Mike Pelyk

Michael Joseph "Mike Mikita" Pelyk (born September 29, 1947 in Etobicoke, Ontario) is a retired professional ice hockey player who played 441 games in the National Hockey League and 150 games in the World Hockey Association. He played with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Blazers, and Cincinnati Stingers.

Although a gifted skater, Pelyk struggled with inconsistency early in his career with the Toronto Maple Leafs. In the 1973-74 season he seemed to be finally reaching his potential, leading Leaf defensemen with 12 goals,^[1] when he was lured away from the Leafs with a million-dollar contact to the Vancouver Blazers of the WHA. However, he was never quite able to return to the potential shown in the 73-74 season either in his two years in the WHA, or with his return to the NHL with the Maple Leafs in 1976. After two years alternating between the NHL and CHL he retired in 1978.^[2][3]

Mike Pelyk was captain of the WHA Cincinnati Stingers for the 1975-76 season.^[4]

References

1. ^ Leaf Player Stats 1973-74 season http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0000381974.html
2. ^ http://www.nhlalumni.com/slam/hockey/nhlalumni/news/021107.html
3. ^ http://mapleleafs.nhl.com/team/app?page=HistoricalPlayerDetail&pkey=8448130&service=page
4. ^ http://www.stingershistory.com/Teams/1975-76/January/10th.htm

External links

• Mike Pelyk's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database
• Career bio at Legends of Hockey

Persondata
Name	Pelyk, Mike
Alternative names
Short description	Canadian ice hockey player
Date of birth	1947
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death