Mike Bishai
A journeyman center who defied the odds to skate in the NHL, embodying the undrafted player's dream through perseverance and hard work.
Born 1979 (age 47)·Canadian ice hockey player·Birthday: May 30·Generation X
Biography
Mike Bishai's hockey path is a classic tale of the underdog. Never selected in the NHL draft, he carved out his opportunity through sheer determination in the minor leagues and Canadian university hockey. His hard-nosed, two-way play as a center eventually earned him a call-up to the Edmonton Oilers, allowing him to realize the dream of playing in the world's top league. While his NHL stint was brief, it represented the pinnacle of a professional career built on grinding it out in the AHL and overseas in Europe. Bishai's story is one of those that fills out the roster of the sport, proving that a combination of skill, physicality, and relentless effort can open the door, even if just for a moment.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Mike was born in 1979, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Mike Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Mike's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played 13 games in the National Hockey League for the Edmonton Oilers during the 2003-04 season, recording one assist.
- Had a successful collegiate career with the University of New Brunswick, helping his team compete for national championships.
- Enjoyed a long professional career that spanned over a decade, including significant time in the American Hockey League and European leagues.
Did You Know?
He was born in Edmonton, Alberta, making his NHL debut for his hometown Oilers.
He played his junior hockey in the Western Hockey League (WHL) for the Portland Winter Hawks.
After his playing career, he moved into coaching, working with youth hockey programs.
“I wasn't drafted, so I had to prove I belonged every single shift.”
