Mike Christie (ice hockey)

Michael Hunt Christie (December 20, 1949 – July 11, 2019) was a professional ice hockey defenseman who played 412 games in the National Hockey League for the California Seals, Cleveland Barons, Colorado Rockies, and Vancouver Canucks from 1974 to 1981.

Mike Christie
Born	December 20, 1949 Big Spring, Texas, U.S.
Died	July 11, 2019 (aged 69) Denver, Colorado, U.S.
Height	6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight	190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position	Defense
Shot	Left
Played for	Vancouver Canucks Colorado Rockies Cleveland Barons California Seals
National team	United States
NHL Draft	Undrafted
Playing career	1974–1981

Biography

Born in Big Spring, Texas, and raised in Calgary, Alberta, Christie was the first native Texan to play in the NHL although it was strictly a technicality as his father was a Canadian citizen working for an American oil company and Mike grew up in Canada.[1]

Before turning professional, Christie played for the University of Denver men's ice hockey team, becoming a first team all-American in 1971 as well being chosen the US amateur national team at the 1972 Ice Hockey World Championship Pool B tournament. Undrafted, Christie was signed by the Chicago Black Hawks and played two minor league seasons with the Dallas Black Hawks (CHL), before being traded to the California Golden Seals in 1974. He made his NHL debut there at the start of the 1974-75 season and played until the franchise moved to Cleveland in 1977, becoming the Cleveland Barons. Christie was captain of the NHL's Colorado Rockies hockey team in the late 1970s, and his NHL career ended with the Vancouver Canucks in 1981.

He also represented the United States in the inaugural 1976 Canada Cup tournament.

Christie settled in Colorado after his hockey career ended, and started a second career as a sales representative that allowed him to enjoy his other athletic passion - golf. He represented several well-known brands, including Callaway and Top-Flite, before retiring in 2010.

Mike died of kidney disease in July 2019. He was married to his wife of 47 years, Molly (née Hamill), and had two daughters, Lisa and Colleen, a son Dan, and four grandchildren.[2]

Awards and honors

Award	Year
All-WCHA First Team	1970–71	[3]
AHCA West All-American	1970–71	[4]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1968–69	University of Denver	WCHA		—	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—
1969–70	University of Denver	WCHA		31	2	16	18	38		—	—	—	—	—
1970–71	University of Denver	WCHA		36	8	25	33	57		—	—	—	—	—
1971–72	University of Denver	WCHA		—	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—
1972–73	Dallas Black Hawks	CHL		32	5	11	16	51		—	—	—	—	—
1973–74	Dallas Black Hawks	CHL		71	5	37	42	110		10	1	2	3	23
1974–75	California Golden Seals	NHL		34	0	14	14	76		—	—	—	—	—
1975–76	California Golden Seals	NHL		78	3	18	21	152		—	—	—	—	—
1976–77	Cleveland Barons	NHL		79	6	27	33	79		—	—	—	—	—
1977–78	Cleveland Barons	NHL		34	1	6	7	49		—	—	—	—	—
1977–78	Colorado Rockies	NHL		35	2	8	10	28		2	0	0	0	0
1978–79	Colorado Rockies	NHL		68	1	10	11	88		—	—	—	—	—
1979–80	Colorado Rockies	NHL		74	1	17	18	78		—	—	—	—	—
1980–81	Colorado Rockies	NHL		1	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
1980–81	Tulsa Oilers	CHL		20	1	0	1	27		—	—	—	—	—
1980–81	Vancouver Canucks	NHL		9	1	1	2	0		—	—	—	—	—
1980–81	Dallas Black Hawks	CHL		40	2	20	22	95		6	0	3	3	10
CHL totals				163	13	68	81	283		16	1	5	6	33
NHL totals				412	15	101	116	550		2	0	0	0	0

International

Year	Team	Event		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1976	United States	CC		4	0	0	0	2

References

1. Shorthanded: The Untold Story of the Seals: Hockey's Most Colorful Team (p.244), by Brad Kurzberg, AuthorHouse (2006), ISBN 1-4259-1028-9
2. "Remembering the life of Mike Christie". calgaryherald.remembering.ca.
3. "WCHA All-Teams". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
4. "Men's Ice Hockey Award Winners" (PDF). NCAA.org. Retrieved June 11, 2013.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from Hockey-Reference.com, or Legends of Hockey, or The Internet Hockey Database