The hockey world was in mourning on Sunday with the news of the death of former National Hockey League player Mark Kirton of Regina, Saskatchewan. Yes, Kirton played six NHL seasons from 1979 to 1985 with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings, and Vancouver Canucks. However, his legacy went past the frozen sheet of ice.
Diagnosed with ALS
Kirton was diagnosed with ALS in 2018, and had a courageous fight for seven years. The disease which is also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, is a terminal degenerative disorder where some of the common early symptoms are muscle stiffness, and muscle twitches. Kirton also formed a bond with Maple Leafs Hockey Hall of Famer Borje Salming of Salmi, Sweden. Salming passed away of ALS in November of 2022 (six months after his diagnosis).
Impact in the ALS community
Kirton was a board member of ALS Action Canada. This was a patient-led movement in an attempt to raise the awareness of people who have Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. The intent of ALS Canada was “building a movement to ensure urgent, equitable access to promising therapies for Canadians living with ALS, more and better clinical trials for ALS therapies across Canada; and increased federal and provincial investment in ALS research and support for patients, caregivers and families.”
Kirton was also active with ALS Super Fund. This had the backing of all seven Canadian NHL teams and raised over $1 million. Among the NHL alumni who got behind the ALS Super Fund were Wayne Gretzky and Darryl Sitter.
ALS impacted the hockey world
ALS has deeply impacted the hockey community. In addition to Kirton and Salming, former Calgary Flames assistant general manager Chris Snow of Melrose, Massachusetts was diagnosed with ALS in 2019, before dying on September 30, 2023. Meanwhile, Ottawa Senators assistant coach Bob Jones was diagnosed with ALS in December of 2022, before dying on July 27, 2024.
Kirton’s hockey career
Kirton had 57 goals and 56 assists for 113 points in 266 games with the Maple Leafs, Red Wings and Canucks. A centre, he was a -70 with 121 penalty minutes. Kirton had 73 points over two seasons with Detroit from 1980 to 1982.
Kirton was initially the Maple Leafs’s third round pick in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft. He played his junior career with the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League (now known as just the Ontario Hockey League).
