Mark Kirton

Mark Robert Kirton (February 3, 1958 – August 17, 2025) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played 266 games in the National Hockey League.

Playing career Born in Regina, Kirton grew up in the Toronto 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. 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 Following his retirement in 1989, Kirton worked as a realtor in Oakville, Ontario.

Illness and death In 2018, Kirton was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which eventually left him unable to walk. 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. Kirton died at his home in Oakville, on August 17, 2025, at the age of 67.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1974–75 Wexford Warriors MJBHL 38 18 29 47 26 — — — — — 1975–76 Peterborough Petes OMJHL 65 22 38 60 10 — — — — — 1976–77 Peterborough Petes OMJHL 48 18 24 42 41 4 6 1 7 0 1977–78 Peterborough Petes OMJHL 68 27 44 71 29 21 12 14 26 14 1978–79 New Brunswick Hawks AHL 80 20 30 50 14 5 0 0 0 2 1979–80 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 2 1 0 1 2 — — — — — 1979–80 New Brunswick Hawks AHL 61 19 42 61 33 17 7 11 18 16 1980–81 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 11 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 1980–81 Detroit Red Wings NHL 50 18 13 31 24 — — — — — 1981–82 Detroit Red Wings NHL 74 14 28 42 62 — — — — — 1982–83 Detroit Red Wings NHL 10 1 1 2 6 — — — — — 1982–83 Vancouver Canucks NHL 31 4 6 10 4 4 1 2 3 7 1983–84 Vancouver Canucks NHL 26 2 3 5 2 — — — — — 1983–84 Fredericton Express AHL 35 8 10 18 8 7 2 3 5 6 1984–85 Vancouver Canucks NHL 62 17 5 22 21 — — — — — 1984–85 Fredericton Express AHL 15 5 9 14 18 — — — — — 1985–86 Fredericton Express AHL 77 23 36 59 33 6 2 2 4 4 1986–87 Fredericton Express AHL 80 27 37 64 20 — — — — — 1987–88 Newmarket Saints AHL 73 17 30 47 42 — — — — — 1988–89 Newmarket Saints AHL 37 4 8 12 18 — — — — —AHL totals 458 123 202 325 186 35 11 16 27 28NHL totals 266 57 56 113 121 4 1 2 3 7