Michael "Mickey" Edward Redmond, born on December 27, 1947, is a Canadian former professional hockey player who transitioned into a successful career as a color commentator. His journey began on the ice, where he made significant contributions to the Montreal Canadiens and the Detroit Red Wings, and continued behind the microphone, where he became a beloved voice in hockey broadcasting.
Early Life and Hockey Beginnings
Born into a working-class family in Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Mickey Redmond grew up in a northern mining town known for its harsh winters and strong community ties to hockey. His parents, Eddie and May Redmond, instilled a deep appreciation for the sport through everyday family activities. Raised in an environment shaped by the local gold mining industry, the cold climate encouraged children to spend hours playing hockey outdoors on frozen ponds and community rinks.
His father, Eddie Redmond, a semi-professional hockey player and captain of Canada's 1958 amateur world champion team, introduced him to the sport from an early age, emphasizing fundamentals like skating and puck control. Redmond's first organized hockey experiences came in the local youth leagues of Kirkland Lake during the 1950s, where he honed his abilities on teams that emphasized teamwork and endurance in the competitive northern Ontario scene.
The town's vibrant hockey heritage, often dubbed "the town that made the NHL famous" by broadcaster Foster Hewitt, exposed promising youngsters like Redmond to professional scouts frequenting games and practices at community facilities. These early opportunities, supported by a culture where hockey was a central social and recreational outlet for mining families, laid the groundwork for his passion and proficiency in the sport.
Peterborough Petes
Over four seasons from 1963 to 1967, Redmond established himself as a prolific scorer for the Petes, appearing in 201 regular-season games and accumulating 136 goals and 132 assists for 268 points. During Redmond's tenure, the Petes were consistent playoff contenders, qualifying each year and advancing to the OHA semifinals in 1963-64 (losing 1-4 to the Montreal Junior Canadiens), 1964-65 (losing 3-4-1 to the Toronto Marlboros), and 1965-66 (losing 2-4 to the Toronto Marlboros), though they fell in the quarterfinals 2-4 to the Hamilton Red Wings in 1966-67.
Read also: Features of Custom Hockey Gloves
NHL Career
Redmond played right wing for the Montreal Canadiens from 1967-1971, winning Stanley Cups with them in 1968 and 1969. In the 1968-69 season, Redmond solidified his place on the roster, playing a more significant part in the Canadiens' back-to-back Stanley Cup victory, including appearances in the playoffs against teams like the New York Rangers and St. Louis Blues.
Redmond contributed to two Stanley Cup championships with the Montreal Canadiens, appearing in two games during the 1967-68 playoffs and 14 games in the 1968-69 postseason as the team swept to victory over the St. Louis Blues.
Redmond reached the peak of his playing career with the Red Wings over the next two seasons. In 1972-1973, Redmond became the seventh player in NHL history and the first Red Wing player to score 50 goals in a season. He finished a career year with 52 goals (surpassing Gordie Howe's team record of 49) and 93 points. Redmond's record would stand until John Ogrodnick tallied 55 goals during the 1985 season.
Amid these individual successes, Redmond toiled on a rebuilding Red Wings team that struggled for consistent contention in the early 1970s, finishing outside the playoffs during his peak years. Delvecchio retired early in the 1973-74 season to become the team's coach, and Redmond was moved onto a line with budding superstar Marcel Dionne. In the 1974-75 season Redmond sustained a back injury and played only 29 games. Redmond's younger brother Dick was an NHL defenseman.
Mickey Redmond appeared in 538 regular-season games over nine NHL seasons, scoring 233 goals and 195 assists for 428 points, with a career plus/minus of -11 and 219 penalty minutes. Redmond played in 16 playoff games over two postseasons with the Montreal Canadiens, recording 2 goals and 3 assists for 5 points, with a plus/minus of +1 and 2 penalty minutes.
Read also: The story of Craig Needham
| Team | Years | Games | Goals | Assists | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montreal Canadiens | 1967-1971 | ||||
| Detroit Red Wings | 1971-1975 | ||||
| NHL Totals | 9 Seasons | 538 | 233 | 195 | 428 |
Redmond's professional hockey career was prematurely ended by chronic back injuries that emerged during the 1974-75 NHL season with the Detroit Red Wings.
The Absolute best of Mickey Redmond (and Ken Daniels)
Broadcasting Career
After his playing career ended, Redmond became a color commentator on television. He first reached audiences in the early 1980s by joining ESPN's NHL coverage as a color commentator, contributing to the network's initial forays into regular-season and playoff telecasts alongside play-by-play announcers like Dan Kelly. His work emphasized accessible explanations of on-ice tactics, drawing directly from his tenure as a high-scoring NHL winger.
His television stops include CBC's Hockey Night in Canada, NHL on ESPN, NHL on Fox and for most of his broadcasting career, local television coverage of the Red Wings with play-by-play announcers Dave Strader, Mike Goldberg, and (currently) Ken Daniels. His catchphrases are referred to by fans as "Mickeyisms". Redmond was a frequent guest on Drew and Mike In the Morning on WRIF.
Later in the decade, he continued building his profile with NHL on Fox broadcasts in the mid-1990s, including the network's debut game in 1995, where he analyzed contests such as St. Louis Blues games. Currently, Redmond only does commentary on FanDuel Sports Detroit for home games and away games requiring only short trips, due to having coeliac disease, being a two-time lung cancer survivor and having a lot of difficulty of finding gluten-free meals over an extended road trip.
In 2011, Redmond was the recipient of the Hockey Hall of Fame's Foster Hewitt Memorial Award, named after Foster Hewitt and presented by the Hockey Hall of Fame to members of the radio and television industry who make outstanding contributions to their profession and the game of ice hockey during their broadcasting career.
Read also: Inside Aaron Ness's Career
Recent Years
Redmond has survived two bouts of lung cancer. In recent years, Mickey Redmond has remained actively involved in Detroit Red Wings centennial celebrations marking the franchise's 100th anniversary in 2025. He co-hosted the "100 Years of Hockeytown" event at the Fox Theatre on November 8, 2025, alongside broadcaster Ken Daniels, where alumni shared stories of the team's storied past.
Redmond has continued to engage in public speaking and alumni events, often drawing on his experiences to inspire fans and preserve hockey history. At team retrospectives and alumni gatherings, he has shared personal anecdotes from the 1972 Summit Series, describing it as the "mother of all series" for its intense Canada-Soviet Union rivalry and lasting impact on the sport. His appearances include a December 15, 2024, meet-and-greet at the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation alongside fellow Red Wings alumnus Darren McCarty, where he interacted with attendees to discuss the evolution of the game.
Through his involvement in charitable initiatives, Redmond has supported community causes tied to hockey. He has participated in Red Wings alumni charity games, such as the 2023 event benefiting the Children's Miracle Network and other youth-focused organizations in Detroit, helping raise funds for pediatric care and community programs. Approaching his 78th birthday on December 27, 2025, Redmond maintains strong fan engagement through these legacy activities, demonstrating enduring enthusiasm for the Red Wings despite scaling back from full-time commitments.