Bill Mikkelson
Encyclopedia
William Robert Mikkelson (born May 21, 1948 in Neepawa
, Manitoba
) is a retired Canadian ice hockey
defenceman
who played in the National Hockey League
during the 1970s. Mikkelson is best known for posting the worst plus/minus rating in single-season NHL history at -82 for the Washington Capitals
in 1974–75.
and Winnipeg Jets, and was signed as a free agent by the Los Angeles Kings
in 1970. He spent two years in the minors in LA's system, earning a 15-game callup to their NHL squad in 1971–72.
In the 1972 NHL Expansion Draft
, Mikkelson was exposed by the Kings and claimed by the New York Islanders
. In their inaugural season of 1972–73, Mikkelson emerged as one of the icetime leaders on the blueline for the Islanders, and posted 1 goal and 10 assists for 11 points in 72 games. In a sign of things to come, he also posted a plus/minus rating of -54, the third-worst mark ever recorded at the time since the NHL had begun recording the stat in 1967. For the 1973–74 season, Mikkelson lost his spot on the Islanders with the arrival of rookies Denis Potvin
and Dave Lewis, and ended up spending the entire season in the American Hockey League
with the Baltimore Clippers
.
Mikkelson was exposed again in the 1974 NHL Expansion Draft
and this time was claimed by the Washington Capitals
. His first season with the expansion Capitals would play out almost identically to his first season with the expansion Islanders, as he emerged as an icetime leader on a struggling team. Despite being assigned to the minors late in the year and appearing in only 59 games, he ended up posting an all-time NHL worst plus/minus rating of -82. More than three decades later, this remains an NHL record and no-one has posted a mark worse than -61 since.
Mikkelson would spend two more seasons in the minors, appearing in only a single NHL game for the Capitals in 1976–77 before retiring in 1977. In his career, he appeared in 147 NHL games, recording 4 goals and 18 assists for 22 points, along with 105 penalty minutes.
was a star center for the Detroit Red Wings
and Chicago Black Hawks and won the Calder Trophy in 1947–48 and the Stanley Cup
with Detroit in 1950. His brother Glen was drafted 140th overall in the 1972 NHL Amateur Draft
by the Minnesota North Stars
, although he never played an NHL game.
Mikkelson's son Brendan Mikkelson
is a highly-touted NHL prospect who was selected 31st overall in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft
by the Anaheim Ducks
. He spent the 2007–08 season in the AHL
with the Portland Pirates
. His daughter Meaghan
plays for the Canadian national women's team, with whom she won a gold medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Neepawa, Manitoba
Neepawa is a town in Manitoba, Canada located on the Yellowhead Highway at the intersection with Highway 5. its population was 3,298. Neepawa was incorporated as a town in 1883. It is located in the Rural Municipality of Langford and bordered to the north by the Rural Municipality of Rosedale....
, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
) is a retired Canadian ice hockey
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...
defenceman
Defenceman (ice hockey)
Defence in ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring...
who played in the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
during the 1970s. Mikkelson is best known for posting the worst plus/minus rating in single-season NHL history at -82 for the 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...
in 1974–75.
Playing career
Mikkelson played his junior hockey for the Brandon Wheat KingsBrandon Wheat Kings
The Brandon Wheat Kings are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Brandon, Manitoba. They compete in the Western Hockey League, and joined the league in the 1967–68 season. Prior to that they played in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League and were known as the Brandon Elks for a short time in the...
and Winnipeg Jets, and was signed as a free agent by 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...
in 1970. He spent two years in the minors in LA's system, earning a 15-game callup to their NHL squad in 1971–72.
In the 1972 NHL Expansion Draft
1972 NHL Expansion Draft
The 1972 NHL Expansion Draft was held on June 6, 1972. The draft took place to fill the rosters of the league's two then-new expansion teams for the 1972–73 season, the New York Islanders and the Atlanta Flames.-Draft results:-See also:...
, Mikkelson was exposed by the Kings and claimed by 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 their inaugural season of 1972–73, Mikkelson emerged as one of the icetime leaders on the blueline for the Islanders, and posted 1 goal and 10 assists for 11 points in 72 games. In a sign of things to come, he also posted a plus/minus rating of -54, the third-worst mark ever recorded at the time since the NHL had begun recording the stat in 1967. For the 1973–74 season, Mikkelson lost his spot on the Islanders with the arrival of rookies Denis Potvin
Denis Potvin
Denis Charles Potvin is a former defenseman and team captain for the New York Islanders in the National Hockey League and cornerstone for the Islanders' four Stanley Cup championship teams in the early 1980s. His brother, Jean Potvin, was also an NHL defenseman and the brothers were teammates for...
and Dave Lewis, and ended up spending the entire season in the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
with the Baltimore Clippers
Baltimore Clippers
The Baltimore Clippers were an American ice hockey team. They were the first of three Baltimore entries into the American Hockey League, who played from 1962–76...
.
Mikkelson was exposed again in the 1974 NHL Expansion Draft
1974 NHL Expansion Draft
The 1974 NHL Expansion Draft was held on June 12, 1974. The draft took place to fill the rosters of the league's two expansion teams for the 1974–75 season, the Kansas City Scouts and the Washington Capitals.-Draft desults:-See also:...
and this time was claimed by the 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...
. His first season with the expansion Capitals would play out almost identically to his first season with the expansion Islanders, as he emerged as an icetime leader on a struggling team. Despite being assigned to the minors late in the year and appearing in only 59 games, he ended up posting an all-time NHL worst plus/minus rating of -82. More than three decades later, this remains an NHL record and no-one has posted a mark worse than -61 since.
Mikkelson would spend two more seasons in the minors, appearing in only a single NHL game for the Capitals in 1976–77 before retiring in 1977. In his career, he appeared in 147 NHL games, recording 4 goals and 18 assists for 22 points, along with 105 penalty minutes.
Family
Mikkelson comes from a prominent hockey-playing family in Manitoba. His uncle Jim McFaddenJim McFadden
James Alexander McFadden was a professional ice hockey forward. Jim McFadden was one of only six players born in Ireland to ever reach the NHL.-Playing career:...
was a star center for the 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 Chicago Black Hawks and won the Calder Trophy in 1947–48 and the 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...
with Detroit in 1950. His brother Glen was drafted 140th overall in the 1972 NHL Amateur Draft
1972 NHL Amateur Draft
The 1972 NHL Amateur Draft was held at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.-Selections by round:Below are listed the selections in the 1972 NHL Amateur Draft...
by the Minnesota North Stars
Minnesota North Stars
The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, and the team's colors for most of its history were green, yellow, gold and white...
, although he never played an NHL game.
Mikkelson's son Brendan Mikkelson
Brendan Mikkelson
Brendan Mikkelson is a Canadian ice hockey defenceman who plays for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League . He was a second round selection of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, 31st overall, at the 2005 NHL Entry Draft...
is a highly-touted NHL prospect who was selected 31st overall in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft
2005 NHL Entry Draft
The 2005 NHL Entry Draft was the 43rd NHL Entry Draft.As a lockout cancelled the games of the 2004–05 NHL season, the draft order was determined by lottery on July 22, 2005. Teams were assigned 1 to 3 balls based on their playoff appearances and first overall draft picks from the past three years...
by the Anaheim Ducks
Anaheim Ducks
The Anaheim Ducks are a professional ice hockey team based in Anaheim, California, USA. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
. He spent the 2007–08 season in the AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
with the Portland Pirates
Portland Pirates
The Portland Pirates is a minor professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They are the top affiliate of the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League. They play in the Cumberland County Civic Center in downtown Portland, Maine. The franchise was previously known as the...
. His daughter Meaghan
Meaghan Mikkelson
Meaghan Mikkelson , is a member of the Canada women's national ice hockey team and also plays for the Edmonton Chimos . Mikkelson also won a gold medal during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. She was selected third overall by Team Alberta CWHL in the 2011 CWHL Draft...
plays for the Canadian national women's team, with whom she won a gold medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... | Team | League | GP | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... | A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... | Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one... | PIM Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... | +/- | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1964–65 | Brandon Wheat Kings Brandon Wheat Kings The Brandon Wheat Kings are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Brandon, Manitoba. They compete in the Western Hockey League, and joined the league in the 1967–68 season. Prior to that they played in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League and were known as the Brandon Elks for a short time in the... | SJHL | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 1965–66 | Brandon Wheat Kings | SJHL | 60 | 9 | 14 | 23 | 92 | — | 11 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 12 | ||
| 1966–67 | Brandon Wheat Kings | MJHL | 60 | 9 | 14 | 23 | 92 | — | 11 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 12 | ||
| 1967–68 | Brandon Wheat Kings | WCHL Western Hockey League The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada... | 56 | 14 | 27 | 41 | 119 | — | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | ||
| 1968–69 | Winnipeg Jets | WCHL | 53 | 5 | 26 | 31 | 43 | — | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 1969–70 | Winnipeg Jets | WCHL | 59 | 5 | 34 | 39 | 76 | — | 14 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 16 | ||
| 1970–71 1970–71 AHL season The 1970–71 AHL season was the 35th season of the American Hockey League. Eight teams played 72 games each in the schedule. The Baltimore Clippers finished first overall in the regular season... | Springfield Kings | AHL American Hockey League The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League... | 69 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 50 | — | 12 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 14 | ||
| 1971–72 | 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... | NHL National Hockey League The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States... | 15 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | -11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1971–72 1971–72 AHL season The 1971–72 AHL season was the 36th season of the American Hockey League. Major changes occurred in the off-season. The league welcomed four expansion teams, and lost both Quebec-based teams. Eleven teams played 76 games each in the schedule. The Boston Braves finished first overall in the regular... | Springfield Kings | AHL | 32 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 36 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1972–73 | 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... | NHL | 72 | 1 | 10 | 11 | 45 | -54 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1973–74 1973–74 AHL season The 1973–74 AHL season was the 38th season of the American Hockey League. The league renamed its divisions, and the "East" Division became the "North" Division, and the "West" Division became the "South" Division. Twelve teams played 76 games each in the schedule. The Rochester Americans finished... | Baltimore Clippers Baltimore Clippers The Baltimore Clippers were an American ice hockey team. They were the first of three Baltimore entries into the American Hockey League, who played from 1962–76... | AHL | 75 | 1 | 21 | 22 | 77 | — | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | ||
| 1974–75 | 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... | NHL | 59 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 52 | -82 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1974–75 1974–75 AHL season The 1974–75 AHL season was the 39th season of the American Hockey League. Ten teams were scheduled to play 76 games each in the schedule, but the Baltimore Clippers were unable to complete the season. The Providence Reds finished first overall in the regular season... | Richmond Robins Richmond Robins The Richmond Robins were a professional ice hockey team based in Richmond, Virginia. They were a member of the American Hockey League for five seasons from 1971–72 to 1975–76... | AHL | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | — | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||
| 1975–76 1975–76 AHL season The 1975–76 AHL season was the 40th season of the American Hockey League. The league begins to give out three James H. Ellery Memorial Awards to the media, one each for outstanding newspaper, radio and television coverage of the AHL.... | Baltimore Clippers Baltimore Clippers The Baltimore Clippers were an American ice hockey team. They were the first of three Baltimore entries into the American Hockey League, who played from 1962–76... | AHL | 76 | 3 | 18 | 21 | 52 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1976–77 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1976–77 1976–77 AHL season The 1976–77 AHL season was the 41st season of the American Hockey League. The league lost two teams, and divisions were dissolved. Six teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The F. G. "Teddy" Oke Trophy is awarded is for first place in the regular season, and the John D. Chick Trophy is not... | Rhode Island Reds Providence Reds The Providence Reds were a hockey team that played in the Canadian-American Hockey League between 1926–1936 and the American Hockey League from 1936 to 1977, the last season of which they played as the Rhode Island Reds. The team won the Calder Cup in 1938, 1940, 1949, and 1956... | AHL | 51 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 2 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1976–77 | Hershey Bears Hershey Bears The Hershey Bears Hockey Club is a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League, and is currently the top affiliate of the NHL Washington Capitals. The hockey club is based in the unincorporated town of Hershey, Pennsylvania, located within Derry Township some 14 miles east of... | AHL | 22 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 28 | — | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | ||
| 4 seasons | NHL totals | 147 | 4 | 18 | 22 | 18 | -147 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||