Episode 45 of the Pro Hockey Alumni Podcast is a tribute to 7-year NHL pro Mike Christie, who passed away on July 11, 2019.
Born in Big Spring, Texas, and raised in Calgary, Alberta, Mike was the first native Texan to play in the NHL although it was strictly a technicality as his father was a Canadian citizen working for an American oil company and Mike grew up in Canada.
Before turning pro , Mike played for the University of Denver, becoming a first team all-American in 1971 as well being chosen to the US amateur national team at the 1972 Ice Hockey World Championship.
Mike then played two seasons with the Dallas Blackhawks (CHL), before signing with NHL's California Golden Seals in 1974, where he played until the franchise moved to Cleveland in 1977, becoming the Cleveland Barons. Mike was captain of the NHL's Colorado Rockies hockey team in the late 1970s, and his NHL career ended with the Vancouver Canucks in 1981.
He also represented the United States in the inaugural 1976 Canada Cup tournament.
Mike settled in Colorado after his hockey career ended, and started a second career as a sales representative that allowed him to enjoy his other athletic passion - golf. He represented several well-known brands, including Callaway and Top-Flite, before retiring in 2010.
Mike died of kidney disease on July 11, 2019. He was married to his wife of 47 years, Molly (née Hamill), and had two daughters, Lisa and Colleen, a son Dan, and four grandchildren. [
In this episode we hear tributes from four of Mike’s teammates: former NHLers Mike Lampman, George Pesut, Dave Gardner and Paul Gardner.
#72 Eddie Westfall: Boston Bruins Stanley Cup Champion and NY Islanders Hall of Famer.
#71 Wayne Carleton - 1970 Boston Bruins Stanley Cup Champion
#70 A Tribute to Tom Webster, Pat Stapleton and John Hughes
#69 Andre Lacroix - The Memoir of the WHA Scoring King -- "After the Second Snowfall."
#68 Tom Fergus 30-Goal Scorer with the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs
#67 Bob Bourne - New York Islanders Hall of Famer and 4-time Stanley Cup Champion
#66 3ICE CEO EJ Johnston Discusses New 3v3 Pro League
#65: Danny Gare: Two-Time 50-Goal Scorer and the Captain of the Buffalo Sabres and Detroit Red Wings
#64 Allan Globensky: A Feared, but Reluctant WHA and Minor League Enforcer
#63 KC Scouts History with Troy Treasure and NE Whalers Upset Win over the USSR in 1976.
#62 Robin Burns: From Pittsburgh Penguins and KC Scouts LW to Hockey Visionary and Inventor
#61 Denis Herron: Vezina-Winning Goaltender; Montreal Canadiens, Pittsburgh Penguins, Kansas City Scouts
#60 Dennis Maruk: The Forgotten 60-Goal Man of the Washington Capitals. OT: Hartford Whalers, Boston Bruins and more.
#59 NY Rangers Goalies with Author George Grimm. OT: Hartford Whalers, Boston Bruins, WHA and More
#58 Steve Baker - New York Rangers Goaltender 1979-83
#57 Joe Watson: Philadelphia Flyers Stanley Cup Champion
#56 A Tribute to Dean Prentice and A Review of the Rangers-Bruins Alumni Weekend.
#55 Gary Smith Part 2: Tales from Chicago, Vancouver, Washington and Winnipeg
#54 Gary "Suitcase" Smith Part 1 - Toronto Maple Leafs and Oakland Seals
#53 Mark Mowers 7-year NHL Pro with Detroit, Boston, Nashville and Anaheim.
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