Former NHL striker Mark Kirton died on Sunday at the age of 67. Kirton, who received the diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (as, including Lou Gehrig disease) in 2018, has been considered one of the defining voices in the fight against the incurable nerve disease in recent years.
Despite the progressive illness that captivated him on the wheelchair, Kirton tirelessly campaigned for those affected. In 2020, he was one of the co -founders of as an action canada, an initiative conducted by patients, advanced research and education. With great personal commitment, he brought the seven Canadian NHL franchises to mobilize donations and attention for ALS research together.
In September 2024, Kirton’s long-time friend and hockey legend Darryl Sittler in Ottawa was able to announce that the Kirton initiated as a great find had exceeded the brand of one million dollars of donations. At the same event, Wayne Gretzky praised the deceased as “a hero for me”.
Between 1978 and 1984, Kirton played a total of 266 NHL games for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings and the Vancouver Canucks, in which he scored 57 goals and 56 assists. He was selected in 1978 by the Maple Leafs in the third round of the NHL draft.
In addition to his commitment to ALS patients, Kirton also supported other affected people from the hockey family, including his former teammate Borje Salming, who died of the illness in November 2022. Chris Snow (Calgary Flames, 2023) and Bob Jones (Ottawa Senators, 2024) were recently one of the prominent victims of the disease.
“We have been living in this nightmare for years. I can say: It is cruel, it is torture,” said Kirton in September 2024. His tireless effort made him a role model for many – on and off the ice.
