Maple Leafs Honor Former Player and His Inspiring Fight After His Passing
Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Image
The Toronto Maple Leafs as well as the hockey world are mourning the loss of former player Mark Kirton after passing away at age 67 while fighting ALS.
A very sad bit of news is coming out of the hockey world on Sunday night as it was announced that former Maple Leafs draft pick Mark Kirton had tragically passed away from a valiant battle with ALS.
We are saddened to learn of the passing of Mark Kirton following a battle with ALS.
Mark made his NHL debut with the blue and white and would go on to spend 8 seasons in the NHL. In 2018, he was diagnosed with ALS and in 2020 he founded ALS Action Canada with PALS (Patients with ALS), a patient-led initiative to find a cure.
The Leafs Alumni Association were proud to name Mark a recent recipient of the Carl Brewer Memorial award in recognition of his work.
Our thoughts are with Mark's friends and family during this time. For more information on ALS Action Canada please visit alsactioncanada.org
Mark made his NHL debut with the blue and white and would go on to spend 8 seasons in the NHL. In 2018, he was diagnosed with ALS and in 2020 he founded ALS Action Canada with PALS (Patients with ALS), a patient-led initiative to find a cure.
The Leafs Alumni Association were proud to name Mark a recent recipient of the Carl Brewer Memorial award in recognition of his work.
Our thoughts are with Mark's friends and family during this time. For more information on ALS Action Canada please visit alsactioncanada.org
Kirton, 67, was drafted 48th overall by the Maple Leafs in 1978, making his debut in the 1979-80 season; he skated in 13 games for the team and had 113 points in 266 games with Toronto, Vancouver, and Detroit.
Fans were also very saddened by the news and did their best to memorialize Kirton on social media:
Kirton was diagnosed with ALS; medically knows as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis but more often known as Lou Gehrig's disease, a condition which affects nerves in the spine and brain which leads to eventual loss of mobility, and basic functions and ultimately; death.
Kirton did his best not only to help those with the disease, but never got down on himself and fought hard to the end, and was proud of the career and life he made:
I've had a good life. I love playing hockey. I love golf. And then I get hit with this. My only regret would be that I didn't stay healthy long enough for Lisa and I to be able to fulfill her plans to travel and start to really enjoy each other after the kids were gone.
For those who would like to donate to ALS Action Canada, please click the link here.
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