Where Are They Now – Mike Zuke

HOUGHTON, Mich. – Mike Zuke is Michigan Tech's all-time scoring leader and ranks third in NCAA history in career points. Originally from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Zuke now resides in St. Louis, Missouri.

Zuke played at Tech from 1972-76 and racked up 310 points, scoring 133 goals, and tallying 177 assists in 163 games. Among his honors are: two-time All-America selection (1974, 1976), WCHA Freshman of the Year (1973), All-WCHA first team (1976), and WCHA Most Valuable Player (1976).

Zuke was drafted 79th overall by the St. Louis Blues in the 1974 NHL Draft. He played 455 NHL games in eight seasons, scoring 86 goals and tallying 196 assists for the Edmonton Oilers, St. Louis Blues and Hartford Whalers.

MichiganTechHuskies.com recently caught up with Mike Zuke while he was driving from work to hockey practice:

Q: What do you do these days?

MZ: I started my own company about 20 years ago. I do screen printing and embroidery, pretty much any promotional items companies need. I'm heavy into hockey with jerseys and T-shirts. I did some shirts for Michigan Tech a couple years ago. I ship anywhere in the US and Canada. My website MikeZuke.com is a place where people can see what I sell. I'm not yet set up for online ordering but should be soon.

I also do a lot of coaching. I've been coaching ever since my boys started playing when they were five, so about 20 years ago. The last couple years I coached triple A midget, but this year I left that position to become the director of skill development for an association. I'm doing more coaching of the coaches than the players. I'm teaching them the right things to teach the kids like making sure they have fun and make sure they're teaching skills instead of just dump and chase hockey.

Q: How is hockey in St. Louis?

MZ: Hockey is tremendous in St. Louis. There is a tremendous amount of kids playing college hockey from our area. We have six kids that were offered spots with the national development team. I think a couple of them went OHL (Ontario Hockey League). Current NHL player Paul Stastny also played his youth hockey here.

Q: Do you follow Michigan Tech hockey?

MZ: I have been following Tech hockey. I've been very interested watching what's been going since Mel (Pearson) got there. I'm happy the program is back to the elite status it used to be. I think Mel's doing a terrific job.

Q: What made John MacInnes such a good coach?

MZ: I think the respect you had for him and just the type of person he was made him such a great coach. Michigan Tech was an elite program, and a lot of it was recruiting, and that was because of John. I wouldn't have gone to Michigan Tech if John weren't the coach. When you met him you trusted him, and when you were playing for him you knew he was doing the right things, and you respected his knowledge of the game.

The new student ice arena was another reason I came. If I would've had to start my career in Dee Stadium I probably would've went to Notre Dame or Lake Superior State who had better rinks. The crowds were great even when we weren't very good my first year.

Q: What were you fondest memories of playing for the Huskies?

MZ: Three years going to the National Championship was my best memory. We had three tremendous teams. We would lose some good players and just rebuild with some good new freshmen. We stuck together as a team and enjoyed the success.

Q: How do you think your game would translate to hockey today?

MZ: I want to think I was a skill player. I could score, but I was also a playmaker. I think my style of play is conducive to the style now. I might've even put up more points now than I did when I played in the pros because at the time there was clutching and grabbing and it was more of a brutal game. You couldn't stand in front of the net like you can today.

In today's game, the skill players can show off their skills. I didn't skate, stickhandle, or shoot like they do now but that's something that has changed with new technology and equipment.

Q: Are you surprised no Tech player has come close to your records?

MZ: I had a lot of good players to play with. When you play with championship teams you score a lot of goals, have a lot of offense, and have a lot of success. The numbers I put up were conducive to being on a winning team and playing a lot of games. These days the kids that put up a lot of points turn pro before they graduate. Back when I played some of the NHL coaches didn't know much about college hockey. My first pro coach sent me back to the minors because he didn't think I played enough games. A year later was I on the power play and penalty kill for another team because my first coach didn't have a clue about college hockey. It was hard for college players to make a name for themselves until the 1980 Olympics. A lot of pro teams didn't recognize how good college players were.

Q: What do you miss the most about your playing days?

MZ: I miss the comradery and I guess the hours. Now that I run my own business working 60 hours a week, I realized how nice it was having to only work 2-4 hours a day. Now days it's easier on the body for the NHL guys with the work out routines, nutrition, charter airplanes and everything.

Q: Do you still lace up the skates?

MZ: Besides for coaching every day, I play once a week with the St. Louis Blues Alumni. We do a lot of charity games and events. We do charity events with the current team, and when the team is out of town we show up. We have a fantasy camp that we run and the NHL players show up.

There are over 30 of us in St Louis. A lot of us have been involved in youth hockey in the area and that has helped St. Louis hockey develop. We know the skill development and know what it takes to be a top college or junior player. We push these kids and give them the understanding that they can actually play college hockey. People thought I was crazy when I started coaching and saying kids from this area can play college hockey. Six of the kids from my first teams ended up going Division I.

Q: What's your relationship with Mel and the coaching staff?

MZ: It's nice to have a connection with the current coaching staff. I talk to Joe Shawhan, often and he always asks about talent from our area.

Editor's Note: MichiganTechHuskies.com will be doing Where Are They Now features all season long. Check back often for all the latest news on the Michigan Tech hockey team.