Mike Nykoluk was a Canadian ice hockey player who had a successful career as a defenseman in both the National Hockey League (NHL) and the World Hockey Association (WHA). He was born on June 6, 1944, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, and began playing hockey at a young age.
Nykoluk played junior hockey for the Winnipeg Braves and was part of the team that won the Memorial Cup in 1959. He then moved on to play for the Winnipeg Warriors of the Western Hockey League (WHL) before being signed by the Boston Bruins of the NHL in 1964.
Nykoluk played for the Bruins for four seasons, from 1964 to 1968, and was known for his strong defensive play. He was traded to the Detroit Red Wings in 1968 and played for them for two seasons before being traded to the Los Angeles Kings in 1970.
Nykoluk played for the Kings for four seasons and was named team captain in 1972. He was known for his leadership and toughness on the ice, and was a fan favorite in Los Angeles. In 1974, Nykoluk was traded to the New York Islanders, where he played for one season before being traded to the WHA's Edmonton Oilers.
Nykoluk played for the Oilers for three seasons, from 1975 to 1978, and was part of the team that won the Avco Cup in 1976. He then played for the Indianapolis Racers for one season before returning to the NHL to play for the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1979.
Nykoluk played for the Penguins for two seasons before retiring from professional hockey in 1981. He then went on to coach in the minor leagues, including stints with the Erie Blades and the Muskegon Lumberjacks.
Throughout his career, Nykoluk was known for his strong defensive play and leadership on the ice. He was a two-time NHL All-Star and was named to the WHA All-Star team in 1977. He finished his NHL career with 22 goals and 110 assists in 604 games, and his WHA career with 17 goals and 70 assists in 222 games.
Nykoluk passed away on December 31, 2007, at the age of 63. He was remembered by his former teammates and fans as a tough and dedicated player who gave his all on the ice.
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