Mike McPhee

Mike McPhee
Name	Mike McPhee
Birth date	5 June 1960
Birth place	Thunder Bay, Ontario
Height	6 ft 2 in
Weight	205 lb
Position	Left wing / Centre
Shoots	Left
Played for	Montreal Canadiens; Quebec Nordiques
Drafted	173rd overall, 1979 NHL Entry Draft by Montreal Canadiens
Career start	1980
Career end	1993

Mike McPhee (born June 5, 1960) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and coach, best known for a 13-season National Hockey League career primarily with the Montreal Canadiens and a later tenure with the Quebec Nordiques. A power forward and versatile checker, he won a Stanley Cup with Montreal and later served in development and coaching roles in Canadian and American hockey organizations. McPhee's career intersected with numerous prominent figures and franchises in North American hockey during the 1980s and early 1990s.

Early life and amateur career

Born in Thunder Bay, Ontario, McPhee developed his game in the robust Ontario youth hockey system alongside contemporaries who progressed to the NHL Entry Draft and major junior circuits. He played junior hockey with the Prince George Spruce Kings and later moved to the American Hockey League and major junior environments to elevate his exposure to scouts from franchises such as the Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins. During the late 1970s McPhee's physical play and scoring touch at the junior and collegiate levels drew attention from scouts associated with the Canada men's national ice hockey team programs and developmental staffs affiliated with Hockey Canada.

Professional playing career

Selected 173rd overall in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft by the Montreal Canadiens, McPhee began his professional career with periods in the American Hockey League and the Canadiens' minor league affiliates before establishing himself on Montreal's roster in the early 1980s. He played alongside Canadiens stars such as Guy Lafleur, Bob Gainey, Patrick Roy, and role players like Mike McPhee's line mates and competed under coaches including Jacques Lemaire and Jacques Demers. McPhee became known for penalty killing, net-front presence, and occasional scoring bursts in key regular-season and playoff games, contributing to Montreal's 1986 Stanley Cup triumph that involved playoff matchups against clubs like the Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames, and New York Islanders.

In 1991 McPhee was involved in transactions that sent him to the Quebec Nordiques, where he finished his playing career amid the club's roster that featured players such as Joe Sakic, Mats Sundin, and Peter Stastny. His NHL tenure spanned competition with Original Six franchises including the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings, as well as expansion and rival teams like the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals throughout the 1980s and early 1990s. He retired from professional play in 1993 after more than a decade of NHL and minor-league service.

International play

McPhee's international resume includes involvement with Canada's development and invitational squads in non-Olympic contexts, facing national teams such as the Soviet Union national ice hockey team and European club selections during exhibition tours and tournaments. While not a fixture on Canadian Olympic or World Championship rosters dominated by contemporaries like Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux, McPhee participated in events that featured cross-border competition, exhibition series against the Czechoslovakia national ice hockey team, and charity matches raising profiles for clubs including the Montreal Canadiens and national programs under Hockey Canada auspices.

Playing style and legacy

A prototypical power forward of his era, McPhee combined size, physicality, and a willingness to play in high-traffic areas in front of the opponent's net, drawing comparisons in role to players developed by franchises such as the Boston Bruins and the New York Rangers. His defensive responsibility on the penalty kill and ability to grind in the corners aligned him with contemporaries like Moe Lemay and Guy Carbonneau in the Canadiens' organizational identity. McPhee's legacy is tied to the Canadiens' 1980s teams that blended scoring talents such as Steve Shutt and Jacques Lemaire-era defensive structure, and his name remains part of discussions about role players who helped bridge Montreal's dynasty periods with later rebuilds involving the Quebec Nordiques and eventual relocation to Colorado Avalanche.

Coaching and post-playing career

After retiring, McPhee transitioned into coaching and player development roles within community and junior hockey systems, affiliating with organizations that interact with the Canadian Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League, and minor professional circuits like the American Hockey League. He worked on skill development, conditioning, and mentorship programs that connected former NHL veterans with prospects destined for the NHL Entry Draft and collegiate routes through institutions such as Collegiate hockey programs in Canada and the United States. McPhee also participated in alumni events organized by the Montreal Canadiens Alumni Association and community outreach initiatives associated with franchises like the Quebec Nordiques during their active years.

Personal life

McPhee has maintained residence in Canada and engaged in charitable activities, alumni outreach, and youth coaching initiatives that involved collaboration with entities such as Hockey Canada and local minor hockey associations across provinces including Ontario and Quebec. He has family ties within the hockey community and has been involved in public appearances coordinated by the Montreal Canadiens and former teammates from the 1986 Stanley Cup roster.

Category:1960 births Category:Living people Category:Canadian ice hockey left wingers Category:Montreal Canadiens players Category:Quebec Nordiques players