Mike Nykoluk

Michael Andrew Nykoluk (December 11, 1934 – January 31, 2022) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and coach. He played 32 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1956–57. The rest of his playing career, which lasted from 1955 to 1972, was spent in the minor leagues. He became the first assistant coach in the NHL and won the Stanley Cup in that capacity with the Philadelphia Flyers in 1974 and 1975, before serving as the Maple Leafs head coach from 1981 to 1984. He was the younger brother of longtime Canadian Football League player Danny Nykoluk.[1]

Mike Nykoluk
Nykoluk during his tenure as coach of the Philadelphia Flyers
Born (1934-12-11)December 11, 1934
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Died January 31, 2022(2022-01-31) (aged 87)
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 209 lb (95 kg; 14 st 13 lb)
Position Centre
Shot Right
Played for Toronto Maple Leafs
Coached for Toronto Maple Leafs
Playing career 1955–1972
Coaching career 1972–1984

Early life

Nykoluk was born in Toronto on December 11, 1934.[2] He played ice hockey and Canadian football when he was in high school.[3] He began his junior career in 1953–54 with the Toronto Marlboros of the Ontario Hockey Association.[4] He was part of the team that won the 1955 Memorial Cup,[5] scoring 13 points in 10 games in the playoffs that year.[6]

Playing career
The Hershey Bears retired Nykoluk's No. 8 in recognition of his 14 years of service to the team.

Nykoluk began his professional career with the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League (AHL) during their inaugural season in 1956–57.[7] In the middle of that season, he was called up to play in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 32 games he played for Toronto, in which he scored four points, would be his only stint in the NHL. He was sent back down to the Americans, and was subsequently traded with Ron Hurst to the Hershey Bears in exchange for Willie Marshall.[2]

Nykoluk went on to have a 14-season career with the Bears. The team won two Calder Cup during his career (1959 and 1969). He led the league twice in assists, and amassed 50 or more assists in seven consecutive seasons (1963 to 1970). He was named to AHL All-Star Second Team in 1967 and was conferred the Les Cunningham Award at the end of the year as the league's most valuable player. Nykoluk proceeded to hit a career-high 19 goals and 85 points the following season and was consequently selected the AHL All-Star First Team.[7] He eventually retired from playing in 1972.[8]

Nykoluk's number 8 was later retired by the Bears.[5] He was part of the second class inducted into the AHL Hall of Fame in 2007.[7][9] At the time of his death, he was the Bears' all-time leader in games played (972), assists (636), and points (808).[5] He was also third in the AHL all-time in assists (686), sixth in points (881), and fifth in games played (1,069).[7][9]

Coaching career

After his playing career ended, Nykoluk was offered a job with the Philadelphia Flyers as an assistant to head coach Fred Shero.[9] He became the first full-time assistant coach in the NHL.[8][10] During his tenure, the Flyers won the Stanley Cup in 1974 and 1975.[7][9] He subsequently became an assistant to head coach Shero with the New York Rangers,[9] and later served as head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs for three seasons ending in 1984.[11]

Personal life

Nykoluk was married to Dolly until his death.[12][13] They met at his sister's wedding, where she was a bridesmaid. Together, they had four children.[3]

After retiring from coaching hockey, Nykoluk and his wife relocated to Naples, Florida, around 1990. He underwent a quadruple bypass surgery in April 2010.[13] Nykoluk died on January 31, 2022, at the age of 87.[5][9]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
1952–53 Weston Dukes MetJBHL ————— —————
1953–54 Toronto Marlboros OHA 5919284712 152464
1954–55 Toronto Marlboros OHA 4714253923 13371017
1954–55 Toronto Marlboros M-Cup ————— 1049134
1955–56 Winnipeg Warriors WHL 7010253518 141012227
1956–57 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 3231420 —————
1956–57 Rochester Americans AHL 289132230 93254
1957–58 Rochester Americans AHL 6914375145 —————
1958–59 Hershey Bears AHL 6615385360 1354915
1959–60 Hershey Bears AHL 7113324555 —————
1960–61 Hershey Bears AHL 7110243414 81560
1961–62 Hershey Bears AHL 594202413 712312
1962–63 Hershey Bears AHL 727364321 1519102
1963–64 Hershey Bears AHL 729637239 61340
1964–65 Hershey Bears AHL 7111556629 15211136
1965–66 Hershey Bears AHL 6710536314 30110
1966–67 Hershey Bears AHL 7216688426 50444
1967–68 Hershey Bears AHL 7219668530 52680
1968–69 Hershey Bears AHL 7415557014 110880
1969–70 Hershey Bears AHL 7216577312 70222
1970–71 Hershey Bears AHL 7114395333 40330
1971–72 Hershey Bears AHL 6213304320 40224
AHL totals 1069195686881455 11216627849
NHL totals 3231420 —————
Sources:[2][4]

Coaching record
TeamYearRegular seasonPostseason
GWLTOTLPtsFinishWLWin%Result
TOR1980–81 40151510—405th in Adams03.000Lost in preliminary round (NYI)
TOR1981–82 80204416—565th in Norris———Missed playoffs
TOR1982–83 80284012—683rd in Norris13.250Lost in Division Semifinals (MNS)
TOR1983–84 8026459—615th in Norris———Missed playoffs
Total2808914447—225 16.1432 playoff appearances
Source:[11]

Awards and achievements

References
  1. "Ironman Argo Nykoluk dead at 82". Waterloo Region Record. The Canadian Press. August 2, 2016. Archived from the original on February 1, 2022. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  2. "Mike Nykoluk Stats". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  3. Dobbs, Mary Hill (March 6, 2008). "Under the Sun: Famous neighbor leaves ice rink behind". Naples Daily News. Archived from the original on February 1, 2022. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  4. "Mike Nykoluk Hockey Stats and Profile". HockeyDB. The Internet Hockey Database. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  5. "Former Maple Leafs coach, Hershey Bears star Mike Nykoluk dead at 87". CBC News. The Canadian Press. January 31, 2022. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  6. Hornby, Lance (January 31, 2022). "Former Maple Leafs coach Mike Nykoluk dies at 87". Toronto Sun. Archived from the original on January 31, 2022. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  7. "Mike Nykoluk (1934–2022)". American Hockey League. January 31, 2022. Archived from the original on February 1, 2022. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  8. "Mike Nykoluk". AHL Hall of Fame. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  9. "Nykoluk dies at 87, was first full-time NHL assistant with Flyers". National Hockey League. January 31, 2022. Archived from the original on February 1, 2022. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  10. Condor, Bob (February 18, 2020). "Call for Assistance". National Hockey League. Archived from the original on February 1, 2022. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  11. "Mike Nykoluk NHL & WHA Hockey Coaching Record". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  12. "Bears Announce Hall of Fame Class of 2018". Hershey Bears. October 25, 2018. Archived from the original on February 1, 2022. Retrieved February 1, 2022. When fellow Bears Hall of Famer Mike Nykoluk scored, he would play "Hello, Dolly" in honor of the Big Bear's wife, Dolly.
  13. Johnson, Kevin (May 5, 2010). "NHL: Flyers-Bruins brings back memories for Ex-Flyers assistant and Naples resident Nykoluk". Naples Daily News. Archived from the original on February 1, 2022. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
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