Mike Wanchuk

Michael Wanchuk (born October 10, 1954) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played right wing. He spent his entire professional career with the Kalamazoo Wings of the International Hockey League (IHL) from 1974 to 1980.

Playing career Wanchuk played major junior hockey with the Regina Pats of the Western Canada Hockey League (WCHL), recording 258 points in 181 games between 1971 and 1974. In his final season with the team, they won the WCHL and went on to win the 1974 Memorial Cup.

At the start of his professional career, he went to the Montreal Canadiens training camp before joining the Kalamazoo Wings for the franchise’s inaugural IHL season in 1974–75. In his rookie season, Wanchuk became the team's star player, scoring 45 goals and 81 points in 71 games despite breaking his leg late in the season. He was also named the most valuable player of the 1975 IHL All-Star Game.

In the 1975–76 season Wanchuk scored 53 goals, sharing the league lead with Len Fontaine, and 91 points, the third result in the league. He was also selected for the second All-Star Team.

In the 1976–77 season he scored 47 goals and 97 points and earned a first All-Star Team selection. He also scored four goals, including the game winner, against the reigning Soviet champion HC Spartak Moscow to lead the Kalamazoo Wings to a 7–6 victory.

Wanchuk remained with Kalamazoo for six seasons. He scored a total of 239 goals for the team, a franchise record at the time.

Wanchuk helped the Wings win back-to-back Turner Cup championships and retired from professional hockey following the club’s second championship.

Draft Wanchuk was selected by the Winnipeg Jets in the 1974 WHA Amateur Draft (10th round, 139th overall).

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP (PO) G (PO) A (PO) Pts (PO) PIM (PO) 1973–74 Regina Pats WCHL 64 44 38 82 40 18 15 9 24 18 1972–73 Regina Pats WCHL 68 36 58 94 18 4 2 1 3 7 1973–74 Regina Pats WCHL 49 42 40 82 17 16 0 7 7 2 1974–75 Kalamazoo Wings IHL 71 45 36 81 12 — — — — — 1975–76 Kalamazoo Wings IHL 78 53 38 91 12 6 0 3 3 0 1976–77 Kalamazoo Wings IHL 76 47 50 97 24 10 5 8 13 6 1977–78 Kalamazoo Wings IHL 80 45 47 92 19 10 9 5 14 4 1978–79 Kalamazoo Wings IHL 77 24 35 59 11 15 13 10 23 2 1979–80 Kalamazoo Wings IHL 52 25 22 47 4 16 4 2 6 0