Mark Kirton

Last updated
Mark Kirton
Born (1958-02-03) February 3, 1958 (age 65)
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight 170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb)
Position Centre
Shot Left
Played for Toronto Maple Leafs
Detroit Red Wings
Vancouver Canucks
NHL Draft 48th overall, 1978
Toronto Maple Leafs
Playing career 19781989

Mark Robert Kirton (born February 3, 1958) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played 266 games in the National Hockey League.

Contents

Playing career

Born in Regina, Kirton grew up in the Toronto, Ontario suburb of Scarborough. He played minor hockey for the Wexford Warriors, then in the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League with coach Roger Neilson and the Peterborough Petes, from 1975-76 (with Neilson) to 1977-78 under Gary Green. During his final season, he along with other future NHLers including fellow Scarberian Bill Gardiner, Stouffville's Keith Acton, and goalie Ken Ellacott won the J. Ross Robertson Cup for the OMJHL title over the Hamilton Fincups. They lost in the 1978 Memorial Cup to Kirton's future NHL teammates John Ogrodnick (Detroit) and Stan Smyl (Vancouver) of the defending champion New Westminster Bruins, whom they defeated twice in the round-robin. Kirton was named the tournament's All-Star centre, and won the George Parsons Trophy for most sportsmanlike play.

A month following the Memorial Cup loss, Kirton was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs as the 48th pick, in the third round of the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft, by the Toronto Maple Leafs. He played for the Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings, and Vancouver Canucks. He also spent several years in the American Hockey League playing for the minor league affiliates of his NHL teams.

Personal life

Kirton currently works as a realtor in Oakville, Ontario.

In 2018, Kirton was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). [1] After Kirton's former teammate and mentor Börje Salming was diagnosed with ALS in August 2022, Kirton provided support and guidance to Salming, after being reconnected through Darryl Sittler. [2]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
1974–75 Wexford Warriors MJBHL 3818294726
1975–76 Peterborough Petes OMJHL 6522386010
1976–77 Peterborough PetesOMJHL481824424146170
1977–78 Peterborough PetesOMJHL68274471292112142614
1978–79 New Brunswick Hawks AHL 802030501450002
1979–80 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 21012
1979–80 New Brunswick HawksAHL6119426133177111816
1980–81 Toronto Maple LeafsNHL110000
1980–81 Detroit Red Wings NHL5018133124
1981–82 Detroit Red WingsNHL7414284262
1982–83 Detroit Red WingsNHL101126
1982–83 Vancouver Canucks NHL314610441237
1983–84 Vancouver CanucksNHL262352
1983–84 Fredericton Express AHL3581018872356
1984–85 Vancouver CanucksNHL621752221
1984–85 Fredericton ExpressAHL15591418
1985–86 Fredericton ExpressAHL772336593362244
1986–87 Fredericton ExpressAHL8027376420
1987–88 Newmarket Saints AHL7317304742
1988–89 Newmarket SaintsAHL37481218
AHL totals4581232023251863511162728
NHL totals266575611312141237

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References

  1. Former NHLer Mark Kirton shares brave journey battling ALS
  2. Zeisberger, Mike (November 11, 2022). "Salming creates emotional moment for fellow Maple Leafs legends, fans". National Hockey League . Retrieved November 13, 2022.