Mike Shabaga

Athlete (1990)

Hockey

Mike played his entire minor hockey in Saskatoon. His career began in the fall of 1937 when he joined the Saskatoon Midget Wesleys. This club went to the Provincial finals but lost out to Moose Jaw. The following year with the Saskatoon Chiefs, Shabaga helped the club with the Saskatchewan juvenile title. In 1939-40 Mike played junior with the Saskatoon Dodgers. He was with the Saskatoon Quakers the following season. This was one of the finest Saskatoon junior teams ever assembled. They lost a tough seven game series to the Winnipeg Rangers in the Abbott Cup final.

In 1941-42, Shabaga moved up to the Senior Quakers, and then turned pro with the Cleveland Barons of the American League. After three seasons with Cleveland, he was traded to Buffalo for the 1945-46 season helping them win the AHL championship. Following two more seasons in Saskatoon, Shabaga saw service with Owen Sound, then back to Saskatoon, then the Trail Smoke Eaters and the Penticton Vees. He was with the Vees when they won the World championship in the spring of 1955. Mike scored two goals in the final game against Russia.

** Deceased