Mike Polich

Mike Polich
Born	(1952-12-19) December 19, 1952 (age 72) Hibbing, Minnesota, U.S.
Height	5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Weight	170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb)
Position	Center
Shot	Left
Played for	Montreal Canadiens Minnesota North Stars
National team	United States
NHL draft	Undrafted
Playing career	1975–1981

Michael John Polich (born December 19, 1952) is an American former professional ice hockey player who played 226 games in the National Hockey League from 1977 to 1981. He won the Stanley Cup in 1977 with the Montreal Canadiens and played in the 1981 Stanley Cup Finals with the Minnesota North Stars.

Playing career

Polich was a college hockey star for the University of Minnesota and also played for Team USA at the 1974 and 1975 Ice Hockey World Championship tournaments before signing a free agent contract with the Montreal Canadiens of the NHL in 1975. Polich spent most of the next three seasons in Canadiens system with their farm team the Nova Scotia Voyageurs of the American Hockey League, but he did get his name on the Stanley Cup in 1977 as a reserve on the Canadiens' championship winning team. He also played for Team USA in the inaugural 1976 Canada Cup tournament. Polich's NHL career finally took off after he signed for the Minnesota North Stars in 1978 where he became an accomplished defensive specialist and penalty killer. He finally retired in 1981 after three years as a regular North Star.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1969–70	Hibbing High School	HS-MN		—	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—
1970–71	Hibbing High School	HS-MN		—	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—
1971–72	University of Minnesota	B1G		32	8	5	13	14		—	—	—	—	—
1972–73	University of Minnesota	B1G		34	18	14	32	34		—	—	—	—	—
1973–74	University of Minnesota	B1G		40	19	33	52	36		—	—	—	—	—
1974–75	University of Minnesota	B1G		42	25	37	62	84		—	—	—	—	—
1975–76	Nova Scotia Voyageurs	AHL		75	24	19	43	66		9	4	5	9	6
1976–77	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		—	—	—	—	—		5	0	0	0	0
1976–77	Nova Scotia Voyageurs	AHL		69	19	41	60	48		11	4	4	8	6
1977–78	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		1	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
1977–78	Nova Scotia Voyageurs	AHL		79	22	38	60	70		11	2	6	8	4
1978–79	Minnesota North Stars	NHL		73	6	10	16	18		—	—	—	—	—
1978–79	Oklahoma City Stars	CHL		9	0	7	7	0		—	—	—	—	—
1979–80	Minnesota North Stars	NHL		78	10	14	24	20		15	2	1	3	2
1980–81	Minnesota North Stars	NHL		74	8	5	13	19		3	0	0	0	0
AHL totals				223	65	98	163	184		31	10	15	25	16
NHL totals				226	24	29	53	57		23	2	1	3	2

International

Year	Team	Event		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1974	United States	WC-B		7	7	5	12	—
1975	United States	WC		10	2	5	7	34
1976	United States	CC		5	1	1	2	4
Senior totals				22	10	11	21	—

Awards and honors

Award	Year
All-NCAA All-Tournament Team	1974	[1]
All-WCHA First Team	1974–75	[2]
AHCA West All-American	1974–75	[3]

References

1. "NCAA Frozen Four Records" (PDF). NCAA.org. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
2. "WCHA All-Teams". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
3. "Men's Ice Hockey Award Winners" (PDF). NCAA.org. Retrieved June 11, 2013.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com , or  Eliteprospects.com , or  Hockey-Reference.com , or  The Internet Hockey Database

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Doug Palazzari	WCHA Most Valuable Player 1974–75 (With Tom Ross)	Succeeded by Mike Zuke