Mike Anderson’s hockey career as a player and coach spans five decades, mainly with Gander and Corner Brook. He achieved great success in both aspects and earned an exceptional reputation for his valuable contributions to any team with which he was associated.

He played provincial senior hockey for 15 seasons, ten with the Gander Flyers, three with the Corner Brook Royals and two with Mike’s Shamrocks. He was a member of the Flyers when they won the Herder Memorial Trophy in 1969 and advanced into national Allan Cup competition where he was selected as Gander’s most valuable player. He led the Flyers in scoring in 1965.

In addition, he put an extremely successful minor career together with a hockey scholarship to Memorial University and 1966 and 1967 tryout invitations from the Junior Canadians. He was a standout performer throughout his Gander minor career, earning the top scorer award for the Gander midget team in 1965. He gained a berth on the Gander junior Flyers after playing high school hockey.

His coaching career is highlighted by leading Corner Brook to the national amateur title and the Allan Cup in 1986. This is the only Newfoundland and Labrador hockey team to win the nation’s top amateur hockey prize. He was Corner Brook coach when they won the provincial title in 1985 and 1986 and when they won the Eastern Canadian crown and the Bolton Cup for the same two seasons.

His highly knowledgeable and inspirational coaching career included selection as the provincial sports coach of the year for 1986 and a win on the John Drinkwater Memorial Award. The Royals were named provincial team of the year and won the Ed Browne Memorial Trophy. Minor hockey coaching was a major part of his efforts with impressive contributions to a long list of peewee, bantam and midget Corner Brook and Western Newfoundland all-star clubs.