Mike Montgomery - Player Profile

MIKE MONTGOMERY #23
Birthdate: 10/10/1986
6' 3" 210 lbs.


Spend five minutes with Mike Montgomery and it is obvious he is cut from a different cloth than most professional hockey players. He didn't start skating until he was eight and played forward until he was a sophomore in college when he switched to defense. A very thoughtful, introspective guy who leads by example. It wasn't an easy road to become a professional hockey player but Mike paved it with fortitude, hard work & determination.

From Lino Lakes, Minnesota, hockey held no interest for Mike until age eight when his cousin started playing. He was close friends with his cousin so he asked his parents if he could sign up as well. One of his earliest hockey memories is warming up his feet by soaking them in warm water after skating outside in the cold Minnesota winters.

Success has followed Mike since  he played on a Minnesota state championship peewee team. He scored the loan goal in the finals of the 2004 Minnesota State High School tournament as his team claimed the state title.

Mike's high school coach says this, "Mike had a NHL body, and could always skate like the wind. And he was one of the nicest kids you could meet."

After high school Mike didn't attract the attention of college recruiters so he joined the Southern Minnesota Express of the North American Hockey League for two years. After two good but not great years with the Express Mike was getting no interest from college teams so he decided to give up hockey and go to college. He applied to and was accepted at the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) with no intent of playing hockey.

Things changed when Mike's coach from the Express called the UMD hockey coach and recommended him. Mike got a walk on offer with no promises. As a freshman forward he played in nine games with no goals and one assist. However, his future was starting to take hold as the team had a rash of  injuries at defense so Mike started filling in on defense at practices. He focused on being a defenseman during the summer and when he came back for his sophomore year he asked the coaches to put him at defense.The rest is history.

By the time Mike was a senior he was selected as the captain of the team and led them to their first NCAA championship. Ironically, the finals of the NCAA tournament were at the same arena (XCel Energy Center) in St. Paul, MN where he scored the winning goal for his high school team in the state championship game.

Here are  quotes from some of Mike's coaches that gives you insight into the type of player he is:
- The guys have a lot of respect for him in that room
- He's one of those guys who does everything well
- He does the smart things, the simple things
- He is an even keel guy who, when he talks people listen
- He is a big body who can get the puck up the rink


PeeWee Champion, High School Champion, College Champion, let's add CHL champion this year.

As interesting as his hockey story is we also wanted to get to know Mike off the ice so we asked him a few questions. He graduated from UMD with a Business Administration degree with a major in finance. He and Ashley (see below) met at UMD.

Family:
 Girlfriend (Ashley) works at Lululemon - North Park
 Dad (Bob) is a partner in a printing company
Mom (Brenda) works for the Minnesota Court of Appeals
Sister (Kelsey) is a student at the University of Minnesota Duluth
Brother (Derek) works with Bob at the printing company

Favorite Music: Classic Rock is usually on the radio and The Black Keys have been a favorite for a long time

Something people would be surprised to learn about you: I enjoy cooking and visiting Whole Foods to shop. I also enjoy tennis in the off season. 

A chore you hate to do: Washing my car

Something you have that is great value to you but of no value to anyone else: My college & high school championship rings and memories

Who do you admire as a leader: Dalai Lama

If you could live in another country for two years where would it be: Australia or France

If you could do anything besides being a pro athlete what would it be: Business owner

Who is the funniest guy on the team: Bootland is the most talkative & funny but Lukin is funny in a more passive way.

When was the last time you were lost: Since the advent of GPS I don't get lost

What do you like to do to kill time on the bus: I have a kindle so I read a lot but I also play cards and watch movies

Favorite motto or saying: The harder you work the luckier you get.

Favorite TV shows: The Newsroom, Family Guy, Homeland, & Dexter


As with all of the Allen Americans players, as we get to know them we want them to stay all year but the real goal is to move up the the AHL and never see them in an Americans jersey again. Mike has had a couple of call ups already to the Houston Aeros so while we would hate to see him go let's hope the next call up is for the rest of the year.