My unlikely hockey journey has allowed me to share the ice with some remarkable people. One of those is Mike Zuke. Mike isn’t a household name to the average hockey fan, but he probably should be!
Mike is the third leading scorer in NCAA history with an eye popping 310 points in only 163 collegiate games! The Michigan Tech grad also won a national title in 1975. The Huskie legend also went on to play in over 500 NHL/WHA games with the Racers, Oilers, Blues and Whalers.
But what is most unique about Mike’s career was it foreshadowed the career of some fella named Wayne Gretzky. Mike played for the Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds, Indianapolis Racers, Edmonton Oilers and St Louis Blues, all right before the “Great One” debuted for each of those teams!
In 1976-77, Mike was a star for the Edmonton Oilers as he centered a high scoring line with Brett Callighen and Blair MacDonald. The following season Mike went to the St Louis Blues and was replaced on that very same line by #99! Gretzky’s 104 points that season set the stage for his incredible career, to which Mike quipped, “I don’t think they missed me!”
Mike has recently decided to officially hang them up and when we spent time together this past weekend he shared with me that the last real tournament he played in he was my teammate on the Top Dawgs. Wow, what an honor! Here’s to you Zuker, well done my friend!
