Mike Wong
Encyclopedia
Michael Anthony Wong is a retired ice hockey
forward who played in 22 games for the Detroit Red Wings
. He is also a former Golden Gloves
boxing champion. He was drafted 7th (77th overall) in the 1975 NHL Amateur Draft
. Wong was born of Chinese and Native American descent.
. This was the first year the tournament was held and Wong found himself traveling to Leningrad
and playing the best talent from 10 different countries in his age group. Although the United States failed to medal, Wong played well and was noticed.
Back in the States, Wong joined the Montreal Jr. Canadiens
of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
. In the 1974–75 season he recorded 27 goals and 41 assists for 67 points. The Red Wings had seen enough and decided to draft Wong with their 7th pick in 1975. Wong was also drafted 61st overall in the 1974 WHA Amateur Draft
by the Indianapolis Racers
.
Wong started the season with the Kalamazoo Wings of the International Hockey League, in which he scored 42 points in only 39 games. Finally, he was called up to play for Detroit on October 11, 1975 in a game against the California Golden Seals
. He remained with Detroit for 21 more games, but only managed to score one goal and one assist in that span. He ended his NHL run with a plus/minus rating of -11.
For the next three seasons, Wong would spend a handful of games with Kalamazoo before trying his hand with other clubs. He played for the Road Island Reds
of the American Hockey League
in 1976–77, the Muskegon Mokawks of the IHL in 1977–78, and the Johnstown Wings of the North East Hockey League in 1978–79. He retired from pro hockey after the 1978–79 season.
playing for Buck's Unpainted Furniture U.S. senior elite team, he married his high school sweetheart. He later coached his son Jason's youth hockey teams in Minnesota. Jason went on to play junior and college hockey in Minnesota.
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...
forward who played in 22 games 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...
. He is also a former Golden Gloves
Golden Gloves
The Golden Gloves is the name given to annual competitions for amateur boxing in the United States. The Golden Gloves is often the term used to refer to the National Golden Gloves competition, but it also can represent several other amateur tournaments, including regional golden gloves...
boxing champion. He was drafted 7th (77th overall) in the 1975 NHL Amateur Draft
1975 NHL Amateur Draft
The 1975 NHL Amateur Draft was held at the NHL office in Montreal, Quebec. The two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Philadelphia Flyers made the most noise at the draft, trading Bill Clement, Don McLean, and the 18th overall pick to the Washington Capitals for the number one overall selection,...
. Wong was born of Chinese and Native American descent.
Professional career
Wong excelled at junior hockey in Minnesota and was called upon to join the U.S. National team at the 1974 World Junior ChampionshipsWorld Junior Ice Hockey Championships
The International Ice Hockey Federation World Under 20 Championship is an annual event organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation for national under-20 ice hockey teams from around the world...
. This was the first year the tournament was held and Wong found himself traveling to Leningrad
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
and playing the best talent from 10 different countries in his age group. Although the United States failed to medal, Wong played well and was noticed.
Back in the States, Wong joined the Montreal Jr. Canadiens
Montreal Jr. Canadiens
The Montreal Junior Canadiens were a junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Junior Hockey League from 1933 to 1961, and the Ontario Hockey Association from 1961 to 1972. They played out of the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.-History:...
of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League...
. In the 1974–75 season he recorded 27 goals and 41 assists for 67 points. The Red Wings had seen enough and decided to draft Wong with their 7th pick in 1975. Wong was also drafted 61st overall in the 1974 WHA Amateur Draft
1974 WHA Amateur Draft
The 1974 WHA Amateur Draft was the second draft held by the World Hockey Association.-Selections by round:Listed below are the selections made in the 1974 WHA Amateur Draft.-Round 1:1. Pat Price - Vancouver Blazers2. Mike Will - Indianapolis Racers...
by the Indianapolis Racers
Indianapolis Racers
The Indianapolis Racers were a franchise in the former World Hockey Association from 1974 to 1978. They competed in five seasons, folding 25 games into the 1978–79 season. They played at Market Square Arena...
.
Wong started the season with the Kalamazoo Wings of the International Hockey League, in which he scored 42 points in only 39 games. Finally, he was called up to play for Detroit on October 11, 1975 in a game against the California Golden Seals
California Golden Seals
The California Golden Seals were a team in the National Hockey League from 1967–76. Initially named California Seals, the team was renamed Oakland Seals part-way through the 1967–68 season, and then to California Golden Seals in 1970. The Seals were one of six teams added to the league as part of...
. He remained with Detroit for 21 more games, but only managed to score one goal and one assist in that span. He ended his NHL run with a plus/minus rating of -11.
For the next three seasons, Wong would spend a handful of games with Kalamazoo before trying his hand with other clubs. He played for the Road 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...
of 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...
in 1976–77, the Muskegon Mokawks of the IHL in 1977–78, and the Johnstown Wings of the North East Hockey League in 1978–79. He retired from pro hockey after the 1978–79 season.
After pro hockey
Wong returned to Minnesota spent several years in Bloomington, MinnesotaBloomington, Minnesota
Bloomington is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota in Hennepin County. Located on the north bank of the Minnesota River above its confluence with the Mississippi River, Bloomington lies at the heart of the southern...
playing for Buck's Unpainted Furniture U.S. senior elite team, he married his high school sweetheart. He later coached his son Jason's youth hockey teams in Minnesota. Jason went on to play junior and college hockey in Minnesota.