Mike McEwen
Encyclopedia
Michael Todd McEwen is a retired Canadian ice hockey
player. He was born in Hornepayne
, Ontario
.
An offensive-minded defenseman, McEwen was selected by the New York Rangers
in the 1976 NHL Draft. His talents immediately paid dividends as he helped guide the Rangers to the finals in 1979. His tenure with the Rangers would not last long as he was traded to the Colorado Rockies
in the giant trade that sent Barry Beck
to New York.
His stay with the Rockies was short-lived as he would frequently clash with head coach Don Cherry, and he was eventually traded to the New York Islanders
in the deal that sent Steve Tambellini
and Chico Resch to the Rockies. The trade would soon payoff for the Islanders as his offensive talents helped them in three of their Stanley Cup
championships 1981, 1982, 1983.
McEwen would also play for the Los Angeles Kings
, Washington Capitals
. Detroit Red Wings
and Hartford Whalers
before his NHL career ended following the 1987–88 season.
McEwen was the first coach of the Oklahoma City Blazers
. He coached the Oklahoma City Blazers
to three consecutive playoff appearances in 1992-93, 1993–94, and 1994-95.
McEwen currently resides in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He is involved in daily operations of Kids First Hockey (not true, that's a USA Hockey program, he didn't create it), a program he designed to open hockey up to youth of all ages.
, 2009) by Russ Cohen, John Halligan and Adam Raider, the authors ranked McEwen No. 98 on the all-time list of New York Rangers.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player. He was born in Hornepayne
Hornepayne, Ontario
Hornepayne is a township of 1209 people located in the Algoma District of Ontario, Canada. The town was originally established in 1915 as Fitzback when the Canadian Northern Railway's transcontinental line was built through the area. It was renamed Hornepayne in 1920 after British financier...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
.
An offensive-minded defenseman, McEwen was selected by the New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
in the 1976 NHL Draft. His talents immediately paid dividends as he helped guide the Rangers to the finals in 1979. His tenure with the Rangers would not last long as he was traded to the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies (NHL)
The Colorado Rockies were an American professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League that played in Denver, Colorado, from 1976 to 1982. They were a relocation of the Kansas City Scouts, a 1974 expansion team. The franchise moved to East Rutherford, New Jersey, in 1982 and was...
in the giant trade that sent Barry Beck
Barry Beck
Barry Beck is a retired former professional ice hockey player who was drafted second overall in both the 1977 NHL Amateur Draft and the 1977 WHA Amateur Draft from the New Westminster Bruins. Beck helped the Bruins to the Memorial Cup in 1977. He opted to move to the NHL over the WHA, and began...
to New York.
His stay with the Rockies was short-lived as he would frequently clash with head coach Don Cherry, and he was eventually traded to the New York Islanders
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
in the deal that sent Steve Tambellini
Steve Tambellini
Steven Anthony Tambellini is a former NHL player and is currently the general manager for the Edmonton Oilers hockey franchise in Edmonton, Alberta.-Playing career:...
and Chico Resch to the Rockies. The trade would soon payoff for the Islanders as his offensive talents helped them in three of their Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
championships 1981, 1982, 1983.
McEwen would also play for the Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
, Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
. Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
and Hartford Whalers
Hartford Whalers
The Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its existence in Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.A.. The club played in the World Hockey Association from 1972–79 and in the National Hockey League from 1979–97...
before his NHL career ended following the 1987–88 season.
McEwen was the first coach of the Oklahoma City Blazers
Oklahoma City Blazers
The Oklahoma City Blazers were a professional ice hockey team that played in the Northwest Division of the Central Hockey League. The Blazers played at the Ford Center, located in downtown Oklahoma City. Their colors were burgundy, gold and white...
. He coached the Oklahoma City Blazers
Oklahoma City Blazers
The Oklahoma City Blazers were a professional ice hockey team that played in the Northwest Division of the Central Hockey League. The Blazers played at the Ford Center, located in downtown Oklahoma City. Their colors were burgundy, gold and white...
to three consecutive playoff appearances in 1992-93, 1993–94, and 1994-95.
McEwen currently resides in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He is involved in daily operations of Kids First Hockey (not true, that's a USA Hockey program, he didn't create it), a program he designed to open hockey up to youth of all ages.
Legacy
In the book 100 Ranger Greats (John Wiley & SonsJohn Wiley & Sons
John Wiley & Sons, Inc., also referred to as Wiley, is a global publishing company that specializes in academic publishing and markets its products to professionals and consumers, students and instructors in higher education, and researchers and practitioners in scientific, technical, medical, and...
, 2009) by Russ Cohen, John Halligan and Adam Raider, the authors ranked McEwen No. 98 on the all-time list of New York Rangers.