Mike Card was born February 18, 1986 in Kitchener, Ontario. Drafted by the Buffalo Sabres 241st overall in the eighth round of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, Card spent four seasons with the WHLs Kelowna Rockets.
An offensive defenceman, Card helped lead Kelowna to three straight Memorial Cup appearances from 2003-2005. He would end his junior career with 147 points before making his professional debut with the Sabres' AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans in the 2005-06 season. That same season, Card would make his first NHL appearance in a game against the Flyers on November 11, 2006.