Mike Mottau is a retired American professional ice hockey defenseman who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for over a decade. He was born on March 19, 1978, in Quincy, Massachusetts, and grew up playing hockey in the Boston area.
Mottau played college hockey at Boston College, where he was a standout defenseman and helped lead the Eagles to the NCAA championship in 2001. After graduating, he signed as a free agent with the New York Rangers in 2000 and made his NHL debut with the team in the 2000-01 season.
Over the course of his NHL career, Mottau played for several different teams, including the Rangers, Calgary Flames, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, and Boston Bruins. He was known for his solid defensive play, strong skating ability, and leadership on and off the ice.
One of the highlights of Mottau's career came in the 2009-10 season, when he won the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, which is awarded annually to the NHL player who best exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey. Mottau had suffered a serious eye injury the previous season while playing for the Devils, but he was able to recover and return to the ice.
Mottau retired from professional hockey in 2014, after playing for the AHL's San Antonio Rampage. He finished his NHL career with 315 games played, 7 goals, and 51 assists. He also played in 29 playoff games, including a run to the Stanley Cup Finals with the Devils in 2012.
Since retiring, Mottau has stayed involved in hockey as a coach and broadcaster. He has worked as an assistant coach for the Boston College men's hockey team and as a color commentator for NHL games on NBC Sports Boston.
Overall, Mike Mottau had a successful career as a professional hockey player, earning the respect of his teammates and opponents alike for his hard work and dedication to the game.
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