Mike Allison
Encyclopedia
Michael Earnest Allison (born March 28, 1961 in Fort Frances, Ontario
) is a retired Canadian ice hockey forward
, and the brother of former player and coach Dave Allison
.
, Allison caught the attention of the Sudbury Wolves
, who made him their first draft pick in the 1978 OHL
Draft. Playing on the left wing, Allison had an exceptional second season in Sudbury, achieving 95 points, on the strength of 71 assists, and was drafted by the New York Rangers
in the second round of the 1980 NHL Entry Draft
. Allison began his National Hockey League
career the very next season in 1980–81, and his first season proved to be his most productive. He scored a goal on his very first shot on goal
, on 9 October 1980, and two days later scored his first hat trick
against the Toronto Maple Leafs
. It would prove to be the only hat trick of Allison's entire career. Playing on a line with Ulf Nilsson
and Anders Hedberg
for the first half of the season, Allison finished the season as the Rangers' rookie
leader in scoring, and in fact established team records for rookie assists (38) and points (64), although the records were surpassed the following season by Mark Pavelich
.
Allison played 5 more seasons for the Rangers, but a series of knee injuries prevented him from playing a full season again while in New York. In the summer of 1986 he was traded to the Maple Leafs for Walt Poddubny
, and for only the second time played a full NHL season. By this point in his career, knee injuries had made Allison adjust his playing style, to be more of a defensive player, often playing killing penalties, and less of an aggressive forward. In spite of this, he still was a strong contributor for the Maple Leafs in the 1986–87 NHL Playoffs. Early in the 1987-88 NHL season
Allison was traded to the Los Angeles Kings
for Sean McKenna
. After playing three more partial seasons with the Kings, Allison retired from the NHL after the 1989–90 NHL season.
, and later served as an assistant to his brother Dave
, who was head coach of the Kingston Frontenacs
of the OHL. From 1995 to 1998, Allison spent three seasons providing color commentary on Kings' radio broadcasts, during which time he also became involved with the Kings' youth hockey camp, becoming co-director. In 1999, the two Allison brothers founded their own hockey camp in Fort Frances, A & A Hockey Camps, and Mike Allison served as an instructor there through 2003.
On 27 September 2003, Mike Allison was inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame
in Thunder Bay
, Ontario
.
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
) is a retired Canadian ice hockey forward
Forward (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, a forward is a player position on the ice whose primary responsibility is to score goals. Generally, the forwards try to stay in three different lanes, also known as thirds, of the ice going from goal to goal. It is not mandatory however, to stay in a lane. Staying in a lane aids in...
, and the brother of former player and coach Dave Allison
Dave Allison
David Bryan Allison is a retired professional ice hockey defenceman. He played in three games with the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League during the 1983-84 season and is perhaps best known for a brief stint as head coach of the NHL's Ottawa Senators during the 1995–1996...
.
Playing career
After playing hockey at the junior level for the Kenora ThistlesKenora Thistles (1968–1982)
The Kenora Thistles were a Manitoba Junior Hockey League team playing in the Canadian town of Kenora, Ontario, on the Manitoba border.-History:The Kenora Muskies were granted expansion into the Memorial Cup-eligible Manitoba Junior Hockey League in 1968...
, Allison caught the attention of the Sudbury Wolves
Sudbury Wolves
The Sudbury Wolves are the name of the ice hockey team from Sudbury, Ontario. Sudbury has had a hockey team known as the "Wolves" nearly every year since World War I. The Sudbury Wolves, the senior men's AAA team, have twice been chosen to be Canada's representatives at the Ice Hockey World...
, who made him their first draft pick in the 1978 OHL
Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
Draft. Playing on the left wing, Allison had an exceptional second season in Sudbury, achieving 95 points, on the strength of 71 assists, and was drafted by the New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
in the second round of the 1980 NHL Entry Draft
1980 NHL Entry Draft
The 1980 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Montreal Forum. This was the first time that an NHL arena hosted the draft. The National Hockey League teams selected 210 players eligible for entry into professional ranks, in the reverse order of the 1979–80 NHL season and playoff standings. This is the...
. Allison began his National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
career the very next season in 1980–81, and his first season proved to be his most productive. He scored a goal on his very first shot on goal
Shot on goal
In ice hockey, a shot on goal is a shot that will enter the goal if it is not stopped by the goaltender. A shot on goal must result in either a goal or a save....
, on 9 October 1980, and two days later scored his first hat trick
Hat Trick
Hat trick, hat-trick or hattrick may refer to:* hat-trick — in various sports, achieving three goals, wickets, etc. in a single match* Hattrick — online football management game** Hattrick Limited — producers of this game...
against the Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
. It would prove to be the only hat trick of Allison's entire career. Playing on a line with Ulf Nilsson
Ulf Nilsson
Ulf "Lill-Pröjsarn" Gösta Nilsson is a former professional ice hockey player who played for the Winnipeg Jets, the New York Rangers, the Springfield Indians and the Tulsa Oilers. Part of the first major wave of Europeans to star in North American hockey, he was a major star in the WHA from 1974 to...
and Anders Hedberg
Anders Hedberg
Anders Hedberg is a retired former professional ice hockey player who was one of the first European-born players to make an impact in North America...
for the first half of the season, Allison finished the season as the Rangers' rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
leader in scoring, and in fact established team records for rookie assists (38) and points (64), although the records were surpassed the following season by Mark Pavelich
Mark Pavelich
Mark Thomas Pavelich is a retired US professional ice hockey forward who played 355 regular season games in the NHL for the New York Rangers, Minnesota North Stars and San Jose Sharks between 1981 and 1992 and was a member of the 1980 U.S...
.
Allison played 5 more seasons for the Rangers, but a series of knee injuries prevented him from playing a full season again while in New York. In the summer of 1986 he was traded to the Maple Leafs for Walt Poddubny
Walt Poddubny
Walter Michael Poddubny was a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger and coach who played eleven seasons in the National Hockey League from 1981–1982 until 1991–1992....
, and for only the second time played a full NHL season. By this point in his career, knee injuries had made Allison adjust his playing style, to be more of a defensive player, often playing killing penalties, and less of an aggressive forward. In spite of this, he still was a strong contributor for the Maple Leafs in the 1986–87 NHL Playoffs. Early in the 1987-88 NHL season
1987-88 NHL season
-NHL awards:-All-Star teams:-Scoring Leaders:Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes, PPG = Powerplay Goals, SHG = Shorthanded Goals, GWG = Game Winning Goals-Leading goaltenders:...
Allison was traded to the Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
for Sean McKenna
Sean McKenna (ice hockey)
Sean Michael McKenna is a former professional ice hockey forward. He was drafted in the third round, 56th overall, by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1980 NHL Entry Draft. He played in the National Hockey League with the Sabres, Los Angeles Kings, and Toronto Maple Leafs.In his NHL career, McKenna...
. After playing three more partial seasons with the Kings, Allison retired from the NHL after the 1989–90 NHL season.
Post-NHL Career
After his playing career ended, Allison spent one season as an assistant coach at Bemidji StateBemidji State Beavers men's ice hockey
The Bemidji State Beavers men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college ice hockey and a member of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. The Beavers represent Bemidji State University and play at the Bemidji Regional Events Center in Bemidji, Minnesota...
, and later served as an assistant to his brother Dave
Dave Allison
David Bryan Allison is a retired professional ice hockey defenceman. He played in three games with the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League during the 1983-84 season and is perhaps best known for a brief stint as head coach of the NHL's Ottawa Senators during the 1995–1996...
, who was head coach of the Kingston Frontenacs
Kingston Frontenacs
The Kingston Frontenacs are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League, based in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. The team is coached by Todd Gill and Doug Gilmour is the General Manager. The Frontenacs play home games at the K-Rock Centre, which opened in 2008.Team history predates the OHA,...
of the OHL. From 1995 to 1998, Allison spent three seasons providing color commentary on Kings' radio broadcasts, during which time he also became involved with the Kings' youth hockey camp, becoming co-director. In 1999, the two Allison brothers founded their own hockey camp in Fort Frances, A & A Hockey Camps, and Mike Allison served as an instructor there through 2003.
On 27 September 2003, Mike Allison was inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame
Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame
The Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame, established in 1978 in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, is dedicated to the people of Northwestern Ontario who have achieved greatness in any kind of sport....
in Thunder Bay
Thunder Bay
-In Canada:Thunder Bay is the name of three places in the province of Ontario, Canada along Lake Superior:*Thunder Bay District, Ontario, a district in Northwestern Ontario*Thunder Bay, a city in Thunder Bay District*Thunder Bay, Unorganized, Ontario...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
.
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... |
A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... |
Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one... |
PIM Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1977–78 | Kenora Thistles Kenora Thistles (1968–1982) The Kenora Thistles were a Manitoba Junior Hockey League team playing in the Canadian town of Kenora, Ontario, on the Manitoba border.-History:The Kenora Muskies were granted expansion into the Memorial Cup-eligible Manitoba Junior Hockey League in 1968... |
MJHL Manitoba Junior Hockey League The Manitoba Junior Hockey League is a Junior 'A' ice hockey league operating in the Canadian province of Manitoba. The MJHL is one of eleven Junior 'A' Hockey Leagues in Canada and is a member of the Canadian Junior Hockey League .... |
47 | 30 | 36 | 66 | 70 | |||||||
| 1977–78 | New Westminster Bruins New Westminster Bruins The New Westminster Bruins were a junior ice hockey team from the Western Hockey League. There were two franchises that carried this name:* 1971–1981... |
WCJHL | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |||||||
| 1978–79 | Sudbury Wolves Sudbury Wolves The Sudbury Wolves are the name of the ice hockey team from Sudbury, Ontario. Sudbury has had a hockey team known as the "Wolves" nearly every year since World War I. The Sudbury Wolves, the senior men's AAA team, have twice been chosen to be Canada's representatives at the Ice Hockey World... |
OMJHL | 59 | 24 | 32 | 56 | 41 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 18 | ||
| 1979–80 | Sudbury Wolves | OMJHL | 67 | 24 | 71 | 95 | 74 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 14 | 6 | ||
| 1980–81 1980-81 NHL season The 1980–81 NHL season was the 64th season of the National Hockey League. This was the first season that the Calgary Flames played in Calgary, Alberta. Previously, they were the Atlanta Flames and played in Atlanta, Georgia. The New York Islanders won their second consecutive Stanley Cup, defeating... |
New York Rangers New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the... |
NHL | 75 | 26 | 38 | 64 | 83 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 20 | ||
| 1981–82 1981-82 NHL season The 1981–82 NHL season was the 65th season of the National Hockey League. The William M. Jennings Trophy made its debut this year as the trophy for the goaltenders from the team with the fewest goals against... |
New York Rangers | NHL | 48 | 7 | 15 | 22 | 74 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 18 | ||
| 1981–82 | Springfield Indians Springfield Indians The Springfield Indians were a minor professional ice hockey franchise, originally based in West Springfield, Massachusetts and later Springfield, Massachusetts. The Indians were founding members of the American Hockey League. They were in existence for a total of 60 seasons from 1926 to 1994, with... |
AHL American Hockey League The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League... |
2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||
| 1982–83 1982-83 NHL season -NHL awards:-All-Star teams:Source: NHL.-Scoring leaders:Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = PointsSource: NHL.-Leading goaltenders:... |
New York Rangers | NHL | 39 | 11 | 9 | 20 | 37 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 10 | ||
| 1982–83 | Tulsa Oilers | CHL | 6 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | |||||||
| 1983–84 1983-84 NHL season The 1983–84 NHL season was the 67th season of the National Hockey League. The Edmonton Oilers de-throned the four-time defending Stanley Cup champion New York Islanders four games to one in the Cup finals.-League business:... |
New York Rangers | NHL | 45 | 8 | 12 | 20 | 64 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | ||
| 1984–85 1984-85 NHL season The 1984–85 NHL season was the 68th season of the National Hockey League. The Edmonton Oilers won their second straight Stanley Cup by beating the Philadelphia Flyers four games to one in the final series.-League business:... |
New York Rangers | NHL | 31 | 9 | 15 | 24 | 17 | |||||||
| 1985–86 1985-86 NHL season -Final:Montreal Canadiens vs. Calgary FlamesMontreal wins best-of-seven series 4–1-NHL awards:-All-Star teams:-Scoring leaders:- Leading goaltenders :-Debuts:... |
New York Rangers | NHL | 28 | 2 | 13 | 15 | 22 | 16 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 38 | ||
| 1985–86 | New Haven Nighthawks New Haven Nighthawks The New Haven Nighthawks are a former ice hockey team that played in the American Hockey League from 1972 to 1992. They had affiliations with the Minnesota North Stars , New York Islanders , New York Rangers , and Los Angeles Kings... |
AHL | 9 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 4 | |||||||
| 1986–87 1986-87 NHL season -NHL awards:-All-Star teams:Source: NHL-Scoring Leaders:Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes, PPG = Powerplay Goals, SHG = Shorthanded Goals, GWG = Game Winning Goals-Leading goaltenders:... |
Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL | 71 | 7 | 16 | 23 | 66 | 13 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 15 | ||
| 1987–88 1987-88 NHL season -NHL awards:-All-Star teams:-Scoring Leaders:Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes, PPG = Powerplay Goals, SHG = Shorthanded Goals, GWG = Game Winning Goals-Leading goaltenders:... |
Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 15 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 10 | |||||||
| 1987–88 | Los Angeles Kings Los Angeles Kings The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL | 37 | 16 | 12 | 28 | 57 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | ||
| 1988–89 1988-89 NHL season -NHL awards:-All-Star teams:-Scoring Leaders:Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes, PPG = Powerplay Goals, SHG = Shorthanded Goals, GWG = Game Winning Goals-Leading goaltenders:... |
Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 55 | 14 | 22 | 36 | 122 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 10 | ||
| 1989–90 1989-90 NHL season -NHL awards:-All-Star teams:-Scoring Leaders:Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes, PPG = Powerplay Goals, SHG = Shorthanded Goals, GWG = Game Winning Goals-Leading goaltenders:... |
Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 55 | 2 | 11 | 13 | 78 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 1989–90 | New Haven Nighthawks | AHL | 5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 14 | |||||||
| NHL totals | 499 | 102 | 166 | 268 | 630 | 82 | 9 | 17 | 26 | 135 | ||||