Edmonton Oilers Heritage Website - Mike Comrie

Throughout the team’s history, the Oilers have usually had a homegrown hero for the fans to cheer. Throughout the first decade of the team’s National Hockey League existence, Mark Messier was the Oilers hometown hero.

From 2001-2003, that Edmonton-born hero is Mike Comrie—son of Bill Comrie, a minor hockey phenom who made his fortune by turning the Brick chain of furniture stores into a national franchise. The younger Comrie—born September 11, 1980—first made waves in Edmonton as a member of the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s St. Albert Saints. His stellar play earned him a scholarship with the prestigious University of Michigan program.

At Michigan he developed into an explosive talent. Despite measuring only 5’9" in height, he enjoyed two banner seasons with the U of M Wolverines. From 1998-2000, Comrie registered 103 points in just 82 games. His small stature scared away some scouts, but the Oilers—the team he idolized as a boy—selected him in the third round of the 1999 draft. However, Comrie and the Oilers could not come to an agreement on a contract. Instead of returning to school for a third season, Comrie chose to join the Kootenay Ice of the Western Hockey League. Since he had switched from the NCAA to junior hockey before the 2000-01 season, a previous arbitrator’s ruling would allow him to become a free agent on December 31, 2000.

As his agents and the club tried to work out a deal, Comrie put on one of the

most stunning displays in junior hockey history. In his first 37 games with the Ice, he registered 79 points, an average of over two per game. Then, on December 30, 2000, the Oilers held a press conference just hours before their scheduled home game against the Montréal Canadiens. Not only had they signed Comrie, he would be in the lineup for the Oilers that night.

"It’s a great experience just to be a part of this team," said Comrie. "When I made the decision, I didn’t look at Edmonton as just my hometown, but I looked at it as one of the best hockey towns in the world."