974 WHA Amateur Draft (10th round, 139th overall).[13]
Career statistics
[edit]Regular season and playoffs
[edit]| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP (PO) | G (PO) | A (PO) | Pts (PO) | PIM (PO) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973–74 | Regina Pats | WCHL | 64 | 44 | 38 | 82 | 40 | 18 | 15 | 9 | 24 | 18 |
| 1972–73 | Regina Pats | WCHL | 68 | 36 | 58 | 94 | 18 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 7 |
| 1973–74 | Regina Pats | WCHL | 49 | 42 | 40 | 82 | 17 | 16 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 2 |
| 1974–75 | Kalamazoo Wings | IHL | 71 | 45 | 36 | 81 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1975–76 | Kalamazoo Wings | IHL | 78 | 53 | 38 | 91 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 1976–77 | Kalamazoo Wings | IHL | 76 | 47 | 50 | 97 | 24 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 6 |
| 1977–78 | Kalamazoo Wings | IHL | 80 | 45 | 47 | 92 | 19 | 10 | 9 | 5 | 14 | 4 |
| 1978–79 | Kalamazoo Wings | IHL | 77 | 24 | 35 | 59 | 11 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 23 | 2 |
| 1979–80 | Kalamazoo Wings | IHL | 52 | 25 | 22 | 47 | 4 | 16 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 0 |
References
[edit]- ↑ "A 90-Cent Stick". Joplin Globe. January 7, 1975.
- ↑ "Regina Pats to honour 1974 Memorial Cup championship team during final home game of season". CTV News. March 21, 2024.
- ↑ "Episode 18: Michael Wanchuk" (Podcast). Wings Way by Kalamazoo Wings. February 19, 2019.
- ↑ "Kazoo Wing Crowds Big". Benton Harbor Herald-Palladium. April 2, 1975.
- ↑ "Kalamazoo's Wanchuk Steals IHL All Star Game Spotlight". The Hockey News. February 28, 1975.
- ↑ "Fontaine Leads IHL". Ludington Daily News. March 30, 1976.
- ↑ "IHL Star-Squad Includes 6 From Michigan-Based Clubs". Ironwood Daily Globe. April 13, 1976.
- ↑ "Two Wings All-Stars". Benton Harbor Herald-Palladium. April 12, 1977.
- ↑ "Kalamazoo Downs Russia". Ironwood Daily Globe. January 6, 1977.
- 1 2 "Despite historic photo, 240 goals still on horizon". Kalamazoo Wings. November 20, 2022. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
- ↑ "Bird's-eye view: The 100 Club". Kalamazoo Wings. July 17, 2020. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
- ↑ "Kalamazoo Wings announce jersey retirements at new museum exhibit". MLive. September 27, 2018.
- ↑ "Chipperfield signing adds to Blazer coup". Victoria Daily Colonist. June 1, 1974.
External links
[edit]- Biographical information and career statistics from Eliteprospects.com, or The Internet Hockey Database