Former Detroit Red Wings center Mark Kirton never sought out sympathy as he battled with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). The neurodegenerative disease, often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, claimed Kirton’s life on Sunday. He was 67 years old.
“I don’t want anybody to feel sorry for me,” Kirton said in a 2021 interview with the CHL website. Right until the end, even as his body steadily betrayed him, he never allowed his bleak prognosis to impact his outlook on life.
Today, the hockey world lost not only a talented player but a remarkable human being. Mark Kirton, former NHL player and tireless advocate for ALS awareness, has passed away.
Mark’s career in the NHL was defined by determination, teamwork, and heart. Off the ice, he brought… pic.twitter.com/clVodnnR82
— NHL Alumni (@NHLAlumni) August 18, 2025
“Even though it’s humbling, I just wasn’t going to change,” Kirton said. “I was going to be positive and not allow any negativity to enter my DNA.”
He worked tirelessly raising funds for research into the illness. Kirton was able to incorporate several of his NHL contemporaries to help with his fight, including former Red Wings star Paul Henderson.
He’s the second former Detroit player to lose his life to ALS in recent years. The disease also killed Hall of Fame defenseman Borje Salming in 2022. Salming spent his last NHL season with the Red Wings in 1989-90.
Kirton Spent Three Seasons With Red Wings
Kirton played his junior hockey with the OHL Peterborough Petes, the same club as Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman. He broke into the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 1979-80 season. On December 4, 1980, the Maple Leafs traded Kirton to the Red Wings for goalie Jim Rutherford.
RIP Mark Kirton. Kirton was diagnosed in 2018 with ALS. He fought, educated & inspired.
Here’s a clip of legends Bruce Martyn & Sid Abel talking about the “good little hockey player” the Wings got in the Rutherford deal. Now the league upstairs gets a great human being. RIP.🙏 pic.twitter.com/vWIjFwp87h
— The Hockey Samurai 侍 (@hockey_samurai) August 18, 2025
Though his forte was as a checker, Kirton scored three goals in his first seven games with Detroit. In a 5-3 win over the Leafs at Detroit on December 19, 1980, Kirton scored the game-winner on Rutherford.
Small in stature at 5-foot-10 and 170 pounds, Kirton scored a career-high 18 goals for the Red Wings in 50 games during the 1980-81 season. The following season would see him collect a career-best 28 assists and 42 points.
He was dealt by Detroit to the Vancouver Canucks on January 17, 1983 for forward Ivan Boldirev. He’d finish his NHL playing days with the Canucks during he 1984-85 season, scoring 17 goals.