Mike Commodore

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Position	Defence (ice hockey)
Shoots	Right
Nickname	Commy
Height Weight	6 ft 4 in (1.95 m) 228 lb (104 kg)
NHL Team F. Teams	Carolina Hurricanes New Jersey Devils Anaheim Mighty Ducks Calgary Flames
Nationality	Canada
Born	November 7, 1979, Fort Saskatchewan, AB, CAN
NHL Draft	42nd overall, 1999 New Jersey Devils
Pro Career	2000 – present

Michael Commodore (born November 7, 1979 in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada) is a professional ice hockey defenseman who currently plays for the Carolina Hurricanes of the NHL.

Commodore was drafted 42nd overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft. After completing three collegiate seasons for the University of North Dakota and winning a NCAA championship in the process, Commodore decided to leave early for the NHL. He started play during the 2001-02 NHL season.

In 2003-04, Commodore's "unruly red mop" of hair and steady defensive play in the 2004 Stanley Cup Playoffs earned him a cult following in Calgary, as many fans began sporting red afro wigs in his honor. Despite being one of the most popular players of the Flames playoff run, Calgary's depth on the blue line left no place for Commodore in the regular lineup, and he was traded to Carolina prior to the start of the 2005-06 NHL season. In Carolina, Commodore has retained his popularity, adding a white bathrobe as part of his trademark.

After losing a bet regarding the Hurricanes chances of defeating New Jersey in the second round of the 2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Canadian television personality Don Cherry appeared on his Coaches Corner intermission show wearing a Mike Commodore bathrobe. [1]

Commodore also made headlines in Canada early in the 2004-05 NHL lockout when he told a Calgary radio station that he would accept playing under a salary cap if it meant resolving the dispute. [2]. Unlike other players who made similar statements, only to retract them later, Commodore never changed his opinion.

With Carolina in the 2006 Playoff finals, Mike helped the team win their very first Stanley Cup along with fellow Fort Saskatchewan native Ray Whitney, and Sherwood Park native Cam Ward against their childhood team the Edmonton Oilers.

After the 2006 Stanley Cup playoffs, Mike had his long curly red locks shaved for organisations which help Breast Cancer research. The first time he had his hair shaved was at his mother's former school, Fort High. The second time, Mike held a couple of ebay auctions for the highest bidders which would allow them to have a chance to shave his head and keep his hair.

Along with Rhett Warrener, he played a role in Paul Brandt's music video, "Convoy", as a truck driver.

[edit] Career statistics

				Regular Season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1997-98	North Dakota Fighting Sioux	NCAA		29	0	5	5	74		-	-	-	-	-
1998-99	North Dakota Fighting Sioux	NCAA		39	5	8	13	154		-	-	-	-	-
1999-2000	North Dakota Fighting Sioux	NCAA		38	5	7	12	154		-	-	-	-	-
2000-01	Albany River Rats	AHL		41	2	5	7	59		-	-	-	-	-
2000-01	New Jersey Devils	NHL		20	1	4	5	14		-	-	-	-	-
2001-02	Albany River Rats	AHL		14	0	3	3	31		-	-	-	-	-
2001-02	New Jersey Devils	NHL		37	0	1	1	30		-	-	-	-	-
2002-03	Cincinnati Mighty Ducks	AHL		61	2	9	11	210		-	-	-	-	-
2002-03	Saint John Flames	AHL		7	0	3	3	18		-	-	-	-	-
2002-03	Calgary Flames	NHL		6	0	1	1	19		-	-	-	-	-
2003-04	Lowell Lock Monsters	AHL		37	5	11	16	75		-	-	-	-	-
2003-04	Calgary Flames	NHL		12	0	0	0	25		20	0	2	2	19
2004-05	Lowell Lock Monsters	AHL		73	6	29	35	175		11	1	2	3	18
2005-06	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		72	3	10	13	138		25	2	2	4	33
5 seasons	Career	NHL		147	4	16	20	226		45	2	4	6	52

Stats as of June 30, 2006.