1964 NHL Amateur Draft Pick
Round Overall
3 17
Mike Pelyk
Selected by Toronto from Toronto Marlboros midget team
Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto Marlboros Midget
Mike Pelyk
 

6-foot-1, 190 pounds

Left-hand shot

Defense

Pre-Draft Statistics

Statistics unavailable

Pre-Draft Notes

Grew up in what was formerly known as the Mimico area of Toronto and is now part of Etobicoke. ... Joined Toronto Marlboros organization at age 11. ... Attended Michael Power High School in Toronto, where he also competed in football and track.
Canadian • Born September 29, 1947 in Toronto, Ontario • Hometown: Etobicoke, Ontario

Career Vitals

First contract: 1967
Debut: February 7, 1968
(Toronto at Chicago)
Final NHL game: May 9, 1978
(Toronto vs. Montreal) (playoffs)
Retired: 1978
Stanley Cup: Never won
Numbers worn: 20, 21, 28, 4

Career NHL Statistics

Team: Toronto
Years: 1968-1978. Playoffs: 1969-1978

Regular Season
  GP G A TP PIM
9 years 441 26 88 114 566
 
Stanley Cup Playoffs
GP G A TP PIM
6 years 40 0 3 3 41
 
Complete statistics available at NHL.com 

Career Highlights

Went to OHA Junior B championship series with York Steel in 1966. ... Won Memorial Cup with Toronto Marlboros in 1967. ... Earned pro contract with Toronto after strong training camp in 1967, causing him to forego his final year of junior eligibility. ... Served as captain of the Cincinnati Stingers (WHA) in 1975-76 -- his lone season with the team. ... Inducted into the Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame in 2000. ... Member of the board of directors of the NHL Alumni Association. ...Played for Maple Leafs Alumni team in 2014 Winter Classic Alumni Outdoor Game at Ann Arbor, Mich.

Transaction History

June 1974 -- WHA playing rights traded by Minnesota to Cincinnati in exchange for future considerations. He signed a contract with Cincinnati and was immediately loaned by that team to Vancouver for the 1974-75 WHA season before joining Cincinnati in 1975-76. August 1976 -- Returned to Toronto from WHA in because Maple Leafs absorbed his contract in exchange for cash concessions in the form of Cincinnati (WHA) dropping a lawsuit over Toronto's signing of Randy Carlyle, who had signed a "letter of intent" with Cincinnati before signing with Toronto. September 1978 -- Signed with Buffalo as unrestricted free agent, but opted to retire when it was clear he would not make the NHL roster.

Significant Injuries

Missed part of 1969-70 season with broken collarbone. ... Missed parts of 1971-72 season with torn cartilage in his knee -- an injury that required surgery. ... Underwent off-season surgery for separated shoulder at conclusion of the 1972-73 season.

Life Outside the NHL

Full Name: Michael Joseph Pelyk
Nickname: "Mike Mikita"

Other Post-Draft Teams: Toronto York Steel, Toronto Westclairs (OHA Jr. B); Toronto (OHA); Tulsa (CHL); Vancouver, Cincinnati (WHA); Dallas (CHL).

Education: Attended University of Toronto.

Career Beyond Hockey: Ran hockey school in Toronto during off-seasons. ... Pursued career in commercial real estate after hockey, while coaching hockey and baseball in the Toronto area.

Miscellaneous:

Selected by Minnesota Fighting Saints s in 1972 WHA Draft -- the first-ever WHA Draft, Feb. 1972. Selected by New York Golden Blades in 1973 WHA draft of professional players. Paired with Bob Neely on defense for Toronto during 1973-74 season. Regular participant in in NHL Old-Timers Hockey circuit to raise money for charity.
SNAPSHOT '64
Total Selected:24
Forwards:15
Defense:6
Goaltenders:1
Position n/a:2
Major Junior:0
College Players:0
Canadian:23
American:0
Euro-Canadian: 1
Reached NHL:9
Won Stanley Cup:1
Hall of Fame:1
All-Star Game:3
Year-end All-Star:1
Olympians:0
Picks Traded:0


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