Mike Eaves
Encyclopedia
Michael Gordon Eaves is an American
former NHL
player and the current head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers
Men's Ice Hockey
team. Eaves appeared in 324 NHL regular season games between 1978 and 1985, and has coached since 1985. His father, Cecil Eaves, is a former Denver University ice hockey and football player who became a professor and hockey coach at Ohio State and the University of Windsor
. Eaves is also the father of current Detroit Red Wings
forward Patrick Eaves
and brother of former NHL player Murray Eaves
.
where he played junior hockey for the Nepean Raiders
.
From 1974 to 1978 he played for the University of Wisconsin–Madison
hockey team, where he was a two-time All-American and a member of Coach Bob Johnson's 1977 NCAA championship team. Eaves remains the Badgers' all-time leading career scorer with 267 points (94 goals, 173 assists) in 160 games. He was also a member of the United States national team at the 1976 and 1978 Ice Hockey World Championship tournaments.
He was selected 113th overall in the 1976 NHL Entry Draft by St. Louis, who traded his rights to the Cleveland Barons
for Len Frig
in 1977. Eaves ended up on the Minnesota North Stars
roster after the Barons and North Stars were merged in 1978.
Oklahoma City Stars
, and also played 3 games with the North Stars during the year. The following year he moved up to be an NHL regular for 56 games. He then played three more consecutive seasons with Minnesota (he was also a member of Team USA at the 1981 Canada Cup
tournament), before being dealt to the Calgary Flames
with Keith Hanson
for Steve Christoff
. Eaves played for the Flames from 1983 to 1985, deciding to end his career at the age of 28 after sustaining a head injury at the hands of Quebec Nordiques
defenceman Pat Price. Eaves was appointed to an assistant coach position with the Flames, joining Bob Johnson
, his former head coach at the University of Wisconsin, behind the bench.
However, this was not the end of his playing career.
In the midst of the 1986 Stanley Cup playoffs Flames forward Carey Wilson
sustained an injury, forcing him out of the lineup. Eaves was persuaded to end his retirement in order to shore up the Flames' player roster. With his family's permission he rejoined the Flames, playing 8 of their final 11 games in the playoffs. After the Flames lost in the Stanley Cup finals he ended his playing career permanently.
. He joined the Philadelphia Flyers
as an assistant coach in 1988, and was named head coach of the Flyers' American Hockey League
affiliate Hershey Bears
in 1990. He held the position for three years until the 1993–94 season, when he rejoined the Flyers as an assistant coach.
He took the head coach position at HIFK
in the Finnish SM-Liiga
in 1996 and coached there for the following season. He quit and joined the Pittsburgh Penguins
as an assistant coach from 1997 to 2000. The following year he was named head coach of the United States National Junior Team. In the 2002–2003 season Eaves joined his old college team, the Wisconsin Badgers
, as their head coach. His first season at UW was full of hardship and controversy, including one of the worst records in the modern era. He had a physical confrontation with Alex Leavitt in November 2002 that led to the University reprimanding Eaves, and Leavitt suing Eaves and the University. The suit was settled by paying Leavitt the value of his lost scholarship, $55,000. However, in 2003-2004, Eaves brought the Badgers just short of the Frozen Four, falling in overtime to Maine. Eaves has improved the Badger's skill level, conditioning, and teamwork. He was the head coach of the 2004 United States National Junior Team which won the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship. After the Badgers had a disappointing finish to the 2004-2005 season, the Badgers returned to national prominence by winning the 2006 NCAA championship by winning the Frozen Four held in Milwaukee, WI. Eaves' 2010 squad returned to the Frozen Four, Wisconsin's 11th Frozen Four appearance, losing in a bid for the Badgers' seventh NCAA title.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former 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...
player and the current head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers
Wisconsin Badgers
The Wisconsin Badgers are the collegiate athletic teams from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. This NCAA Division I athletic program has teams in football, basketball, ice hockey, volleyball, soccer, cross country, tennis, swimming, wrestling, track and field, rowing, golf, and softball...
Men's Ice Hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team. Eaves appeared in 324 NHL regular season games between 1978 and 1985, and has coached since 1985. His father, Cecil Eaves, is a former Denver University ice hockey and football player who became a professor and hockey coach at Ohio State and the University of Windsor
University of Windsor
The University of Windsor is a public comprehensive and research university in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's southernmost university. It has a student population of approximately 15,000 full-time and part-time undergraduate students and over 1000 graduate students...
. Eaves is also the father of current Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
forward Patrick Eaves
Patrick Eaves
Patrick Campbell Eaves is a professional ice hockey forward, currently a member of the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League. Born in Calgary and raised in the United States, Patrick holds Canadian and American citizenship and has represented the United States in international ice hockey...
and brother of former NHL player Murray Eaves
Murray Eaves
Murray James Eaves is a retired professional ice hockey player who played 57 games in the National Hockey League. He played with the Winnipeg Jets and Detroit Red Wings. He now coaches Bantam Tier 1 hockey and lacrosse at Shattuck - St. Mary's school in Faribault, Minnesota. Married to Deborah...
.
Amateur
Eaves grew up in OntarioOntario
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....
where he played junior hockey for the Nepean Raiders
Nepean Raiders
The Nepean Raiders are a Canadian Junior ice hockey team from Nepean, Ontario, Canada. They are a part of the Central Canada Hockey League. The town of Nepean was granted expansion after the Cornwall Royals and the Hull Hawks left the CJHL for the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League...
.
From 1974 to 1978 he played for the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
hockey team, where he was a two-time All-American and a member of Coach Bob Johnson's 1977 NCAA championship team. Eaves remains the Badgers' all-time leading career scorer with 267 points (94 goals, 173 assists) in 160 games. He was also a member of the United States national team at the 1976 and 1978 Ice Hockey World Championship tournaments.
He was selected 113th overall in the 1976 NHL Entry Draft by St. Louis, who traded his rights to the Cleveland Barons
Cleveland Barons (NHL)
The Cleveland Barons were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League from 1976–78. They were a relocation of the California Golden Seals franchise, which had played in Oakland since 1967...
for Len Frig
Len Frig
Leonard Elroy Frig is a retired professional ice hockey defenceman who played 311 games in the National Hockey League. He played for the Chicago Black Hawks, Oakland Seals, Cleveland Barons, and St. Louis Blues....
in 1977. Eaves ended up on 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...
roster after the Barons and North Stars were merged in 1978.
NHL years
Eaves turned professional following the 1977–78 season, initially joining the CHLCentral Hockey League
The 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....
Oklahoma City Stars
Oklahoma City Stars
The Oklahoma City Stars were a minor league professional ice hockey team in the Central Hockey League from 1978 to 1982. They were affiliated with the Minnesota North Stars of the National Hockey League....
, and also played 3 games with the North Stars during the year. The following year he moved up to be an NHL regular for 56 games. He then played three more consecutive seasons with Minnesota (he was also a member of Team USA at the 1981 Canada Cup
1981 Canada Cup
The 1981 Canada Cup was the second best-on-best ice hockey world championship and involved the world's top six hockey nations. Tournament games were held in Edmonton, Winnipeg, Montreal and Ottawa. The Soviet Union defeated Canada in a single game final to win its first title, while Soviet...
tournament), before being dealt to the Calgary Flames
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
with Keith Hanson
Keith Hanson
Keith Francis Hanson is a retired American professional ice hockey defenseman who played 25 games for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League during the 1983–84 NHL season. He was drafted 145th overall by the Minnesota North Stars in the 1977 NHL Amateur Draft, but was traded to the...
for Steve Christoff
Steve Christoff
Steven Mark Christoff is a retired American professional ice hockey forward who played 248 regular season games in the NHL with the Minnesota North Stars, Calgary Flames, and Los Angeles Kings in 1980–84....
. Eaves played for the Flames from 1983 to 1985, deciding to end his career at the age of 28 after sustaining a head injury at the hands of Quebec Nordiques
Quebec Nordiques
The Quebec Nordiques were a professional ice hockey team based in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The Nordiques played in the World Hockey Association and the National Hockey League...
defenceman Pat Price. Eaves was appointed to an assistant coach position with the Flames, joining Bob Johnson
Bob Johnson (ice hockey)
Robert Norman "Badger Bob" Johnson was an American college and professional ice hockey coach.Johnson was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota...
, his former head coach at the University of Wisconsin, behind the bench.
However, this was not the end of his playing career.
In the midst of the 1986 Stanley Cup playoffs Flames forward Carey Wilson
Carey Wilson
Carey John Wilson is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played in the National Hockey League for ten seasons...
sustained an injury, forcing him out of the lineup. Eaves was persuaded to end his retirement in order to shore up the Flames' player roster. With his family's permission he rejoined the Flames, playing 8 of their final 11 games in the playoffs. After the Flames lost in the Stanley Cup finals he ended his playing career permanently.
Coaching career
Eaves took a head coaching position at the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire in 1986, a position he held for one season. The following season he was an assistant coach with St. Cloud State UniversitySt. Cloud State University
St. Cloud State University is a four-year public university founded in 1869 on the banks of the Mississippi River in St. Cloud, Minnesota, United States. The university is the largest member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system which is the largest single provider of higher...
. He joined the Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
as an assistant coach in 1988, and was named head coach of the Flyers' American Hockey League
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...
affiliate Hershey Bears
Hershey Bears
The Hershey Bears Hockey Club is a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League, and is currently the top affiliate of the NHL Washington Capitals. The hockey club is based in the unincorporated town of Hershey, Pennsylvania, located within Derry Township some 14 miles east of...
in 1990. He held the position for three years until the 1993–94 season, when he rejoined the Flyers as an assistant coach.
He took the head coach position at HIFK
HIFK (ice hockey)
HIFK is an ice hockey team based in Helsinki, Finland. The team plays at Helsinki Ice Hall. It was founded in 1897...
in the Finnish SM-Liiga
SM-liiga
The SM-liiga is the top professional ice hockey league in Finland. As of March 2008, it is ranked by the IIHF as the second strongest league in Europe. It was created in 1975 to replace the SM-sarja, which was fundamentally an amateur league. The SM-liiga is not directly overseen by the Finnish Ice...
in 1996 and coached there for the following season. He quit and joined the Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
as an assistant coach from 1997 to 2000. The following year he was named head coach of the United States National Junior Team. In the 2002–2003 season Eaves joined his old college team, the Wisconsin Badgers
Wisconsin Badgers
The Wisconsin Badgers are the collegiate athletic teams from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. This NCAA Division I athletic program has teams in football, basketball, ice hockey, volleyball, soccer, cross country, tennis, swimming, wrestling, track and field, rowing, golf, and softball...
, as their head coach. His first season at UW was full of hardship and controversy, including one of the worst records in the modern era. He had a physical confrontation with Alex Leavitt in November 2002 that led to the University reprimanding Eaves, and Leavitt suing Eaves and the University. The suit was settled by paying Leavitt the value of his lost scholarship, $55,000. However, in 2003-2004, Eaves brought the Badgers just short of the Frozen Four, falling in overtime to Maine. Eaves has improved the Badger's skill level, conditioning, and teamwork. He was the head coach of the 2004 United States National Junior Team which won the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship. After the Badgers had a disappointing finish to the 2004-2005 season, the Badgers returned to national prominence by winning the 2006 NCAA championship by winning the Frozen Four held in Milwaukee, WI. Eaves' 2010 squad returned to the Frozen Four, Wisconsin's 11th Frozen Four appearance, losing in a bid for the Badgers' seventh NCAA title.
Regular season
| 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,... |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973–74 | Nepean Raiders Nepean Raiders The Nepean Raiders are a Canadian Junior ice hockey team from Nepean, Ontario, Canada. They are a part of the Central Canada Hockey League. The town of Nepean was granted expansion after the Cornwall Royals and the Hull Hawks left the CJHL for the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League... |
CJHL Central Junior A Hockey League The Central Canada Hockey League is a Canadian Junior "A" ice hockey league operating in eastern Ontario, Canada. The league is sanctioned by the Ottawa District Hockey Association and Hockey Canada and is a member of the Canadian Junior Hockey League... |
54 | 54 | 48 | 102 | |
| 1974–75 | University of Wisconsin–Madison University of Wisconsin–Madison The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866... |
WCHA Western Collegiate Hockey Association The Western Collegiate Hockey Association is a college athletic conference which operates over a wide area of the Midwestern and Western United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as an ice hockey-only conference.... |
38 | 17 | 37 | 54 | 12 |
| 1975–76 | University of Wisconsin–Madison | WCHA | 34 | 18 | 25 | 43 | 22 |
| 1976–77 | University of Wisconsin–Madison | WCHA | 45 | 28 | 53 | 81 | 18 |
| 1977–78 | University of Wisconsin–Madison | WCHA | 43 | 31 | 58 | 89 | 16 |
| 1978–79 | Oklahoma City Stars Oklahoma City Stars The Oklahoma City Stars were a minor league professional ice hockey team in the Central Hockey League from 1978 to 1982. They were affiliated with the Minnesota North Stars of the National Hockey League.... |
CHL | 68 | 26 | 61 | 87 | 21 |
| 1978–79 | 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... |
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... |
3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1979–80 | Oklahoma City Stars | CHL | 12 | 9 | 8 | 17 | 2 |
| 1979–80 | Minnesota North Stars | NHL | 56 | 18 | 28 | 46 | 11 |
| 1980–81 | Minnesota North Stars | NHL | 48 | 10 | 24 | 34 | 18 |
| 1981–82 | Minnesota North Stars | NHL | 25 | 11 | 10 | 21 | 0 |
| 1982–83 | Minnesota North Stars | NHL | 75 | 16 | 16 | 32 | 21 |
| 1983–84 | Calgary Flames Calgary Flames The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the... |
NHL | 61 | 14 | 36 | 50 | 20 |
| 1984–85 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 56 | 14 | 29 | 43 | 10 |
| 1985–86 | Calgary Flames | NHL | - | - | - | - | - |
| NHL totals | 324 | 83 | 143 | 226 | 80 | ||
Playoffs
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | P | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979–80 | Minnesota North Stars | NHL | 15 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 4 |
| 1982–83 | Minnesota North Stars | NHL | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1983–84 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 11 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 2 |
| 1985–86 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 |
| NHL Totals | 43 | 7 | 10 | 17 | 14 | ||
Awards and achievements
- WCHAWestern Collegiate Hockey AssociationThe Western Collegiate Hockey Association is a college athletic conference which operates over a wide area of the Midwestern and Western United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as an ice hockey-only conference....
Second All-Star Team (1977) - NCAA West First All-American Team (1977, 1978)
- WCHA First All-Star Team (1978)
- WCHA Most Valuable Player (1978)
- Central Hockey LeagueCentral 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 (1979) - Ken McKenzie TrophyKen McKenzie TrophyThe Ken McKenzie Trophy is awarded annually to the Central Hockey League's leading points scorer in the regular season. The award is named for Ken McKenzie, the co-founder and longtime president and publisher of The Hockey News....
(Rookie of the Year - CHL) (1979