"Don't forget Chris Osgood played a lot more in the regular season, which should be the case again." (The Sports Forecaster Hockey '97-'98, p. 40)

"Vernon is not getting any younger despite a great playoff showing. (The Sports Forecaster Hockey '97-'98, p. 165)

"Where do you beat Vernie? Five-hole. Vernie doesn't move a whole lot in the net because of his size. There's an economy to the way he plays. He stays pretty close to the net because, well, he doesn't handle the puck all that well. Sometimes you can take advantage of that. (Joe Nieuwendyk, ESPN Sportszone, April 1998)

"Vernon isn't getting any younger in his quest for a third Stanley Cup with his third team. The 16-year NHLer is still a No. 1 goalkeeper, but is at his best now with plenty of rest. At 5-9, 170 pounds, Vernon's game has always revolved around quick reflexes and improvisation. His experience in big games over the years has made him the goalie he is today. Vernon's days as a starter may be winding down. He may have one more season of 50-plus games in him, but he's more likely to share the load. (The Sports Forecaster 1999-2000, p. 216)

"The small but highly intelligent and experienced netminder is still an extremely valuable and effective man in the crease. His reflexes may have slowed a touch over the years but who can argue with his 2.47 GAA and .917 save percentage of last season? Vernon returns to Calgary, where he endured a love-hate relationship with local faithful despite having backstopped the Flames to their only Stanley Cup in history. Vernon loves a heavy workload but now needs to rest more often. Still has gas in the tank. Will form a capable duo with Brathwaite until super-prospect Brent Krahn is ready." (The Sports Forecaster 2000-01, p. 167)

"Has time now become a factor? Vernon was hot throughout the month of December last season but was cold the rest of the way. The 18-year veteran was supposed to provide Calgary the experience needed to get back into the playoffs for the first time since 1995-96. It didn't happen. Vernon, 38, heads into a new campaign as the definite No. 2 guy. Expect him to rebound somewhat and provide newly acquired Roman Turek with some valuable rest from time to time." (The Sports Forecaster 2001-02, p. 173)

• Selected by Calgary Flames in third round (second Flames pick, 56th overall) of National Hockey League entry draft, June 10, 1981.
• Traded by Flames to Detroit Red Wings for D Steve Chiasson, June 29, 1994.
• Traded by Red Wings to San Jose Sharks for second-round pick (D Maxim Linnik) in 1998 draft and third-round pick in 1999 draft, August 18, 1997.
• Traded by Sharks (with third-round pick (RW Sean O'Connor) in 2000 draft) to Florida Panthers for RW Radek Dvorak, December 30, 1999.
• Selected by Minnesota Wild in National Hockey League Expansion Draft; traded by Wild to Calgary Flames for rights to C Dan Cavanaugh and eighth-round selection in 2001 draft June 23, 2000.
• Agreed on one-year (through 2001-02) contract extension with Flames, January 27, 2001.
• Announced retirement from professional hockey, September 13, 2002.

• Named to Western Hockey League All-Star first team, 1981-82.
• Winner, Western Hockey League Top Goaltender Trophy, 1981-82.
• Player of the Year, Western Hockey League, 1981-82.
• Winner, Western Hockey League Most Valuable Player Trophy, 1981-82.
• Named to Western Hockey League All-Star first team, 1982-83.
• Winner, Western Hockey League Top Goaltender Trophy, 1982-83.
• Winner, Western Hockey League Most Valuable Player Trophy, 1982-83.
• Named to Central Hockey League All-Star second team, 1983-84.
• Played in National Hockey League All-Star Game, 1988.
• Played in National Hockey League All-Star Game, 1989.
• Named to The Sporting News All-Star second team, 1988-89.
• Named to National Hockey League All-Star second team, 1988-89.
• Member of Stanley Cup Champion Calgary Flames, 1989.
• Played in National Hockey League All-Star Game, 1990.
• Played in National Hockey League All-Star Game, 1991.
• Winner, Calgary Flames Molson Cup, 1991-92.
• Played in National Hockey League All-Star Game, 1993.
• Rated #23 in Hockey Stars Presents "The Top 50 Netminders in Pro Hockey", November 1993.
• Rated #17 in Hockey Stars Presents "The Top 50 Netminders in Pro Hockey", November 1994.
• 1994-95 Goaltender of the Year Second Runner-Up, Hockey Stars Presents, Summer 1995.
• Finished fifth in voting for National Hockey League All-Star team, 1994-95.
• Finished fourth in voting for Vezina Trophy, 1994-95.
• Rated #26 in Hockey Stars Presents "The Top 50 Netminders in Pro Hockey", November 1995.
• Shared (with G Chris Osgood) William M. Jennings Trophy, 1995-96.
• Winner, The Hockey News National Hockey League Playoff Most Valuable Player, 1996-97.
• Member of Stanley Cup Champion Detroit Red Wings, 1997.
• Winner, Conn Smythe Trophy, 1997.
• Named National Hockey League Player of the Week, December 22, 1997.

• Mike made his National Hockey League debut, at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, on December 12, 1982. With Don Edwards and Reggie Lemelin ailing, Vernon was called upon to play in Calgary's net against the Red Wings. The Red Wings were not kind to the youngster, scoring six times on seventeen shots. Tim Bernhardt replaced Vernon for the final period of a 7-3 defeat.

• Shares National Hockey League single-season playoff record for most wins by a goaltender (16), 1989.
• Shares National Hockey League single-season playoff record for most wins by a goaltender (16), 1997.

• Injured hip, March 2, 1988.
• Suffered back spasms, February 1989.
• Suffered back spasms; missed ten games, March 1990.
• Suffered lacerated forehead; missed five games, October 25, 1992.
• Suffered from the flu; missed two games, November 15, 1993.
• Twisted knee; missed fourteen games, December 30, 1993.
• Suffered pulled right groin; missed twelve games, December 29, 1995.
• Suffered from the flu; missed three games, October 23, 1996.
• Injured knee; missed three games, March 12, 1997.
• Injured groin; missed six games, March 1, 1999.
• Suffered from the flu; missed two games, December 19, 1999.
• Suffered concussion; missed two games, December 22, 2000.

• On May 10, 1982, Mike stopped 45 of 50 Sherbrooke (QMJHL) shots as the Portland Winter Hawks (WHL) became the first non-Canadian team to win a game in the Memorial Cup tournament, 6-5 over the Beavers.
• Mike was a member of the 1983 Memorial Cup champion Portland Winter Hawks. At the time, the Memorial Cup allowed each team to add an extra goaltender from their league to the roster, and WHL league champion Lethbridge was hoping that Vernon would play instead of injured starter Ken Wregget. In a controversial move, Vernon chose to play for the host Winter Hawks. Vernon was scratched from the Cup game between Portland and Lethbridge, allegedly because of a jammed neck, but rumours were that Vernon sat due to threats from Lethbridge players. Lethbridge won the match 9-3, but Portland won the championship, 8-3 over Oshawa on May 14, 1983.
• Mike was traded from San Jose to Florida in late December, 1999. In his first appearance for the Panthers, on January 1, 2000, Vernon wore the unfamiliar #32 while Ryan Johnson wore #29. Vernon was back in #29 by the next Panthers' game on January 6.