 Born in Neepawa, Manitoba, Mikkelson played his junior hockey for the Brandon Wheat Kings and Winnipeg Jets, and was signed as a free agent by the Los Angeles Kings in 1970.He spent two years in the minors in LA's system, earning a 15-game callup to their NHL squad in 1971–72.In the 1972 NHL Expansion Draft, Mikkelson was exposed by the Kings and claimed by the New York Islanders.