| Round | Overall |
| 3 | 17 |
 |
 |
Left-hand shot
Pre-Draft Statistics
| Statistics unavailable |
Pre-Draft Notes
Grew up in what was formerly known as the Mimico area of Toronto and is now part of Etobicoke. ... Joined Toronto Marlboros organization at age 11. ... Attended Michael Power High School in Toronto, where he also competed in football and track.
Career Vitals
| First contract: | 1967 |
| Debut: | February 7, 1968 (Toronto at Chicago) |
| Final NHL game: | May 9, 1978 (Toronto vs. Montreal) (playoffs) |
| Retired: | 1978 |
| Stanley Cup: | Never won |
| Numbers worn: | 20, 21, 28, 4 |
Career NHL Statistics
Team: Toronto
Years: 1968-1978. Playoffs: 1969-1978
| Regular Season | |||||
| GP | G | A | TP | PIM | |
| 9 years | 441 | 26 | 88 | 114 | 566 |
| Stanley Cup Playoffs | |||||
| GP | G | A | TP | PIM | |
| 6 years | 40 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 41 |
| Complete statistics available at NHL.com | |||||
Career Highlights
Went to OHA Junior B championship series with York Steel in 1966. ... Won Memorial Cup with Toronto Marlboros in 1967. ... Earned pro contract with Toronto after strong training camp in 1967, causing him to forego his final year of junior eligibility. ... Served as captain of the Cincinnati Stingers (WHA) in 1975-76 -- his lone season with the team. ... Inducted into the Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame in 2000. ... Member of the board of directors of the NHL Alumni Association. ...Played for Maple Leafs Alumni team in 2014 Winter Classic Alumni Outdoor Game at Ann Arbor, Mich.
Transaction History
June 1974 -- WHA playing rights traded by Minnesota to Cincinnati in exchange for future considerations. He signed a contract with Cincinnati and was immediately loaned by that team to Vancouver for the 1974-75 WHA season before joining Cincinnati in 1975-76. August 1976 -- Returned to Toronto from WHA in because Maple Leafs absorbed his contract in exchange for cash concessions in the form of Cincinnati (WHA) dropping a lawsuit over Toronto's signing of Randy Carlyle, who had signed a "letter of intent" with Cincinnati before signing with Toronto. September 1978 -- Signed with Buffalo as unrestricted free agent, but opted to retire when it was clear he would not make the NHL roster.
Significant Injuries
Missed part of 1969-70 season with broken collarbone. ... Missed parts of 1971-72 season with torn cartilage in his knee -- an injury that required surgery. ... Underwent off-season surgery for separated shoulder at conclusion of the 1972-73 season.
Life Outside the NHL
Full Name: Michael
Joseph Pelyk
Nickname: "Mike Mikita"
Other Post-Draft Teams:
Toronto York Steel, Toronto Westclairs (OHA Jr. B); Toronto
(OHA); Tulsa (CHL); Vancouver, Cincinnati (WHA); Dallas (CHL).
Education: Attended University of
Toronto.
Career Beyond Hockey: Ran hockey
school in Toronto during off-seasons. ...
Pursued career in
commercial real estate after hockey, while coaching hockey
and baseball in the Toronto area.
Miscellaneous:
| Selected by Minnesota Fighting Saints s in 1972 WHA Draft -- the first-ever WHA Draft, Feb. 1972. | Selected by New York Golden Blades in 1973 WHA draft of professional players. | Paired with Bob Neely on defense for Toronto during 1973-74 season. | Regular participant in in NHL Old-Timers Hockey circuit to raise money for charity. |
| SNAPSHOT '64 | |
| Total Selected: | 24 |
| Forwards: | 15 |
| Defense: | 6 |
| Goaltenders: | 1 |
| Position n/a: | 2 |
| Major Junior: | 0 |
| College Players: | 0 |
| Canadian: | 23 |
| American: | 0 |
| Euro-Canadian: | 1 |
| Reached NHL: | 9 |
| Won Stanley Cup: | 1 |
| Hall of Fame: | 1 |
| All-Star Game: | 3 |
| Year-end All-Star: | 1 |
| Olympians: | 0 |
| Picks Traded: | 0 |