Mike Antonovich (ice hockey)
Encyclopedia
Michael John "Antone" Antonovich (born October 18, 1951 in Calumet, Minnesota
) is a former professional ice hockey player, and coach. He was selected in the ninth round of the 1971 NHL Amateur Draft
, 113th overall, by the Minnesota North Stars
. He is currently a scout for the St. Louis Blues.
, where he was tutored by coaches Glen Sonmor
and Herb Brooks
. Despite being drafted by the North Stars, when Antonovich turned professional he joined the Minnesota Fighting Saints
of the WHA
.
and New England Whalers. He also appeared in NHL
games with the North Stars, Hartford Whalers
and New Jersey Devils
, in addition to minor league games in the AHL
and CHL. While playing professionally Antonovich also represented the United States at the 1976, 1977 and 1982 Ice Hockey World Championships
.
and Quad City Mallards
. He joined the amateur scouting staff of the St. Louis Blues in 1997, a position he still holds.
. He has stated that he has no political motivations beyond his current position.
Calumet, Minnesota
Calumet is a city in Itasca County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 367 at the 2010 census.U.S. Highway 169 serves as a main arterial route in the community.Hill-Annex Mine State Park is just outside the town....
) is a former professional ice hockey player, and coach. He was selected in the ninth round of the 1971 NHL Amateur Draft
1971 NHL Amateur Draft
The 1971 NHL Amateur Draft was held on June 10, 1971 at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.-Selections by round:Below are listed the selections in the 1971 NHL Amateur Draft.-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:...
, 113th overall, by the Minnesota North Stars
Minnesota North Stars
The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, and the team's colors for most of its history were green, yellow, gold and white...
. He is currently a scout for the St. Louis Blues.
Amateur career
Antonovich spent three seasons playing for the University of MinnesotaUniversity of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
, where he was tutored by coaches Glen Sonmor
Glen Sonmor
Glen Sonmor is a former professional hockey player, scout and coach.-Early life:In high school, Sonmor played for Moose Jaw and was a multi-sport star; playing point guard in basketball, quarterback in football and left wing in hockey, as well as pitching in semi-pro baseball...
and Herb Brooks
Herb Brooks
Herbert Paul Brooks, Jr. was an American ice hockey player and coach. He notably coached the United States' men's hockey team to a 4-3 upset of the heavily favored Soviet Union in the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York on February 22, 1980...
. Despite being drafted by the North Stars, when Antonovich turned professional he joined the Minnesota Fighting Saints
Minnesota Fighting Saints
The Minnesota Fighting Saints was the name of two professional ice hockey teams based in Saint Paul, Minnesota that played in the World Hockey Association. The first team was one of the WHA's original twelve franchises, playing from 1972–76. The second team was relocated from Cleveland, Ohio, and...
of the WHA
World Hockey Association
The World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926...
.
Professional career
Antonovich played most of his professional career in the WHA, with the Fighting Saints, Edmonton OilersEdmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
and New England Whalers. He also appeared in NHL
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...
games with the North Stars, Hartford Whalers
Hartford Whalers
The Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its existence in Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.A.. The club played in the World Hockey Association from 1972–79 and in the National Hockey League from 1979–97...
and New Jersey Devils
New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
, in addition to minor league games in the 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...
and CHL. While playing professionally Antonovich also represented the United States at the 1976, 1977 and 1982 Ice Hockey World Championships
Ice Hockey World Championships
The Ice Hockey World Championships are an annual ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation . First officially held at the 1920 Summer Olympics, it is the sport's highest profile annual international tournament. The IIHF was created in 1908 while the European...
.
Coaching and scouting
Antonovich spent three seasons as an assistant coach in the International Hockey League, coaching the Minnesota MooseMinnesota Moose
The Minnesota Moose was an ice hockey team in the International Hockey League. They played in Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA, at the Saint Paul Civic Center. The team also played some home games at the Target Center in Minneapolis. The Moose were a representative of professional hockey in Minnesota at...
and Quad City Mallards
Quad City Mallards
The Quad City Mallards were a professional ice hockey team competing in the AA level United Hockey League. The Mallards played their home games at The MARK of the Quad Cities in Moline, Illinois. Their team colors were forest green and burgundy. They won the Colonial Cup in 1997, 1998 and 2001,...
. He joined the amateur scouting staff of the St. Louis Blues in 1997, a position he still holds.
Political career
In November of 2008, Antonovich defeated incumbent John Sloan, and became the mayor of Coleraine, MinnesotaColeraine, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,110 people, 443 households, and 317 families residing in the city. The population density was 178.5 people per square mile . There were 462 housing units at an average density of 74.3 per square mile...
. He has stated that he has no political motivations beyond his current position.
Awards and achievements
- Played in 1978 WHA All-Star Game
- CHLCentral Hockey LeagueThe Central Hockey League is a mid-level professional hockey league, owned by Global Entertainment Corporation. Its current champions are the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, which defeated the Colorado Eagles four games to three in the 2011 playoffs....
Second All-Star Team (1982)
Career statistics
--- Regular Season --- ---- Playoffs ----
Season Team Lge GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1970-71 U. of Minnesota NCAA 0 0 0 0 0 -- -- -- -- --
1979-80 Hartford Whalers NHL 5 0 1 1 2 -- -- -- -- --
1980-81 Tulsa Oilers CHL 60 28 32 60 36 8 1 2 3 2
1981-82 Minnesota North Stars NHL 2 0 0 0 0 -- -- -- -- --
1981-82 Nashville South Stars CHL 80 29 77 106 76 3 0 1 1 2
1982-83 New Jersey Devils NHL 30 7 7 14 11 -- -- -- -- --
1982-83 Wichita Wind CHL 10 8 12 20 0 -- -- -- -- --
1983-84 Maine Mariners AHL 25 17 13 30 8 17 4 8 12 8
1983-84 New Jersey Devils NHL 38 3 5 8 16 -- -- -- -- --
1992-93 Minnesota Iron Rangers AHA 2 0 2 2 2 -- -- -- -- --
1979-80 Springfield Indians AHL 24 14 6 20 35 -- -- -- -- --
1978-79 New England Whalers WHA 69 20 27 47 35 10 5 3 8 14
1978-79 Springfield Indians AHL 7 2 3 5 2 -- -- -- -- --
1972-73 Minnesota Fighting Saints WHA 75 20 19 39 46 6 3 0 3 0
1973-74 Minnesota Fighting Saints WHA 68 21 29 50 4 11 1 4 5 4
1974-75 Minnesota Fighting Saints WHA 67 24 26 50 20 12 1 4 5 2
1975-76 Minnesota North Stars NHL 12 0 2 2 8 -- -- -- -- --
1975-76 Minnesota Fighting Saints WHA 57 25 21 46 18 -- -- -- -- --
1976-77 Edmonton Oilers WHA 7 1 1 2 0 -- -- -- -- --
1976-77 New England Whalers WHA 26 12 9 21 10 5 2 2 4 4
1976-77 Minnesota Fighting Saints WHA 42 27 21 48 28 -- -- -- -- --
1977-78 New England Whalers WHA 75 32 35 67 32 14 10 7 17 4
1995-96 Quad City Mallards CoHL 2 0 1 1 4 -- -- -- -- --
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHA Totals 486 182 188 370 193 58 22 20 42 28
NHL Totals 87 10 15 25 37 -- -- -- -- --
Coaching statistics
Season Team Lge Type
1995-96 Minnesota Moose IHL Assistant
1996-97 Phoenix Roadrunners IHL Assistant
International play
- 1976 World Championships
- 1977 World Championships
- 1982 World Championships