Mike Comrie

{{Infobox ice hockey player

| name = Mike Comrie

| image = Mike Comrie in 2009.jpg

| image_size = 230px

| caption = Comrie with the Edmonton Oilers in 2009

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1980|9|11}}

| birth_place = Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

| height_ft = 5

| height_in = 10

| weight_lb = 185

| position = Centre

| shoots = Left

| played_for = Edmonton Oilers
Philadelphia Flyers
Phoenix Coyotes
Färjestad BK
Ottawa Senators
New York Islanders
Pittsburgh Penguins

| ntl_team = CAN

| draft = 91st overall

| draft_year = 1999

| draft_team = Edmonton Oilers

| career_start = 2000

| career_end = 2011

}}

Michael William Comrie (born September 11, 1980) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. During his 13-year National Hockey League (NHL) career he played with the Edmonton Oilers, Philadelphia Flyers, Phoenix Coyotes, Ottawa Senators, New York Islanders, and the Pittsburgh Penguins. He retired in early 2012 after undergoing hip surgery for the third time.{{cite news |last1=Sandor |first1=Steven |title=Growing Up Comrie |url=https://edifyedmonton.com/people/profiles/growing-up-comrie/ |access-date=October 27, 2022 |publisher=Edify |date=October 1, 2013}}

Playing career

Mike Comrie was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, and attended Jasper Place High School.{{Citation needed|date=February 2019}} As a youth, he played in the 1993 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hockey team from the Whitemud region of Edmonton, Alberta.{{cite web|url=https://www.publicationsports.com/ressources/files/439/Joueurs_Pro.pdf|title=Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA|year=2018|website=Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament|access-date=February 9, 2019}} He was drafted in the third round, ninety-first overall, in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft by his hometown Edmonton Oilers out of the University of Michigan. He would go on to the Canadian Western Hockey League for 37 games before being called up to play for the Edmonton Oilers{{cite web |url=https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=44991 |title = Mike Comrie Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com}}

=Edmonton Oilers=

Comrie left the Western Hockey League (WHL)'s Kootenay Ice midway through the 2000–01 season, signing an incentive-laden $10-million three-year deal with the Oilers,{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/cup01/games/2001-04-17-edmdal.htm|title=Comrie nets OT goal, Oilers even series with Stars|access-date=August 21, 2008|agency=Associated Press|date=August 21, 2008|newspaper=USA Today}} which, when all achievable bonuses were included, was well above the league maximum for the base salaries of 2001 draftees of $1.13 million a year.{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2001/01/02/comries-jump-to-junior-a-bonus/|title=Comrie's Jump To Junior A Bonus|access-date=June 5, 2013|author=Neil Milbert|date=January 2, 2001|newspaper=Chicago Tribune}} Although Comrie was a free agent as a result of playing one year of major junior hockey as an overage player after leaving college (due to a loophole established by Mike Van Ryn), entry-level salary restrictions still applied to Comrie's contract, with free-agent status allowing Comrie to sign with any team he desired.{{cite magazine|url=http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1021271/index.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080908021705/http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1021271/index.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 8, 2008|title=Skating Through A Loophole|access-date=August 21, 2008|author=Michael Farber|date=August 21, 2008|magazine=Sports Illustrated}} In Edmonton Comrie instantly become a fan favourite and hometown hero.{{cite web|url=http://www.oilersheritage.com/history/transformation_players_mikecomrie.html|archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20101208160534/http://www.oilersheritage.com/history/transformation_players_mikecomrie.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 8, 2010|title=Mike Comrie—Hometown Hero|access-date=August 21, 2008|author=Edmonton Oilers Heritage Website|date=August 21, 2008|publisher=Edmonton Oilers Heritage Website}} He was an offensive threat during his first couple seasons with the team, tallying a total of 133 points in 192 games from 2001 to 2003.

=Departure from Edmonton=

After a lacklustre training camp in the pre-season Comrie's status as local hero in Edmonton started to change dramatically,[http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/sports/oilers/story.html?id=bb6092fa-3931-48e3-9e6b-5d29194b3c47&k=78054 Comrie moves past Edmonton]{{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20120731072556/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/Phoenix/2006/10/24/2114757-sun.html Phoenix: He's public enemy No. 2]}} after he elected to hold out in a contract dispute for more than 30 games into the 2003–04 season. The Oilers then-General Manager, Kevin Lowe, was reportedly willing to trade Comrie to the Anaheim Ducks for Corey Perry and a first round draft pick,{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsrant.com/comrie-traded-ducks-a1805.html|title=Comrie to be traded to the Ducks?|author=CP|date=August 21, 2008|publisher=SportsRant.com|access-date=August 22, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081226124658/http://www.sportsrant.com/comrie-traded-ducks-a1805.html|archive-date=December 26, 2008|url-status=dead}} but within that deal sought to have Comrie reimburse the Oilers $2.5 million,{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/oilers-comrie-must-pay-for-trade-1.399739|title=Oilers' Comrie must pay for trade|access-date=December 11, 2003|author=CBC.ca staff|date=December 11, 2003|publisher=CBC.ca}} which was part of the bonus money he earned from his entry-level contract.{{cite web|url=http://www.hockeyforum.com/ottawa-senators/17095-comrie-once-flyer-has-found-his-niche.html|title=Bumped around, he's settled in with Ottawa|access-date=August 21, 2008|author=Tim Panaccio|date=August 21, 2008|publisher=The Inquirer}} After this deal fell through, Comrie was dealt to the Philadelphia Flyers in December 2003, for Jeff Woywitka, a first round selection in 2004 (Rob Schremp) and a third round selection in 2005 (Danny Syvret).{{cite web |url=https://edmontonjournal.com/sports/Hockey+World/4550412/story.html |title=Hockey World |access-date=April 2, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110817082633/http://www.edmontonjournal.com/sports/Hockey+World/4550412/story.html |archive-date=August 17, 2011 }}

=Philadelphia Flyers and Phoenix Coyotes=

Comrie played only 21 games for Philadelphia before being traded to the Phoenix Coyotes for Sean Burke, Branko Radivojevic, and the rights to Ben Eager.

During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, he signed with Färjestad BK of the Elitserien and played ten games with them, before leaving in December 2004.{{cite web|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20050405/DUHA05 |title=Souray stays in Sweden for long haul |access-date=August 16, 2008 |author=Eric Duhatschek |date=April 5, 2005 |work=The Globe and Mail |quote=Souray came over in November along with the Phoenix Coyotes' Mike Comrie. Both signed with Farjestads during the first transfer window in the Swedish season. Comrie lasted only about 10 games and left at the beginning of December. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081226151809/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20050405/DUHA05 |archive-date=December 26, 2008 }} Following an agreement made in July 2005, between the NHL and NHLPA members to resume hockey operations and play, Comrie would return to the Coyotes for the 2005–06 NHL season, where he would record his second 30-goal season in the NHL. The Coyotes would then re-sign Comrie to a new, one-year contract worth $3 million, on August 4, 2006.{{cite web|url=https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=173286 |title=Coyotes sign Comrie to one-year deal |access-date=October 11, 2007 |author=TSN.ca staff |date=August 4, 2006 |publisher=TSN.ca |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929155119/http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=173286 |archive-date=September 29, 2007 |url-status=dead }}

On January 3, 2007, Comrie was traded to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Senators prospect Alexei Kaigorodov.

=Ottawa Senators and New York Islanders=

File:Senators vs Devils Jan 6 2007.jpg, fighting with Brian Rafalski as referees attempt to break it up]]

Comrie scored his first goal for the Senators versus the Boston Bruins on January 9, 2007, at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa, Ontario. Whenever Comrie scored a goal at Scotiabank Place, his goal song was "Black Gloves" by the Belgian band Goose. He helped Ottawa throughout the playoffs despite having an injured shoulder that required local anesthetic to numb the pain, this prevented him from reaching down to tie his skates. The Senators made it to the Stanley Cup Finals, losing to the Anaheim Ducks, in a 4–1 series decision. Prior to the loss, the Senators eliminated the Pittsburgh Penguins, New Jersey Devils, and Buffalo Sabres all in five games.

On July 5, 2007, Mike Comrie signed a one-year contract worth $3.375 million with the New York Islanders as an unrestricted free agent.{{cite news|url=http://www.canada.com/topics/sports/hockey/senatorsstory.html?id=5352d2da-91fc-45d8-b19e-14dd5c19bc0d&k=78173|title=Islanders land Comrie, Guerin|access-date=October 11, 2007|author=Ken Warren|date=July 6, 2007|newspaper=Ottawa Citizen}} Before the trade deadline on February 26, 2008, the New York Islanders re-signed Comrie to a new one-year contract worth $4 million.{{cite web|url= http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/02/26/sports/HKN-Islanders-Comrie.php|title= Mike Comrie signs 1-year, $4 million deal to stay with Islanders|access-date= August 16, 2008|date= February 26, 2008|publisher= International Herald-Tribune}} Comrie would be traded back to the Senators on February 20, 2009, with Chris Campoli, in exchange for Dean McAmmond and a San Jose Sharks 2009 first round draft pick.{{cite web|url= https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jhKTiKiXWB3zt5JTh-DqddgSFKCAD96FJP481|title= Islanders trade Comrie to Ottawa|access-date= February 20, 2009|date= February 20, 2009|publisher= Associated Press}}{{dead link|date=June 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

=Return to the Oilers=

On September 10, 2009, Mike Comrie signed a one-year contract worth $1.125 million with the team he began his NHL career with, returning to the Edmonton Oilers after six years, for their upcoming 2009–10 NHL season.[http://oilers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=498132 Oilers sign Mike Comrie] Comrie chose to wear No. 91 (his overall draft selection number), as his familiar jersey No. 89 (which he wore during his first go-round with the team), was taken by Sam Gagner.

File:Mike Comrie cropped.jpg, April 2010]]

Comrie made his return to Edmonton a night to remember, in a 4–0 pre-season win over the Florida Panthers, on September 18, 2009. Comrie assisted on all four of the goals scored and registered a fight, squaring off with the Panthers' Eric Himelfarb, to which Comrie received a standing ovation from the Rexall Place crowd, who promptly chanted his name as he took his place inside the penalty box.[http://oilers.nhl.com/club/recap.htm?id=2009010027 Panthers vs. Oilers 18/09/2009] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316084226/http://oilers.nhl.com/club/recap.htm?id=2009010027 |date=March 16, 2012 }}

On November 17, Comrie was placed on the NHL long term injury reserve list with mononucleosis and was expected to be out until late January. He had 5 goals and 8 points, in 16 games. Comrie would make his return to the Oilers line-up on February 1, 2010, recording an assist in a 4–2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes. He finished out the rest of the season tallying 13 goals and 21 points, in 43 games.

Mike Comrie became an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2010, with the Oilers opting not to re-sign him for the 2010–11 season.{{cite web| url = http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2010/08/28/oilers_comrie/ | title = Oilers not planning on re-signing Comrie | publisher = Sportsnet.ca | date = July 1, 2010 | access-date = July 1, 2010}}

=Pittsburgh Penguins=

On September 3, 2010, Mike Comrie signed a one-year contract worth $500,000 with the Pittsburgh Penguins,[http://penguins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=536836 Penguins sign Forward Mike Comrie] joining the franchise that drafted his uncle Fred, in 1973.[http://www.nhl.com/ice/draftsearch.htm?year=1973&round=8&team=PIT&supl=N Fred Comrie - 1973 NHL Amateur Draft - 8th Round] On September 22, 2010, Comrie scored the very first goal inside of the new Consol Energy Center, 81 seconds into the Penguins' 5-1 exhibition game victory over the Detroit Red Wings.{{cite news|title= Penguins open Consol Energy Center with 5-1 exhibition win|newspaper= Pittsburgh Tribune-Review|date= October 23, 2010|url= http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/penguins/s_700900.html|access-date= September 23, 2010|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100927222538/http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/penguins/s_700900.html|archive-date= September 27, 2010|url-status= dead}} Due to a nagging hip injury, Comrie was sidelined for much of the regular season. He scored his first goal as a Penguin during their 82nd and final game of the season, on an empty Atlanta Thrashers net. It was the last goal scored in Thrashers's home Philips Arena before the team relocated to Winnipeg in the off season.

=Retirement=

After undergoing hip surgery for the third time, Comrie retired from hockey on February 13, 2012.{{cite web |url=http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=387700 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213170024/http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=387700 |archive-date=February 13, 2012 |title=Former Oiler, Senator Comrie retires after 10 NHL seasons}}

Personal life

Comrie's father, Bill, and his uncles, Fred and John, are the founders of The Brick furniture company, which was sold in 2012 for $700 million. Comrie's mother, Theresa, died of cancer in 1990. Comrie has two older siblings; a sister, Cathy, and a brother, Paul, who played with the Oilers briefly, before Mike was drafted by them. Comrie also has two hockey playing younger half-brothers from his father's second marriage, Eric, a goaltender who was selected by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2013 NHL Entry Drafthttp://jets.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=90293 Winnipeg Jets 2013 Draft Selections & Transactions and Ty,{{cite web |url=http://thescoutingnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=22776&Itemid=53 |title=Ty Comrie |publisher=www.thescoutingnews.com |access-date=March 27, 2010|date=March 16, 2010 }} who plays center.

Comrie began dating American actress/singer Hilary Duff in the summer of 2007. The couple announced their engagement in February 2010,{{cite news|url=https://people.com/celebrity/hilary-duff-engaged-to-hockey-player-beau/|title=Hilary Duff Engaged to Hockey Player Beau|work=People magazine|author=Catherine Donaldson-Evans|date=February 19, 2010|access-date=February 19, 2010}}{{cite news|url=http://www.torontosun.com/entertainment/celebrities/2010/02/19/12952681.html |title=Hilary Duff is Engaged |newspaper=Toronto Sun |access-date=February 19, 2010}} and married on August 14, 2010, in Santa Barbara.{{cite news|url=http://www.okmagazine.com/2010/08/hilary-duff-mike-comrie-tie-the-knot/|title=OK! Exclusive: Hilary Duff & Mike Comrie Tie the Knot|work=OK!|author=Gena Oppenheim|date=August 14, 2010|access-date=August 14, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100816234355/http://www.okmagazine.com/2010/08/hilary-duff-mike-comrie-tie-the-knot/|archive-date=August 16, 2010}} They have a son born March 20, 2012.{{cite web|url=http://hilaryduff.com/welcome-to-the-world-luca-cruz-comrie/2012/03/ |title=Welcome to the World Luca Cruz Comrie |url-status=dead |access-date=July 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326181021/http://hilaryduff.com/welcome-to-the-world-luca-cruz-comrie/2012/03/ |archive-date=March 26, 2012 }} On January 10, 2014, the couple announced their separation.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20774408,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110234017/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20774408,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 10, 2014 |title=Hilary Duff Separates from Mike Comrie |author=Tan, Michelle |date=January 10, 2014 |access-date=January 10, 2014 |magazine=People }} In February 2015, Duff filed for divorce from Comrie, citing irreconcilable differences, and sought primary custody of their son.{{cite news|last1=Finn|first1=Natalie|title=Hilary Duff Files for Divorce From Mike Comrie a Year After Separation: Report|url=http://www.eonline.com/news/627923/hilary-duff-files-for-divorce-from-mike-comrie-a-year-after-separation-report|access-date=February 20, 2015|work=E!|agency=NBCUniversal|publisher=eonline.com|date=February 20, 2015|location=United States|language=en}} The divorce was finalized in February 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.ctvnews.ca/entertainment/judge-finalizes-hilary-duff-s-divorce-from-mike-comrie-1.2762654|title=Judge finalizes Hilary Duff's divorce from Mike Comrie|publisher=CTV News|date=February 3, 2016|access-date=February 3, 2016}}