Mike Lee (ice hockey, born 1996) explained

Mike Lee
Birth Date:25 April 1996
Birth Place:Hamden, Connecticut, USA
Height Ft:5
Height In:11
Weight Lb:183
Position:Defense
Shoots:Left
Team:HC Nové Zámky
League:Slovak
Former Teams:Indy Fuel
Kansas City Mavericks
Hartford Wolf Pack
Career Start:2020
Draft:Undrafted

Michael Lee (born April 25, 1996) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman currently playing for HC Nové Zámky of the Slovak Extraliga.

He was an All-American for Sacred Heart.

Playing career

After attending Hamden High school and the Gunnery Prep school, Lee finished High School in Penticton British Columbia while joining the Penticton Vees and helping the club win both the league championship and the Western Canada Cup in 2015. He was able to earn a college scholarship to Vermont on the back of his stellar season. After his sophomore year, Lee left Vermont and transferred to Sacred Heart, closer to his hometown.[1]

Lee debuted for the Pioneers in 2018 and saw a tremendous increase to his production. His arrival in Bridgeport coincided with Sacred Heart winning 16 games and posting its best season in nine years.[2] Lee performed even better in his senior season and was named an All-American as well as the best defenseman in Atlantic Hockey. The Pioneers finished the regular season with 21 wins, tying the program record. Before they could attempt to set a new benchmark, however, the Atlantic Hockey Tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[3]

With his college career finished, Lee was able to sign a one-year contract with the Indy Fuel. While the season was shortened as a result of the pandemic, Lee played well and finished second on the team in terms of defensive points.

Entering the 2021–22 season, Lee returned with a second one-year deal.[4] Having increased his offensive output, Lee was placed sixth in the ECHL in scoring from the blueline with 32 points through 41 games before he was traded by the Fuel to the Kansas City Mavericks on February 17, 2022.[5]

Career statistics

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGP PIMGP G A Pts PIM
2012–13The GunneryUS-Prep29 1 11 12
2013–14The GunneryUS-Prep28 7 21 28
2013–14Tri-City StormUSHL2 0 0 0 0
2014–15Penticton VeesBCHL56 2 34 36 22 21 1 3 4 6
2015–16U. of VermontHE36 1 2 3 12
2016–17U. of VermontHE15 0 3 3 4
2018–19Sacred HeartAHA35 4 15 19 27
2019–20Sacred HeartAHA33 5 28 33 20
2020–21Indy FuelECHL35 5 18 23 8
2021–22Indy FuelECHL41 6 26 32 6
2021–22Hartford Wolf PackAHL3 0 0 0 2
2021–22Kansas City MavericksECHL23 8 8 16 4
AHL totals 3 0 0 0 2

Awards and honors

AwardYear
College
All-Atlantic Hockey First Team2019–20[6]
AHCA East Second Team All-American2019–20[7]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mike Lee and Sacred Heart making a statement . New England Hockey Journal . January 13, 2020 . January 22, 2022.
  2. Web site: Sacred Heart Pioneers Men's Ice Hockey All-Time Results . Sacred Heart Pioneers . January 22, 2022.
  3. Web site: Remainder of 2020 Atlantic Hockey Tournament Cancelled. atlantichockeyonline.com. March 12, 2020. January 22, 2022.
  4. Web site: Mike Lee Returns for Second Season in Indy . Indy Fuel . July 29, 2021 . March 12, 2020.
  5. Web site: Mavericks acquire Mike Lee . . . February 17, 2022 . February 17, 2022.
  6. Web site: Atlantic Hockey All-Conference Teams Announced . atlantichockeyonline.com . March 12, 2020 . March 12, 2020.
  7. News: Men's Ice Hockey Award Winners. NCAA.org. June 11, 2013.