Mike Craig

At least 10 NHL Games

December 22, 1984 Buffalo Sabres vs Quebec Nordiques. 1-3 loss.
December 23, 1984 Buffalo Sabres vs St. Louis Blues. 3-2 win.
December 26, 1984 Buffalo Sabres vs Toronto Maple Leafs. 6-0 win.
December 28, 1984 Buffalo Sabres vs Winnipeg Jets. 4-0 win.
December 29, 1984 Buffalo Sabres vs New Jersey Devils. 2-1 win.
December 31, 1984 Buffalo Sabres vs New Jersey Devils. 6-4 win.
April 4, 1985 Buffalo Sabres vs Boston Bruins. 3-5 loss.
April 6, 1985 Buffalo Sabres vs Toronto Maple Leafs. 5-2 win.
April 7, 1985 Buffalo Sabres vs Montreal Canadiens. 4-5 loss.
November 1, 1985 Buffalo Sabres vs Edmonton Oilers. 2-0 win.

   November, 1984 Mike Craig was recalled to the NHL's Buffalo Sabres when Bob Sauve was injured. Craig dressed as backup to Tom Barrasso. "Just to be up there is a thrill," said to a local newspaper Craig when asked about his promotion from Flint to Buffalo. Christmas, 1984 Mike Craig was an NHL goalie and remained with the NHL club until early January. 

   Early April, 1985 Buffalo Sabres All-Star goalie Tom Barrasso was sidelined with an allergic reaction to his left leg. With just three games left in the regular season, the Sabres sent Barrasso to the doctor and then rested him in preparation for the post-season. Mike Craig was recalled from the AHL to dress as a backup to Bob Sauve to end the season. 

   Mike Craig was recalled for a final time to the Sabres a few months later. During the 1985/86 season he spent time as backup to Tom Barrasso. One of those included a match against Wayne Gretzky's Edmonton Oilers.

   As a junior player Mike Craig shared 1979/1980 Alberta Junior Hockey League Top GAA award with future NHL star Mike Vernon. After playing three seasons with the University of Calgary Dinos, Mike Craig embarked on a pro hockey career in 1984. He was signed by the Buffalo Sabres as a free agent and would spend the next three seasons tending net for their AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans. 

   In 1987 Craig retired from pro hockey. He returned to Calgary and began a career as a school teacher. 

   In 2017 I was able to get in touch with Mike Craig in regards to his career in the NHL. "I was called up to Buffalo twice, each for about 1 month," said Craig. "Arenas I visited included the Quebec Coliseum, Boston Gardens, Maple Leafs Gardens, New Jersey Meadowlands etc. My best memories were the classy NHLers. Gilbert Perrault and others treated me like a teammate. Pete Peeters, Kelly Hrudy and other goalies made a point of making me feel welcome to the NHL!" 

• Wore #35 with Sabres in 1984/85 and #31 in 1985/86

Career stats from hockeydb.com

Born Nov 1 1962 -- Calgary, ALTA

Height 6.00 -- Weight 165 

Drafted by Buffalo Sabres - round 10 #205 overall 1982 NHL Entry Draft

RS Scoring			RS Goalie Stats										PO Scoring
Season	Team	Lge	GP	A	PIM	Min	GA	EN	SO	GAA	W	L	T	Svs	Pct	GP	A	PIM
1978-79	Calgary Canucks	AJHL	0	0	0
1979-80	Calgary Canucks	AJHL	33	0	0	1830	93	0	1	3.05	22	10	0
1979-80	Calgary Wranglers	WHL	1	0	0	60	4	0	0	4.00	0	1	0	32	0.889	-	-	-
1981-82	Calgary Wranglers	WHL	26	0	0	1436	88	0	0	3.68	14	10	0	663	0.883	-	-	-
1981-82	Billings Bighorns	WHL	11	0	0	506	53	0	0	6.28	4	4	0	276	0.839	-	-	-
1983-84	U. of Calgary	CWUAA	0	0	2	770	75	0	0	5.84	1	11	0	498	0.869
1984-85	Flint Generals	IHL	8	0	0											-	-	-
1984-85	Rochester Americans	AHL	29	0	6	1431	88	0	0	3.69	11	7	3	647	0.880	4	0	0
1985-86	Rochester Americans	AHL	47	2	4	2573	183	4	0	4.27	16	21	5	1374	0.882	-	-	-
1986-87	Rochester Americans	AHL	23	1	8	1192	82	2	0	4.13	8	10	2	524	0.865	-	-	-
1986-87	Flint Spirits	IHL	2	0	0											-	-	-

November 1, 1985 Program featuring Mike Craig:

November, 1984 Newspaper article