Mark Kirton

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.

Following his retirement in 1989, Kirton worked as a realtor in Oakville, Ontario.^[1]

Illness and death

In 2018, Kirton was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which eventually left him unable to walk.^[2] 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.^[3] Kirton died at his home in Oakville, on August 17, 2025, at the age of 67.^[4][5]

Regular season and playoffs

More information Regular season, Playoffs ...

				Regular season						Playoffs
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	28
NHL totals				266	57	56	113	121		4	1	2	3	7

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