Mike Robitaille

Last updated
Mike Robitaille
Born (1948-02-12) February 12, 1948 (age 76)
Midland, Ontario, Canada
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 195 lb (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Right
Played for New York Rangers
Detroit Red Wings
Buffalo Sabres
Vancouver Canucks
Playing career 1968–1977

Michael James David Robitaille (born February 12, 1948) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman and commentator. He played in the National Hockey League with the New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, Buffalo Sabres and Vancouver Canucks in a career that lasted from 1968 to 1977.

Contents

Playing career

Robitaille played in 382 regular season NHL games, scoring 23 goals and adding 105 assists. He was most well known for his punishing hip checks. He also appeared in 13 playoff games, six with Buffalo and seven for Vancouver, tallying one assist. His career ended pre-maturely in 1977 when he was blind-sided by Dennis Owchar of the Pittsburgh Penguins, which caused nerve damage in his neck. [1] He later won a lawsuit against the Canucks for mistreating his injuries.

Post-playing career

After retiring, Robitaille joined the Sabres' broadcasting arm in 1985. He was one of the founders of Hockey Hotline, the Buffalo Sabres' postgame show on Empire Sports Network, in 1991 and worked for the Sabres and various sister outlets until his retirement from television in 2014. He is known for his colorful analogies and exaggerations.

During the 2000s, Robitaille was the fill-in commentator whenever play-by-play announcer Rick Jeanneret and former color commentators Jim Lorentz or Harry Neale couldn't fulfill their duties on a game day broadcast.

In February 2010, Robitaille was injured in a car accident suffering a spinal cord injury with neurological damage. Robitaille’s injuries from the accident resulted in him missing broadcast duties for the remainder of the 2009-2010 NHL season. Through months of rehabilitation from the time of accident through September of that year, doctors and Robitaille said that he was not at 100% yet. He said he felt ready and returned to his broadcast duties in time for the start of the 2010-11 NHL season with the Sabres. [2] On October 3, 2013, it was announced that Robitaille would be partially retiring after the season and that former Sabres forward Brad May would join the crew on a limited basis before moving into Robitaille's slot in a full-time role the following year. Robitaille continued his radio work and some limited television work during his retirement. [3]

Personal life

Robitaille was born in Midland, Ontario. He lives with his wife, Isabel, in the Buffalo area; the couple also has a second home in Mexico. When not working with the Sabres, Robitaille is the vice president of development and community affairs for his wife's company, Robitaille Real Estate. [4] He has two daughters—Sarah, a salesperson with her mother's company, [5] and Anique, a recording artist in Toronto. Mike Robitaille is distantly related to former NHLer Luc Robitaille. Mike's 6th great-grandfather and Luc's 8th great-grandfather were brothers.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
1963–64 Kitchener Greenshirts CJBHL ——————————
1963–64 Kitchener Rangers OHA 10000—————
1964–65Kitchener GreenshirtsCJBHL——————————
1964–65 Kitchener RangersOHA37281083—————
1965–66Kitchener GreenshirtsCJBHL——————————
1965–66 Kitchener RangersOHA10000—————
1966–67 Kitchener RangersOHA4873037701326815
1967–68 Kitchener RangersOHA5120517177144101434
1968–69 Omaha Knights CHL 43535405271349
1969–70 New York Rangers NHL 40008—————
1969–70 Omaha KnightsCHL64124658115122141615
1969–70 Buffalo Bisons AHL —————504414
1970–71 New York RangersNHL111127—————
1970–71 Omaha KnightsCHL1309932—————
1970–71 Detroit Red Wings NHL23481222—————
1971–72 Buffalo Sabres NHL312101222—————
1971–72 Cincinnati Swords AHL801112—————
1972–73 Buffalo SabresNHL65417214060000
1973–74 Buffalo SabresNHL712182060—————
1974–75 Buffalo SabresNHL30110—————
1974–75 Vancouver Canucks NHL63222243150112
1975–76 Vancouver CanucksNHL71819276920002
1976–77 Vancouver CanucksNHL4009921—————
NHL totals38223105128280130114

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vancouver Canucks</span> National Hockey League team in Canada

The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver. The Canucks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference, and play their home games at Rogers Arena. Rick Tocchet is the head coach, Jim Rutherford serves as the president of hockey operations, and Patrik Allvin serves as the general manager.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orland Kurtenbach</span> Canadian ice hockey player and coach

Orland John Kurtenbach is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and coach. A centre notable for his defensive skill and as one of the toughest fighters in the game, he played for several National Hockey League (NHL) teams during his twenty professional seasons, principally the Vancouver Canucks, with whom he became the NHL franchise's inaugural captain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taylor Pyatt</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 1981)

Taylor William Pyatt is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the New York Islanders, Buffalo Sabres, Vancouver Canucks, Phoenix Coyotes, New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins. Drafted from the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), he played major junior hockey with the Sudbury Wolves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Peca</span> Canadian ice hockey player

Michael Anthony Peca is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Vancouver Canucks, Buffalo Sabres, New York Islanders, Edmonton Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and the Columbus Blue Jackets. Peca served as the Washington Capitals player development coach and is currently an assistant coach for the New York Rangers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brad May</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 1971)

Bradley Scott May is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL). In the 2006–07 season he won the Stanley Cup as a member of the Anaheim Ducks. He currently works as an NHL analyst with AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain. May was born in Toronto, Ontario, but grew up in Markham, Ontario.

John Richard Jeanneret was a Canadian television and radio personality best known as the play-by-play announcer for the National Hockey League's Buffalo Sabres and its broadcast network, the Sabres Hockey Network for 51 years. Having started with the team on radio during the team's second season in 1971–72, and ending his career after the 2021–22 season, he was the longest-tenured play-by-play announcer with a single team in NHL history. He moved to television during the 1995–96 season and began doubling both television and radio play-by-play duties during the 1997–98 season. He was known as "RJ" within the Sabres organization and by close associates.

The 1986–87 NHL season was the 70th season of the National Hockey League. The Edmonton Oilers won the Stanley Cup by beating the Philadelphia Flyers four games to three in the Cup finals.

Harold Watson Neale is a Canadian retired NCAA, NHL and WHA coach and general manager, and ice hockey broadcaster.

Brian Roy "Spinner" Spencer was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played ten seasons in the National Hockey League for the Buffalo Sabres, Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryan Miller</span> American ice hockey player (born 1980)

Ryan Dean Miller is an American former ice hockey goaltender who played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) mostly for the Buffalo Sabres. Miller was drafted 138th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft. In 2010, he won the Vezina Trophy as the league's best goaltender. Miller was the winningest American-born goaltender in NHL history from February 2019 until March 2024, when he was passed by Jonathan Quick.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter McNab</span> Canadian-born American ice hockey player (1952–2022)

Peter Maxwell McNab was a Canadian-born American professional ice hockey player. He played 14 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1973 to 1987, with the Buffalo Sabres, Boston Bruins, Vancouver Canucks, and New Jersey Devils. He later served as the color commentator for the Colorado Avalanche from their inaugural 1995–96 season until his death.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nathan Paetsch</span> Canadian ice hockey player (1983–)

Nathan Paetsch is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Buffalo Sabres and Columbus Blue Jackets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rob Ray</span> Canadian sports broadcaster & former ice hockey player

Robert John Ray is a Canadian sports broadcaster and former professional ice hockey player for the Buffalo Sabres and Ottawa Senators. He was awarded the King Clancy Memorial Trophy by the National Hockey League in 1999 for leadership and humanitarianism. He was known for his role as an enforcer and currently holds the Sabres record for most penalty minutes in one player's tenure with the club with 3,189 penalty minutes.

Brent Ronald Peterson is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and coach. He played 11 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) with four clubs, primarily as a low-scoring checker with a reputation as a strong defensive forward. He was a longtime assistant coach with the Nashville Predators, retiring in 2011 for health reasons. Peterson is now an advisor for the team.

Tom Larscheid is a former Vancouver-based radio sports broadcaster and football player. After a career playing college and CFL football, he was the colour commentator for the CFL's BC Lions and the NHL's Vancouver Canucks for many years. After 45 years in broadcasting and covering the Canucks for 27 seasons, he did his last game on October 9, 2010 for the 2010-11 season opener.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyler Myers</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 1990)

Tyler Paul Myers is a Canadian-American professional ice hockey defenceman for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the first round, 12th overall, in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. At the end of the 2009–10 season, Myers won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's best rookie. Standing at 6 ft 8 in (203 cm) tall, he is the tallest active player in the NHL and was nicknamed "The Big Easy" or "Big Tex" when he started his NHL career, because he was born in Houston. After moving to Vancouver, Myers earned the nickname "Chaos Giraffe" from fans.

The Sabres Hockey Network is the official radio network and production company of the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League (NHL). The network is currently operated jointly by the Sabres and Audacy, Inc.

The 1976–77 Vancouver Canucks season was the team's seventh in the NHL. The Canucks failed to reach the playoffs. Phil Maloney, the team's general manager and head coach, was replaced mid-season as head coach by Orland Kurtenbach, the first captain of the Canucks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zack Kassian</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 1991)

Zack Adam Kassian is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He most recently played for HC Sparta Praha in the Czech Extraliga. During his junior career, he won a Memorial Cup with the Windsor Spitfires in 2010. Selected 13th overall in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, he began his career within the Buffalo Sabres organization before being traded to the Vancouver Canucks in 2012. He played parts of four seasons with the Canucks before they traded him to the Montreal Canadiens in 2015. Kassian never played for the Canadiens, however, as he was suspended for substance abuse issues, and was traded to the Edmonton Oilers several months later. After seven seasons in Edmonton, Kassian was traded to the Arizona Coyotes, spending one season there before retiring during the 2023–24 NHL season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justin Bailey</span> American ice hockey player (born 1995)

Justin Bailey is an American professional ice hockey forward for the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League (NHL).

References

  1. ↑ Owchar KO check on Robitaille 1/19/77. YouTube . Archived from the original on December 11, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Robitaille ready to get back behind the microphone - Sports - The Buffalo News". Archived from the original on September 25, 2010.
  3. ↑ Pergament, Alan (April 15, 2014). "Robitaille really isn't retiring, plans to continue on radio". The Buffalo News. Archived from the original on April 18, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Meet the Staff: Michael Robitaille". robrealestate.com. Archived from the original on May 22, 2007.
  5. ↑ "Sarah Robitaille-Kubiak". robrealestate.com. Archived from the original on June 21, 2011.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.