Mike Komisarek

{{Infobox ice hockey player

| image = Mike Komisarek 2013.jpg

| image_size = 230px

| caption = Komisarek with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2013

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1982|1|19}}

| birth_place = West Islip, New York, U.S.

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 4

| weight_lb = 243

| position = Defense

| shoots = Right

| played_for = Montreal Canadiens
Toronto Maple Leafs
Carolina Hurricanes

| ntl_team = USA

| draft = 7th overall

| draft_year = 2001

| draft_team = Montreal Canadiens

| career_start = 2002

| career_end = 2014

}}

Michael Komisarek (born January 19, 1982) is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman. He was selected seventh overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. Komisarek also played for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Carolina Hurricanes.

Playing career

=Amateur=

As a youth, Komisarek played in the 1996 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the New York Islanders minor ice hockey team.{{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=2019-02-11|archive-date=2019-03-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306085544/https://www.publicationsports.com/ressources/files/439/Joueurs_Pro.pdf|url-status=dead}}

Komisarek began playing competitively on Long Island, New York, starting off in the Suffolk PAL organization.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}} He played two years of Varsity hockey at St. Anthony's High School.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}} He then played for the New England Jr. Coyotes of the Eastern Junior Hockey League (EJHL) under legendary coach Gary Dineen.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}} He was then picked up by USA Hockey's National Team Development Program.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}} He is a student of the respected Lithuanian hockey coach Aleksey Nikiforov.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}}

=College=

Komisarek played two seasons at the University of Michigan, compiling 46 points and 145 penalty minutes in 80 games. He helped the Wolverines men's ice hockey team to a 55–24–10 mark, a Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) title and two trips to the NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Championship.{{cite web|url=https://www.ncaa.com/sports/m-hockey/spec-rel/010809aab.html |title=On Ice: Winter Wonderland |publisher=ncaa.com |author=Bo Rottenborn |date=2009-01-08 |accessdate=2009-01-22 }}{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} One of his teammates was fellow Long Islander Eric Nystrom. Komisarek was also named a First Team Division I All-American by the American Hockey Coaches Association in 2002.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}}

=Professional=

After two seasons with the University of Michigan, Komisarek was selected seventh overall in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft by the Montreal Canadiens. He was signed to a contract by the team on July 24, 2002.{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/offseason-nhl-transactions-1.324288|title=Offseason NHL transactions | publisher = CBC Sports| date = October 2, 2002 | access-date = January 22, 2022}} He played his first NHL game in the 2002–03 season with the Canadiens. He re-signed with the Canadiens in 2007 for a two-year, $3.5 million, along with his friend Chris Higgins, who is also from Long Island.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}}

Komisarek scored his first NHL goal on March 20, 2006, against the Washington Capitals, where he was named the first star of the game.{{cite web|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2005021011 |title=Recap: Montréal @ Washington |publisher=nhl.com |agency=Associated Press |date=2006-03-16 |accessdate=2009-01-14}} His willingness to stand up for his teammates and his hard-hitting style made him a fan favorite in the Bell Centre.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}}

In the 2006–07 season, Komisarek tied Mike Commodore of the Calgary Flames for most shorthanded goals scored by a defenseman with two.{{cite web |url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_2007_skaters.html |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2013-11-25 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121032117/http://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_2007_skaters.html |archivedate=2008-11-21 }}

During the 2007–08 season, Komisarek led the league with 227 blocked shots and finished second in hits with 266 having played only 75 games.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}}

On January 5, 2009, Komisarek played in the NHL All-Star Game, where he was named a starter as voted by the fans alongside his Canadiens defense partner, Andrei Markov.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}}

In July 2009, Komisarek signed a five-year contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs worth an average of $4.5 million per season. On January 2, 2010, Komisarek injured his shoulder in a game against the Calgary Flames, and on February 3, it was revealed that he would require season-ending surgery. This also meant Komisarek would miss the 2010 Winter Olympics, as he was chosen to represent United States.{{cite news |url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=516144 |title=Leafs' Komisarek to have season-ending surgery |newspaper=NHL.com |date=February 3, 2010}}

On March 20, 2013, Komisarek was placed on waivers by the Maple Leafs. On March 21, 2013, he cleared waivers and with his permission was assigned to the Maple Leafs' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Toronto Marlies, for the remainder of the 2012–13 season. With one year left on his contract with the Maple Leafs, Komisarek was released as a free agent after his contract was used in a compliance buy-out on July 2, 2013.{{cite web| url = https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=426807 | title = Maple Leafs use compliance buy-out on Komisarek | publisher = The Sports Network | date = 2013-07-02 | accessdate = 2013-07-02}}

On July 5, 2013, as a free agent, Komisarek signed a one-year, $700,000 contract with the Carolina Hurricanes.{{cite web| url = https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/hurricanes-give-mike-komisarek-a-shot-1.1367939 | title = Hurricanes give Mike Komisarek a shot | publisher = Canadian Broadcasting Corporation| date = 2013-07-05 | access-date = 2013-07-05}}

In September 2014, Komisarek was signed to a professional try-out (PTO) contract by the New Jersey Devils, but was released from it shortly after.

Personal life

File:MikeKomisarekPromoLavalQC.JPG

Komisarek is of Polish descent. His father, Roman Komisarek, was 24 when he moved to the United States, where he eventually opened an auto-body repair shop on Long Island.{{cite news|url=http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/sports/story.html?id=73dd5955-d210-4cf3-a5c6-444c82a8f4c0&k=96860 |title=Hits keep coming for Komisarek |newspaper=The Gazette |author=Pat Hickey |date=2008-03-11 |accessdate=2009-01-14 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207192249/http://www2.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/sports/story.html?id=73dd5955-d210-4cf3-a5c6-444c82a8f4c0&k=96860 |archivedate=2009-02-07 }} Roman Komisarek left his wife Kathy behind in Poland until he could earn enough to afford an apartment and support her. Komisarek stated that, "At that time, my parents knew they wanted to start a family and give me and my sister a better opportunity. [...](My father) moved to Brooklyn, found a job and didn't know the language at all. He just had the clothes on his back. Now, we have a nice home on Long Island, and my parents provided everything we ever needed. I always carried that with me. I always wanted to make them proud."{{cite web|url=http://www.nhl.com/intheslot/read/college/college111501.html |accessdate=March 12, 2008 }}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Komisarek also has a sister named Joanne, who is two years younger than he is. His sister is a graduate of Boston College. He also speaks Polish.

Komisarek's mother, Kathy, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in January 2005 and died in November 2005. She was 51.{{cite news|url=http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/story.html?id=48a35618-442d-47d7-9370-a2b54034b271&k=95740 |title=A son mourns his mother |newspaper=The Gazette |author=Herb Zurkowsky |date=2005-12-07 |accessdate=2009-01-14 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207191846/http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/story.html?id=48a35618-442d-47d7-9370-a2b54034b271&k=95740 |archivedate=2009-02-07 }}

In 2011 TMZ reported that Komisarek was accused of punching a woman at a nightclub causing her nose to bleed.{{Cite web |date=2011-01-22 |title=Woman claims Leafs' Komisarek punched her in nightclub |url=https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/woman-claims-leafs-komisarek-punched-her-in-nightclub-1.598926 |access-date=2024-01-10 |website=Toronto |language=en}}

In 2014, Komisarek announced that he would be resuming studies at the University of Michigan through the athletic department's Degree Completion Program.{{Cite news|url=http://25stanley.com/mike-komisarek-retourne-aux-etudes.html|title=Balle Courbe, le sport sans bon sens|newspaper=25Stanley.com }} On January 9, 2015, Michigan Wolverines head coach Red Berenson announced that Komisarek would join the coaching staff as an undergraduate student assistant.{{cite web |url=http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-hockey/spec-rel/010915aab.html |title=Komisarek Joins Staff as Undergraduate Assistant |date=2015-01-09 |website=Michigan Go Blue |access-date=2015-01-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120222757/http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-hockey/spec-rel/010915aab.html |archive-date=2015-11-20 |url-status=dead }}

Career statistics

=Regular season and playoffs=

border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em"

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff" |

! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" |

! colspan="5" | Regular season

! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" |

! colspan="5" | Playoffs

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! Season

! Team

! League

! GP

! G

! A

! Pts

! PIM

! GP

! G

! A

! Pts

! PIM

1998–99

|New England Jr. Coyotes

|EJHL

|53

|17

|24

|41

|10

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 1999–2000

| U.S. NTDP Juniors

| USHL

| 51

| 5

| 8

| 13

| 124

| —

1999–2000

| U.S. NTDP U18

| NAHL

| 1

| 0

| 16

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 1999–2000

| U.S. NTDP U18

| USDP

| 6

| 0

| 12

| —

2000–01

| University of Michigan

| CCHA

| 41

| 4

| 12

| 16

| 77

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2001–02

| University of Michigan

| CCHA

| 39

| 11

| 19

| 30

| 68

| —

2002–03

| Hamilton Bulldogs

| AHL

| 56

| 5

| 25

| 30

| 79

| 23

| 1

| 5

| 6

| 60

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2002–03

| Montreal Canadiens

| NHL

| 21

| 0

| 1

| 28

| —

2003–04

| Hamilton Bulldogs

| AHL

| 18

| 2

| 7

| 9

| 47

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2003–04

| Montreal Canadiens

| NHL

| 46

| 0

| 4

| 34

| 7

| 0

| 8

2004–05

| Hamilton Bulldogs

| AHL

| 20

| 1

| 4

| 5

| 49

| 4

| 0

| 1

| 8

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2005–06

| Montreal Canadiens

| NHL

| 71

| 2

| 4

| 6

| 116

| 6

| 0

| 10

2006–07

| Montreal Canadiens

| NHL

| 82

| 4

| 15

| 19

| 96

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2007–08

| Montreal Canadiens

| NHL

| 75

| 4

| 13

| 17

| 101

| 12

| 1

| 2

| 3

| 18

2008–09

| Montreal Canadiens

| NHL

| 66

| 2

| 9

| 11

| 121

| 4

| 0

| 20

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2009–10

| Toronto Maple Leafs

| NHL

| 34

| 0

| 4

| 40

| —

2010–11

| Toronto Maple Leafs

| NHL

| 75

| 1

| 9

| 10

| 86

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2011–12

| Toronto Maple Leafs

| NHL

| 45

| 1

| 4

| 5

| 41

| —

2012–13

| Toronto Maple Leafs

| NHL

| 4

| 0

| 2

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2012–13

| Toronto Marlies

| AHL

| 7

| 0

| 10

| 6

| 0

| 1

| 9

2013–14

| Carolina Hurricanes

| NHL

| 32

| 0

| 4

| 14

| —

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="3" | AHL totals

! 101

! 8

! 36

! 44

! 185

! 33

! 1

! 7

! 8

! 77

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="3" | NHL totals

! 551

! 14

! 67

! 81

! 679

! 29

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 56

=International=

border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" ID="Table3" style="text-align:center; width:40em"

ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! Year

! Team

! Event

! Result

! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" |

! GP

! G

! A

! Pts

! PIM

2000

|United States

|WJC18

| 8th

|12

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2001

|United States

| WJC

| 5th

| 7

| 0

2002

| United States

| WJC

| 5th

| 7

| 0

| 2

| 14

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2006

| United States

| WC

| 7th

| 7

| 0

| 1

| 4

2011

| United States

| WC

| 8th

| 7

| 1

| 2

| 6

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan=4 | Junior totals

! 20

! 0

! 2

! 26

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan=4 | Senior totals

! 14

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 10

Awards and honors

class="wikitable"

! Award

! Year

ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

| colspan="3" | College

All-CCHA Rookie Team

| 2000–01

All-CCHA First Team

| 2001–02

| {{cite news|title=All-CCHA Teams|url=http://www.augenblick.org/chha/ccha_all.html|publisher=College Hockey Historical Archives|accessdate=2013-07-27}}

CCHA Best Defensive Defenseman

| 2001–02

AHCA West First-Team All-American

| 2001–02

CCHA All-Tournament Team

| 2002

| {{cite news|title=2012-13 CCHA Media Guide|url=http://issuu.com/cchahockey/docs/2012-13_ccha_media_guide_final_2a_compressed#|publisher=ISSUU.com|accessdate=2014-04-23}}

ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

| colspan="3" | AHL

All-Rookie Team

| 2002–03

ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

| colspan="3" | NHL

All-Star Game

| 2009