Mike Commodore
A towering, red-bearded defenseman who became a fan favorite and etched his name on the Stanley Cup with the 2006 Carolina Hurricanes.
Born 1979 (age 47)·Canadian ice hockey player·Birthday: November 7·Generation X
Biography
Mike Commodore's journey in hockey was as distinctive as his fiery red afro and beard, a look that made him instantly recognizable on the ice. Drafted in 1999, the Alberta native carved out a role as a steady, physical stay-at-home defenseman. His career peaked during the 2006 playoffs with the Carolina Hurricanes. Paired with star defenseman Frantisek Kaberle, Commodore played crucial minutes, using his size and reach to shut down opponents. He became a cult hero in Raleigh, with fans donning fake red afros in his honor. After hoisting the Cup, he played for several more NHL teams, his persona and solid play ensuring he was remembered as more than just a role player, but as a character who brought color and a championship pedigree to every locker room.
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
- Won the Stanley Cup in 2006 as a key defensive defenseman for the Carolina Hurricanes.
- Played 484 regular-season games in the NHL for six different teams.
- Represented Canada at the 2001 IIHF World Championship, winning a silver medal.
Did You Know?
His bushy red hair and beard led to a fan-driven 'Fro' movement in Carolina during the 2006 playoffs.
Commodore wore jersey number 22 in honor of his boyhood idol, Mike Bossy.
He played college hockey for the University of North Dakota, winning an NCAA championship in 2000.
“You don't get that red hair to blend in; you get it to stand out and clear the front.”
