Mike Robitaille - 1948 - His dream to pray in the VIC, came true
When I was a kid in Midland," says Mike Robitaille. "I used to dream about playing in the National Hockey League." In fact, Robitaille would play 382 games over eight seasons in the NHL from 1970 to 1977. He skated on defence for four teams: the New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, Buffalo Sabres and Vancouver Canucks.
He remains the only Midland-born hockey player to stay in the NHL as a regular. "I rolled the career dice and won," he says. "All I ever wanted to be was a hockey player." When Michael James Robitaille wasn't a Rink Rat at Midland Arena Gardens, he played road hockey. After classes at Sacred Heart School he skated on an outdoor rink on Manly Street.
Later, Mike joined the Midland Minor Hockey Association. He helped the 1959 Midland Lions win the AHL division of the provincial Little NHL tournament. In 1962, he was a main reason why the Midland Red Wings were OMHA Bantam A Minor champions.
Minor hockey in Midland was key to his development, he says. "Of all the coaches I had, the greatest was Garnet Armstrong in Midland."
Professional scouts took notice. Following Mike's outstanding performance with the Major Junior A Kitchener Rangers (20 goals, 51 assists) in 1967-68, New York signed the Midlander to a pro contract and asked him to training camp. where, unfortunately, the top prospect broke his ankle. After winning the Central Hockey League's Top Defenceman Award with the Omaha Knights in 1969-70, he played parts of two seasons for the Rangers. Management traded him to the Detroit Red Wings in 1970-71, where he dressed for 23 games before they sent him to the Buffalo Sabres.
n Buffalo, Mike was a regular, tutored on defence by hockey legend Tim Horton and veteran Larry Hillman. Robitaille became known with the Sabres for a blistering slap shot and as a master of the hip check.
By 1974-75, his fourth year with the team. Robitaille felt secure, but was jolted when Punch Imlach sent him to Vancouver. With the Canucks, his career took off. He got ice time in keys situations, played the power play, killed penalties and held the blue line in the last minute of close games.
But in the 1976-77 season, the defenceman took the worst half of a collision with Rangers' forward Nick Fotiu which resulted in a hairline fracture of the neck and a spinal cord contusion. When Mike did not report to the Vancouver's 1977- 78 training camp. the club threatened him with a breach-of-contract suit. Robitaille counter-sued, stating his injury was not properly treated and that he was forced to play with pain. After a 1981 appeal. Mike was awarded a record $355.000.
He settled in East Amherst, a Buffalo suburb, with his wife. Isabelle, and their daughters, Anique and Sarah. Robitaille is general manager of Fort Erie Race Track. He hosts the post-game show of Buffalo Sabre telecasts.
"I still haven't gotten over the awe of playing in the NHL," says Robitaille. "I grew up playing minor hockey against Bobby Orr. He and I would have our own personal battles when Parry Sound played Midland. And there I was in the NHL, playing against him, the best who ever lived."
He remains the only Midland-born hockey player to stay in the NHL as a regular. "I rolled the career dice and won," he says. "All I ever wanted to be was a hockey player." When Michael James Robitaille wasn't a Rink Rat at Midland Arena Gardens, he played road hockey. After classes at Sacred Heart School he skated on an outdoor rink on Manly Street.
Later, Mike joined the Midland Minor Hockey Association. He helped the 1959 Midland Lions win the AHL division of the provincial Little NHL tournament. In 1962, he was a main reason why the Midland Red Wings were OMHA Bantam A Minor champions.
Minor hockey in Midland was key to his development, he says. "Of all the coaches I had, the greatest was Garnet Armstrong in Midland."
Professional scouts took notice. Following Mike's outstanding performance with the Major Junior A Kitchener Rangers (20 goals, 51 assists) in 1967-68, New York signed the Midlander to a pro contract and asked him to training camp. where, unfortunately, the top prospect broke his ankle. After winning the Central Hockey League's Top Defenceman Award with the Omaha Knights in 1969-70, he played parts of two seasons for the Rangers. Management traded him to the Detroit Red Wings in 1970-71, where he dressed for 23 games before they sent him to the Buffalo Sabres.
n Buffalo, Mike was a regular, tutored on defence by hockey legend Tim Horton and veteran Larry Hillman. Robitaille became known with the Sabres for a blistering slap shot and as a master of the hip check.
By 1974-75, his fourth year with the team. Robitaille felt secure, but was jolted when Punch Imlach sent him to Vancouver. With the Canucks, his career took off. He got ice time in keys situations, played the power play, killed penalties and held the blue line in the last minute of close games.
But in the 1976-77 season, the defenceman took the worst half of a collision with Rangers' forward Nick Fotiu which resulted in a hairline fracture of the neck and a spinal cord contusion. When Mike did not report to the Vancouver's 1977- 78 training camp. the club threatened him with a breach-of-contract suit. Robitaille counter-sued, stating his injury was not properly treated and that he was forced to play with pain. After a 1981 appeal. Mike was awarded a record $355.000.
He settled in East Amherst, a Buffalo suburb, with his wife. Isabelle, and their daughters, Anique and Sarah. Robitaille is general manager of Fort Erie Race Track. He hosts the post-game show of Buffalo Sabre telecasts.
"I still haven't gotten over the awe of playing in the NHL," says Robitaille. "I grew up playing minor hockey against Bobby Orr. He and I would have our own personal battles when Parry Sound played Midland. And there I was in the NHL, playing against him, the best who ever lived."
