Topic: Mike Babcock

Michael "Mike" Babcock, Jr. (born April 29, 1963, in Manitouwadge, Ontario) is a Canadian professional ice hockey head coach of the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL) and former player. He serves as head coach of the Red Wings alongside assistant coaches Paul MacLean and Brad McCrimmon. He also serves as the head coach of Team Canada in international hockey competitions.

Before his playing days at McGill University (where he was captain), Babcock played for the Saskatoon Blades of the WHL in 1980–81 and spent a season with the Kelowna Wings in 1982–83. In between, he played a year under Dave King at the University of Saskatchewan and transferred to McGill in 1983 under coach Ken Tyler. In September 1985 Babcock also had a brief try-out with the Vancouver Canucks.

Babcock graduated from McGill in 1986 with a bachelor's degree in physical education and also did some post-graduate work in sports psychology. In 146 career games with the Redmen, he tallied 22 goals and 85 assists for a total of 107 points and 301 penalty minutes, graduating as the second-highest scoring defenseman in McGill history. He moved to England in 1987 as a player-coach for Whitley Warriors (near Newcastle upon Tyne), who missed out on the league title by two points. In 49 games, he contributed 45 goals and 127 assists, accumulating 123 penalty minutes.