Mike Fedorko

Mike Fedorko. Photo courtesy of the Hamilton Spectator.

Former Fincup played in Europe, developed strong coaching skills

While this Hamilton native did not play hockey in the majors to any extent, Mike Fedorko has had a rich career in the sport.

Born in September of 1956, Fedorko started with the Hamilton Red Wings for the 1973-74 season. The defenseman played with the franchise for the next two seasons when it was known as the Fincups, and he played on the team’s Memorial Cup winning season in 1976.

After his tenure with the Fincups, and some hockey with Johnstown and Oklahoma City, Fedorko’s only taste of major league play came in a mere four games with the Houston Aeros of the WHA in the 1976-77 season.

For the next 10 years he would play in several venues, both in North America and in Europe, where he not only picked up coaching skills but some life skills as well, which put him in good stead when he returned to Canada.

“It’s nice to be back,” said Ferdorko in a July 1987 interview when he was taken on as the new assistant head coach of the Hamilton Steelhawks.

“When I look back I see it was the best thing for me,” he continued. “I was just going to be a minor leaguer. By the time I was 22 years old I realized I was an IHLer or an AHLer at best.”

Fedorko went on to other coaching duties when the OHL Steelhawks franchise went to Niagara Falls after the 1987-88 season. He was turned down for the head coaching position of the Guelph Storm in 1991, and went west to work behind the bench of the Prince Albert Raiders of the WHL. He said in a 1991 interview he was well accepted by the Saskatchewan club.

“There doesn’t seem to be any prejudice against me,” he said at the time. “Not one guy has said anything about me being an easterner. They’ve allowed me to do my job the way I want here.”

Fedorko led the Raiders to a first in its division with a 50-20-2 record in the 72-game season.
He came back to Ontario in 1994 as head coach for the London Knights of the OHL for two seasons, and then was assistant coach with the Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL for the 1996-97 season.

Not only was Fedorko teaching young players skills on the ice, he also told them that not everyone can get to the NHL, and said his Memorial Cup win with the Fincups in 1976 was a proud moment in his hockey career.

“Deep down in my heart I would have loved to made it big - be an NHLer” he said. But if you keep plugging, persevering, you can succeed.”

He also believed that going to Europe for those years gave him experience and insight into the game.

“Going to Europe was a great way to broaden my horizons and keep in hockey.”

Although he is a restaurateur in Saskatchewan now, Fedorko is still providing guidance to younger players, including his nephew Scott Timmins.

Timmins, a 17-goal scorer for the Kitchener Rangers in 2007, said in an interview before the start of the 2008 OHL season he’ll make a phone call to Uncle Mike out west.

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