A product of Etobicoke’s minor hockey system, Mike Pelyk was born in 1947 and grew up on Grand Avenue in the former town of Mimico. His mother still lives in the same south Etobicoke house.

Mike showed great skill as a young athlete, excelling in both hockey and baseball with the Queensway minor associations. At age 11, he joined the Toronto Marlborough hockey club, where he played for the next six years through pee wee up to midget.

In 1961, Mike entered Michael Power high school where he took part in hockey, football and track. During his high school summers he played junior baseball at Christie Pits. In his final year of high school, he played Junior B in the Metro league.

In 1966 Mike joined the Toronto Marlboroughs of the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA), now the OHL, where he won the Memorial Cup with the team in the spring of 1967.

Mike turned professional in 1967 with the Toronto Maple Leafs. After seven successful NHL seasons he was lured to the World Hockey Association where he played four seasons with Vancouver and Cincinnati before returning to Toronto to finish his pro career. He played thirteen years of pro hockey, nine with the Maple Leafs.

After his pro career ended he continued to play with the NHL Old-timers squad raising money for charities. He also coached hockey in Humber Valley and baseball in the Kingsway – Islington league. He still lives in Etobicoke with his wife Donna and their three children, Kimberley, Christopher and Leah.