Mike Busniuk facts for kids

Michael Busniuk, born on December 13, 1951, is a Canadian who used to play and coach professional ice hockey. He is the younger brother of another hockey player, Ron Busniuk. The Montreal Canadiens picked him in the 1971 NHL Draft. He later played for the Philadelphia Flyers for two seasons.

Michael played for eight seasons in the American Hockey League (AHL). He is famous for being the only player to win the Calder Cup four times in a row (from 1976 to 1979). He won five Calder Cups as a player and even a sixth one as a coach! He was born in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.

Playing Hockey: Michael Busniuk's Journey

Michael Busniuk started his hockey journey playing junior ice hockey with the Fort William Canadians. In his last year of junior hockey, 1970-71, he joined the Fort William Hurricanes. They made it to the 1970 Memorial Cup tournament.

After junior hockey, Michael played college hockey for the University of Denver Pioneers. While playing, he also earned a teaching certificate in physical education. He became the team captain in the 1973–74 season. His team, the Pioneers, reached the "Final Four" (a big championship stage) in three of his four years there.

Starting Professional Hockey

After college, Michael began his professional hockey career. He was sent to the Montreal Canadiens' farm team in the AHL, the Nova Scotia Voyageurs, for the 1974–75 season. The next season, 1975–76, he played for the Beauce Jaros in the NAHL. The Jaros were a top team but lost in their league finals.

After the NAHL playoffs, Michael joined the Nova Scotia Voyageurs for one playoff game. They won the 1976 Calder Cup, which is the championship trophy for the AHL. Michael and the Voyageurs won the Calder Cup again in 1977.

Playing in the NHL

On October 23, 1977, Michael signed with the Philadelphia Flyers. He was sent to their AHL team, the Maine Mariners. The Mariners won the Calder Cup in both 1978 and 1979. This made Michael the only player to win four Calder Cups in a row!

Early in the 1979–80 season, Michael was called up from the Mariners to play for the Philadelphia Flyers in the NHL. He helped the Flyers reach the 1980 Stanley Cup Finals, where they played against the New York Islanders. The Flyers lost the series in six games. Michael played for the Flyers for two seasons, from 1979 to 1981. In his NHL career, he scored three goals and had 23 assists in 143 games. He also had 297 penalty minutes.

After his time in the NHL, Michael returned to the Maine Mariners for the 1981–82 season. For the next three seasons, he split his time playing in the AHL and in Europe. He played for HC Brunico in the Italian Serie A league. Michael won his fifth Calder Cup playing with the Mariners in the 1983–84 season. He shares the record for most Calder Cups won as a player with Bob Solinger, Les Duff, and Fred Glover.

Coaching Hockey: Michael Busniuk's Career

Michael Busniuk started his coaching career as the head coach of the Tri-City Americans in the 1991–92 WHL season. He then became an assistant coach for the New York Rangers' AHL team, the Binghamton Rangers. Michael stayed in Binghamton for four seasons. He continued with the team for another five seasons when it moved and became the Hartford Wolf Pack.

In 2000, as an assistant coach with the Hartford Wolf Pack, Michael won his sixth Calder Cup. This time, he won it as a coach! He also served as head coach for the Muskegon Fury in the United Hockey League during the 2002-03 season. He then returned to Binghamton to be an assistant coach for the Ottawa Senators' AHL team, the Binghamton Senators, from 2003 to 2010.

After that, Michael went back home to Thunder Bay. He worked as an interim coach for the Lakehead Thunderwolves college team. He also taught at Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School, a school for First Nations students in Thunder Bay. In 2013, Michael returned to Brunico, Italy, to coach HC Pustertal Wölfe, the same team he played for earlier in his career.

Career Statistics

Coaching Record