Eddie Mio

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Lore & Background

Mio attended Colorado College from 1972 to 1976, earning first- and second-team all-star awards and making the NCAA West first all-American team two years in a row. In 1974, the NHL's Chicago Black Hawks and the WHA's Vancouver Blazers both drafted him, but he played for neither, instead playing minor league hockey with the Tidewater Sharks, Erie Blades, and Hampton Gulls before surfacing with the Indianapolis Racers of the WHA. With the Racers, Mio's goaltending was rough, but he met his lifelong friend, Wayne Gretzky, while they were teammates. Mio was part of the trade that sent Gretzky (along with Peter Driscoll) to the Edmonton Oilers on November 2, 1978. When the Oilers moved to the NHL for the 1979–80 season, Mio got his first NHL action as part of a young lineup that included Gretzky, Mark Messier, Kevin Lowe, Glenn Anderson, and Paul Coffey. He had his first winning season in 1980–81 before being traded to the New York Rangers. In New York, Mio backstopped the Rangers for two seasons before rounding out his career with the Detroit Red Wings in 1985–86. After hockey, Mio was a player agent with International Management Group, representing Sergei Fedorov, Joe Thornton, and Brent Johnson. In 2005, he became the director of player development for the Phoenix Coyotes. In 2010, having left the NHL, Mio considered running for mayor in his hometown of Windsor, Ontario. At the 2014 NHL Winter Classic, Mio played an exhibition game with the Detroit Red Wings alumni team, splitting time with Kevin Hodson in a winning effort against the Toronto Maple Leafs alumni team.

In Their Own Story

The narrative of Mio's career is deeply intertwined with the rise of Wayne Gretzky. After establishing himself as a standout at Colorado College, where he made the NCAA West first all-American team two years in a row, Mio navigated the minor leagues with the Tidewater Sharks, Erie Blades, and Hampton Gulls. His arrival at the Indianapolis Racers set the stage for history; it was there he met Gretzky. The subsequent trade on November 2, 1978, moved both players to Edmonton, where Mio helped anchor the goaltending for a roster that would become legendary. In New York, he provided stability for two seasons before finishing his career in Detroit, showcasing resilience and adaptability across three major franchises over nearly a decade of professional play.

Reader's Guide

Eddie Mio is a former goaltender who played in both the WHA and NHL, primarily known for his time with the Edmonton Oilers and his friendship with Wayne Gretzky. He later worked as a player agent and in player development for the Phoenix Coyotes.

Did You Know?

• Mio was drafted by both the Chicago Black Hawks (NHL) and Vancouver Blazers (WHA) in 1974 but played for neither.
• He met Wayne Gretzky while both were teammates on the Indianapolis Racers.
• Mio was traded to the Edmonton Oilers on November 2, 1978, as part of the deal that sent Gretzky and Peter Driscoll to Edmonton.
• After his playing career, Mio became a player agent representing Sergei Fedorov, Joe Thornton, and Brent Johnson.
• In 2010, Mio considered running for mayor of Windsor, Ontario.