Mike Bishai

Mike Bishai
Bishai playing for Ilves
Born	(1979-05-30) May 30, 1979 Edmonton, AB, CAN
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight	185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position	Center
Shoots	Left
NHL team Former teams	Free Agent Edmonton Oilers RSL Dynamo Moscow SM-l Ilves Jokerit
NHL Draft	Undrafted
Playing career	2002–present

Mike Bishai (born May 30, 1979 in Edmonton, Alberta) is a professional ice hockey centre, who is currently a Free Agent. He last played for Jokerit in the Finnish SM-liiga. Bishai was never drafted, but has played in the National Hockey League with the Edmonton Oilers.

Playing career

Amateur career

Bishai played two seasons with the South Surrey Eagles in the BCHL, before moving on to Western Michigan University, where he played four seasons. In 2001, Bishai led the Central Collegiate Hockey Association in points, and led the NCAA in points per game. At the tale end of the 2001–02 season, Bishai signed with Edmonton and was assigned to their AHL affiliate, the Hamilton Bulldogs.

Professional career

Bishai played most of his Oiler career with affiliates in the AHL, but in the 2003–04 season, he made his NHL debut and played 14 games with the Oilers. Bishai signed with the Phoenix Coyotes organization prior to the 2005–06 season and was assigned to an affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage.

Bishai then joined Moscow Dynamo for the 2006–07 season. After playing in only 23 games with Moscow, Bishai left for the Finnish SM-l where he signed with Ilves Tampere for the 2007–08 season. After a successful season with Ilves, Mike then signed with rival team, Jokerit, for the 2008–09 season.

Bishai is most remembered for a fight on Atlanta Thrashers player Serge Aubin on February 11, 2004. The fight, during the brawl, was unbelievable because Aubin tossed Oilers rookie Mike Bishai into the Atlanta bench. Bishai got to his feet and continued to trade punches with Aubin, while stunned Thrashers looked on unsure what to do.

Oilers coach Craig MacTavish commented on that fight and said, "...As many years as I've been in the game, I've never seen a guy fighting standing up in the opposition's bench...That's like diving into somebody else's foxhole."

Awards

• CCHA Second All-Star Team (2001)
• NCAA West Second All-American Team (2001)

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1996–97	South Surrey Eagles	BCHL		38	6	13	19	10		—	—	—	—	—
1997–98	South Surrey Eagles	BCHL		57	48	52	100	36		—	—	—	—	—
1998–99	Western Michigan University	CCHA		26	0	3	3	20		—	—	—	—	—
1999–00	Western Michigan University	CCHA		35	18	19	37	52		—	—	—	—	—
2000–01	Western Michigan University	CCHA		37	23	45	68	37		—	—	—	—	—
2001–02	Western Michigan University	CCHA		34	10	27	37	28		—	—	—	—	—
2001–02	Hamilton Bulldogs	AHL		3	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2002–03	Columbus Cottonmouths	ECHL		25	12	17	29	24		—	—	—	—	—
2002–03	Hamilton Bulldogs	AHL		27	7	5	12	11		6	2	1	3	2
2003–04	Toronto Roadrunners	AHL		48	11	22	33	18		3	0	0	0	4
2003–04	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		14	0	2	2	19		—	—	—	—	—
2004–05	Edmonton Roadrunners	AHL		70	10	24	34	36		—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	San Antonio Rampage	AHL		66	13	18	31	40		—	—	—	—	—
2006–07	Moscow Dynamo	RSL		23	2	3	5	34		—	—	—	—	—
2007–08	Ilves	SM-l		49	13	28	41	18		8	1	3	4	39
2008–09	Jokerit	SM-l		18	4	7	11	4		—	—	—	—	—
NHL Totals				14	0	2	2	19		—	—	—	—	—

External links

• Mike Bishai's career statistics at The Internet Hockey Database
• Mike Bishai's biography at Legends of Hockey