Eddie Mio put himself on the map of professional hockey when he agreed to attend Colorado College from 1972-76. During that time, he established himself as a standout, winning first- and second-team all-star awards and making the NCAA West first all-American team two years in a row.
In 1974, the NHL's Blackhawks and the Blazers of the WHA drafted him. He played for neither club, wending his way instead through the minor leagues with Tidewater, Erie, and Hampton until he surfaced with the Indianapolis Racers of the WHA.
With the Racers, Mio's goaltending was rough, but the most meaningful event of his career occurred when he befriended his life-long pal, Wayne Gretzky. Shortly after their meeting, the two were lumped together with Peter Driscoll and put on a plane bound for Edmonton to join the Oilers.
In Alberta, Mio got his first NHL action during the days of the Oilers' transition from an old WHA club to a young, highly talented lineup that included Mark Messier, Kevin Lowe, Gretzky, Glenn Anderson and Paul Coffey. Mio had his first winning season in 1980-81 before being traded to the Rangers.
In New York, Mio backstopped the Rangers for two seasons before rounding out his career with the Red Wings in 1985-86.
