Mike Foligno facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mike Foligno |
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Foligno in 2012
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| Born | January 29, 1959 Sudbury, Ontario, Canada |
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| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) | ||
| Weight | 195 lb (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb) | ||
| Position | Right wing | ||
| Shot | Right | ||
| Played for | Detroit Red Wings Buffalo Sabres Toronto Maple Leafs Florida Panthers |
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| National team | .svg){kind=small} Canada |
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| NHL Draft | 3rd overall, 1979 Detroit Red Wings |
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| Playing career | 1979–1994 | ||
Michael Anthony Foligno (born January 29, 1959) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He was a skilled right winger who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 15 seasons. His career spanned from 1979 to 1994.
After his playing days, Foligno also worked as a scout for the Vegas Golden Knights. He is well-known for his exciting goal celebration, called the "Foligno Leap."
Contents
Playing Career: Mike Foligno's Journey in Hockey
Mike Foligno was born in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. However, he spent his early childhood in Italy. There, he first learned to play soccer as a goalkeeper.
When Mike was 10 years old, his family moved back to Canada. That's when he discovered ice hockey and quickly fell in love with the sport.
Drafted by the Detroit Red Wings
In 1979, Mike Foligno was picked third overall in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft by the Detroit Red Wings. This was a huge moment, showing how talented he was.
Throughout his NHL career, Mike played in 1,018 games. He scored 355 goals and made 372 assists, adding up to 727 points. He was also known for his tough play, racking up 2,049 penalty minutes.
Career Highlights with the Buffalo Sabres
His best season for scoring points was in 1985–86 while playing for the Buffalo Sabres. That year, he scored 41 goals and earned 80 points. Both of these were personal bests for him.
Mike Foligno is famous for his special goal celebration. After scoring, he would do a big jump, which fans called the "Foligno Leap." His two sons, who also became hockey players, have continued this fun tradition. Mike also wore a special helmet during his career. This was because a part of his skull, called a fontanel, didn't fully close when he was a baby.
Coaching and Management: After the Ice
After retiring from playing, Mike Foligno stayed involved in hockey. He worked as an assistant coach for several NHL teams. These included the Toronto Maple Leafs, Colorado Avalanche, Anaheim Ducks, and New Jersey Devils.
He also served as the general manager for the Sudbury Wolves, a junior hockey team. Mike was also the head coach for the Wolves. During his time there, both of his sons, Nick and Marcus, played for the team before moving on to the NHL.
In 2016, Mike Foligno was hired as a scout for the new NHL team, the Vegas Golden Knights. Scouts help teams find new talented players.
Career Statistics
Regular season and playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1975–76 | Sudbury Wolves | OMJHL | 57 | 22 | 14 | 36 | 45 | 16 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 6 | ||
| 1976–77 | Sudbury Wolves | OMJHL | 66 | 31 | 44 | 75 | 62 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 7 | ||
| 1977–78 | Sudbury Wolves | OMJHL | 67 | 47 | 39 | 86 | 112 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1978–79 | Sudbury Wolves | OMJHL | 68 | 65 | 85 | 150 | 98 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 14 | ||
| 1979–80 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 80 | 36 | 35 | 71 | 109 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1980–81 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 80 | 28 | 35 | 63 | 210 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1981–82 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 26 | 13 | 13 | 26 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1981–82 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 56 | 20 | 31 | 51 | 149 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 9 | ||
| 1982–83 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 66 | 22 | 25 | 47 | 135 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 39 | ||
| 1983–84 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 70 | 32 | 31 | 63 | 151 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 19 | ||
| 1984–85 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 77 | 27 | 29 | 56 | 154 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 12 | ||
| 1985–86 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 79 | 41 | 39 | 80 | 168 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1986–87 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 75 | 30 | 29 | 59 | 176 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1987–88 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 74 | 29 | 28 | 57 | 220 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 31 | ||
| 1988–89 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 75 | 27 | 22 | 49 | 156 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 21 | ||
| 1989–90 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 61 | 15 | 25 | 40 | 99 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 12 | ||
| 1990–91 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 31 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 42 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1990–91 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 37 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 65 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1991–92 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 33 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 50 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1992–93 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 55 | 13 | 5 | 18 | 84 | 18 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 42 | ||
| 1993–94 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1993–94 | Florida Panthers | NHL | 39 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 49 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 1,018 | 355 | 372 | 727 | 2,049 | 57 | 15 | 17 | 32 | 185 | ||||
International Play
Mike Foligno also represented Canada in international hockey tournaments.
| Year | Team | Event | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Canada | WC | 7 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 | |
| 1986 | Canada | WC | 10 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 16 | |
| 1987 | Canada | WC | 10 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 34 | |
| Senior totals | 27 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 58 | |||
Honors and Achievements
In recognition of his great career, Mike Foligno was inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame in 2004. This honor celebrates his contributions to sports in the Buffalo area.
Personal Life: A Hockey Family
Mike Foligno was married to Janis until her passing in 2009. They had four children together. Two of their children followed in their father's footsteps and became professional hockey players.
- Cara is a teacher in Buffalo.
- Lisa Carey played lacrosse at Canisius College.
- Nick was drafted by the Ottawa Senators in 2006. He became captain of the Columbus Blue Jackets and has also played for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Currently, he plays for the Chicago Blackhawks.
- Marcus was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in 2009. He won a silver medal with Team Canada at the 2011 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. Marcus joined the Sabres in 2011–12 and now plays for the Minnesota Wild.
See also
- List of NHL players with 1000 games played
- List of NHL players with 2000 career penalty minutes
