Mike Rogers
Hockey Athlete - Inducted 2019
Mike Rogers was a centerman in the NHL for seven seasons, beginning with the Hartford Whalers expansion team in 1979/80. He was traded to the New York Rangers in 1981/82. He earned the distinction of being one of only four players to achieve 100 points in his first three seasons in the NHL; the others were Wayne Gretzky, Peter Stastny, and Mario Lemieux. Mike scored 519 points in 484 regular-season NHL games. Mike played in the World Hockey Association for five seasons starting in 1974/75. He led the Edmonton Oilers rookies in goals and points, and was named the WHA’s Most Gentlemanly Player.
During Mike’s time in the WHA, he scored 145 goals and had 222 assists for 367 points in 396 games. He was traded during the 1975/76 season from the Edmonton Oilers to the New England Whalers. He helped the Whalers reach the WHA semi-finals in 1976 and advance to the WHA Championship series in 1978.
After the WHA merged with the NHL in 1979/80, Mike played some of the best hockey of his career. He scored 105 points in both his first and second season in the NHL. He had more than 40 goals both seasons and was the Whalers top scorer in 1978/79. Mid-way through the 1980/81 season, he was named team captain.
Mike was traded to the New York Rangers for the 1981/82 season and led the Rangers with 103 points. He averaged 67 points in his next three seasons as the team adapted to a more defensive style of play under the direction of Herb Brooks - the former coach of the 1980 Olympic Games ‘Miracle on Ice’ USA team.
Mike had the opportunity to wear the maple leaf, and represent Canada in 1981 when he was selected to play for Team Canada at the IIHF World Championships in Sweden. The team finished fourth at the championships.
Mike closed out his hockey career in 1985/86 in Edmonton, as he played eight more games with the Oilers. He then returned to his hometown of Calgary where he had been a star player with the Calgary Centennials of the Western Canada Hockey League for four seasons. During that time, Mike helped the team win two WCHL West Division pennants and reach the WCHL finals one more time, in 1974.
During his stellar hockey career as an amateur, and twelve years as a professional, Mike Rogers ranked among the very best players of his era.
