Mike Peluso (ice hockey, born 1965)

Lore & Background

Peluso was born in Pengilly, Minnesota, to a steelworker father and a childcare worker mother. He had three older brothers and played hockey with them, lining up as a defenseman for his high school team, the Greenway Raiders. In his senior year he played only 12 games due to a teacher strike. He was drafted by the New Jersey Devils in the tenth round of the 1984 NHL entry draft out of high school, but both he and the team believed he should return to school. He earned a scholarship to the University of Alaska Anchorage, where he studied sociology and played for the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves. The NCAA did not allow fighting, and Peluso became the Seawolves' all-time scoring leader at defense, setting records for assists and points in a season by a defenseman. He was named captain for three years and was twice an All-Great West Conference selection. The Devils never attempted to sign him, and he became a free agent at the end of his college tenure. He first enquired with the Minnesota North Stars, but they declined. He then signed as a free agent with the Chicago Blackhawks in 1989. Upon joining the Hawks, he was switched to forward and encouraged to fight by coach Mike Keenan. He was assigned to Chicago's affiliate, the Indianapolis Ice of the IHL, where under coach Darryl Sutter he was taught how to be a role player. He made his NHL debut on December 28, 1989, fighting Basil McRae in his first game. He won the 1990 Turner Cup with Indianapolis. In the 1991–92 season, he registered 408 penalty minutes in 63 games, becoming one of only three players in NHL history to accumulate 400 PIM or more in a single season. He played a key role in the Blackhawks' run to the 1992 Stanley Cup Final, where they lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins. With the rules around fighting changing, the Blackhawks chose to keep Stu Grimson over Peluso, and he was left exposed for the 1992 NHL expansion draft. He was selected by the Ottawa Senators as the second forward chosen by the team. He made his Senators debut in the team's inaugural game on October 8, 1992, a 5–2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens. During his only season in Ottawa, he set the club record for most penalty minutes in a single season (318) but was allowed a more offensive role, scoring 15 goals and 25 points. A popular player with fans, he fell out with management over his role. On June 24, 1993, he was traded to the New Jersey Devils. In New Jersey, his gritty style made him popular. During the lockout-shortened 1994–95 season, he was an integral part of the 'Crash Line' with Randy McKay and Bobby Holík, which helped the Devils win their first Stanley Cup. After the 1995–96 season, the emergence of Reid Simpson made Peluso expendable. He was acquired by his old coach Mike Keenan, now general manager of the St. Louis Blues, on November 26, 1996. He later played for the Calgary Flames.

Reader's Guide

Peluso's significance lies in his role as one of the NHL's most notable enforcers during the 1990s. He is one of only three players in NHL history to accumulate over 400 penalty minutes in a single season, a feat he achieved in 1991–92 with the Chicago Blackhawks. His physical style of play defined his career, but he also demonstrated offensive capability, particularly during his season with the Ottawa Senators, where he scored 15 goals. His most notable achievement came as a member of the New Jersey Devils' 'Crash Line' alongside Randy McKay and Bobby Holík, a fourth-line combination whose energy and timely goal-scoring helped the Devils win the Stanley Cup in 1995. Peluso's career path—from being drafted by the Devils out of high school, to playing college hockey at Alaska Anchorage, to becoming a free agent signing with Chicago, and eventually winning a Stanley Cup with the team that originally drafted him—illustrates the journey of a player who carved out a niche as an enforcer while contributing to team success. His legacy is tied to the era of fighting in hockey and the specialized role of the enforcer.

Did You Know?

• He won the 1990 Turner Cup with the Indianapolis Ice of the International Hockey League.
• He was selected by the Ottawa Senators in the 1992 NHL expansion draft as the second forward chosen by the team.
• Peluso set the Ottawa Senators club record for most penalty minutes in a single season with 318.