Mikaël Tam

Mikael Tam (born April 26, 1991) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman. He is currently playing with the Rapid City Rush of the ECHL.

Mikaël Tam
Born (1991-04-26) April 26, 1991
Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Left
ECHL team
Former teams		 Rapid City Rush
Worcester Sharks
Lake Erie Monsters
Sparta Warriors
Bakersfield Condors
Kunlun Red Star
NHL Draft Undrafted
Playing career 2012–present

Playing career

Tam played five seasons (2007–2012) in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) with the Quebec Remparts, scoring 53 goals and 87 assists for 140 points, while earning 454 penalty minutes, in 318 games played.

While playing with the Remparts on January 17, 2010, Patrice Cormier of the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies hit Tam with a hard elbow to the jaw, knocking him unconscious to the ice where he started to convulse. Tam was taken from the game on a stretcher to the hospital where he was treated for brain trauma, a concussion, and broken teeth. The images of Tam convulsing on the ice received wide television coverage,[1] and Cormier was suspended by the QMJHL for the 20 remaining regular season games, plus the playoffs.[2]

On October 8, 2012, the Worcester Sharks of the AHL signed Tam for the 2012–13 season.[3] Tam played 19 AHL games for the Sharks and 37 ECHL games for their affiliate the San Francisco Bulls as well as playing in the ECHL playoffs for the Bulls.

Tam signed with the Lake Erie Monsters of the AHL for the 2013–14 season.[4] Tam also attended the Colorado Avalanche NHL training camp, but was released back to the Monsters on September 16, 2013.[5] Tam began the season with the Monsters, however finished the season in the Central Hockey League playoffs with the Avalanche's secondary affiliate, the Denver Cutthroats.

On September 3, 2014, Tam remained affiliated with the Avalanche and Monsters, in signing a one-year contract with new ECHL affiliate, the Fort Wayne Komets.[6] In the 2014–15 season, Tam suffered a long-term injury after just two games with the Komets, and was limited to just 17 regular season games before contributing with 7 assists in 12 games in the post-season.

On July 24, 2015, Tam opted to pursue a European career, signing a one-year contract as a free agent with Norwegian club, Sparta Warriors of the GET-ligaen.[7] In the 2015–16 season, Tam responded to his first season abroad in recording professional highs with 16 points in 42 games from the blueline with the Warriors.

Tam left Norway in the off-season, returning to the AHL in signing a one-year deal with the Bakersfield Condors, an affiliate to the Edmonton Oilers, on August 18, 2016.[8] In the 2016–17 season, Tam saw limited action with the Condors appearing in just 2 games despite prolonged time on the playing roster. He was reassigned to ECHL affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals, on numerous occasions, appearing in 36 games for 22 points.

On May 29, 2017, Tam returned abroad in securing a one-year deal with Chinese club, HC Kunlun Red Star of the KHL.[9]

Tam played three seasons in China within the Kunlun Red Star organization, before returning to North America as a free agent during the COVID-19 pandemic. On December 16, 2020, Tam agreed to extend his professional career in returning to the ECHL with the Rapid City Rush.[10]

Career statistics
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2007–08 Quebec Remparts QMJHL 64110111061104421
2008–09 Quebec Remparts QMJHL 688101810117461014
2009–10 Quebec Remparts QMJHL 501013235193368
2010–11 Quebec Remparts QMJHL 68192645901835830
2011–12 Quebec Remparts QMJHL 681528431061114521
2012–13 Worcester Sharks AHL 1901131—————
2012–13 San Francisco Bulls ECHL 3739127550008
2013–14 Lake Erie Monsters AHL 3415667—————
2013–14 Denver Cutthroats CHL 14279161433614
2014–15 Fort Wayne Komets ECHL 1713410120777
2015–16 Sparta Warriors GET 426101669612343
2016–17 Bakersfield Condors AHL 20000—————
2016–17 Norfolk Admirals ECHL 369132230—————
2017–18 KRS Heilongjiang VHL 3335862—————
2018–19 KRS-ORG VHL 43481268—————
2018–19 Kunlun Red Star KHL 50006—————
2019–20 KRS-BSU VHL 35551024—————
2019–20 Kunlun Red Star KHL 1100012—————
AHL totals 5316798—————
KHL totals 1600018—————

References
  1. "Patrice Cormier Vicious Elbow on Mikael Tam - Jan 17th 2010 (HD)". YouTube. January 17, 2010. Retrieved October 8, 2012.
  2. "Mikael Tam: One year after the big hit". The Star. January 16, 2011. Retrieved October 8, 2012.
  3. "Sharks AHL: Worcester Sharks announce transactions". Worcester Sharks. October 8, 2012. Archived from the original on December 12, 2013. Retrieved October 8, 2012.
  4. Mikaël Tam dans l'organisation de l'Avalanche (French) - Quebec Remparts
  5. "Avalanche Reduces Roster to 46". Colorado Avalanche. September 16, 2013. Retrieved September 20, 2013.
  6. "Defenseman Tam agrees to terms". Fort Wayne Komets. September 3, 2014. Archived from the original on September 4, 2014. Retrieved September 3, 2014.
  7. "New defenseman in place!" (in Norwegian). Sparta Warriors. July 24, 2015. Archived from the original on July 25, 2015. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  8. "Condors sign Mikael Tam". Bakersfield Condors. August 18, 2016. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  9. "Kunlun signed a contract with another Canadian of Chinese origin" (in Russian). rsport.ru. May 29, 2017. Retrieved May 29, 2017.
  10. "Rush announce signing of Mikael Tam". ECHL. December 16, 2020. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
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