From left to right, former NHL players Wayne Gretzky, Darryl Sittler, Mark Kirton and Glenn Healy; and Lisa Kirton, Mr. Kirton’s wife.Wendy McCreary/Supplied
In 2015, Mark Kirton was on a beach in the Bahamas and reading a book about the National Hockey League, in which he had competed as a journeyman centre with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings and Vancouver Canucks.
Suddenly, his right biceps muscle started to twitch uncontrollably. The episode marked the beginning of Mr. Kirton’s lengthy battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), an incurable neurodegenerative disease. More commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, ALS ultimately makes breathing, eating, talking and walking impossible without medical devices and drugs, leading to paralysis before death.
Mr. Kirton spent most of the next decade dealing with new physical challenges daily until his death on Aug. 17 in Oakville, Ont., at the age of 67. In spite of his ordeal, Mr. Kirton played a leading role in the expansion of ALS Action Canada (ALSAC), a patient-led group that advocates for accelerated drug approvals while also raising funds for research and providing peer and family support in this country and the United States. Tapping into his extensive network of friends in hockey, Mr. Kirton raised more than $1.5-million with help from all 32 NHL teams and the league’s administration.
Mr. Kirton had nowhere near the same name recognition as retired NHL superstars like Darryl Sittler or the late Borje Salming, also an ALS sufferer, according to former Leafs GM Gord Stellick. But Mr. Kirton’s exceptional accomplishments in recent years for ALS charities set him apart from his fellow NHL alumni.
“He made that kind of impact,” Mr. Stellick said.
Mr. Kirton launched ALSAC’s Courage to Fight fundraising campaign and the ALS Super Fund, an expert panel that directs funds toward ALS-related projects.
In addition, Mr. Kirton co-hosted weekly online support sessions for fellow ALS patients and their families. His storytelling gifts and approachable manner enabled participants to overcome the trepidation of discussing a terminal illness, said Rick Zwiep, an ALSAC board member and ALS patient who facilitated the meetings with him.
Mr. Kirton achieved his successes as ALS paralyzed most of his body.
“He’s the bravest guy I ever knew,” said long-time friend Bruce Boudreau, a former roommate, teammate and opponent in the NHL and minors. “I can’t even imagine the stuff he would have went through. I would have given it up years previously, but he fought an extremely good fight.”
Mark Kirton, No. 20 of the Toronto Maple Leafs, skates against the New York Islanders during an NHL preseason game in September, 1980, at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto.Graig Abel/Getty Images
Mark Robert Kirton was born Feb. 3, 1958, in Regina, where he learned to skate on frozen ponds and dreamed of playing in the NHL for the Maple Leafs. He was one of two children born to Pauline (née Polanski) and Leslie Kirton.
After the family moved to Scarborough, an eastern suburb of Toronto, Mark played in the Wexford minor hockey system, competing against some future NHLers. In 1975-76, he joined Peterborough of what is now the Ontario Hockey League for three seasons, helping the Petes win back-to-back championships in the last two. In the final campaign, he stood out as Peterborough lost in the Memorial Cup final to the New Westminster Bruins.
Drafted in the third round (48th overall) in 1978 by the Maple Leafs, he moved up to the Moncton-based New Brunswick Hawks of the American Hockey League, competing for promotion to the NHL against Mr. Boudreau, a fellow centre.
“The toughest thing about playing with Mark was practising against him, because we would have battles, because he was so competitive,” said Mr. Boudreau, his housemate in Moncton. “But at the same time, you could laugh and drink with him and go out with him.”
In 1979-80, Mr. Kirton was called up to play two games for the Leafs and scored his first NHL goal. He started the next season with Toronto but lasted only 11 games.
In early December of that season, Mr. Kirton was playing against Pittsburgh when Leafs GM Punch Imlach traded him to Detroit for veteran goaltender Jim Rutherford, who later became a friend and supported Mr. Kirton’s ALSAC efforts. Mr. Imlach assigned Mr. Stellick, then a new front-office employee, to quietly inform Mr. Kirton about the deal after the game so the player could catch a morning flight and play for the Wings that night.
Mr. Stellick, who then, like Mr. Kirton, was only 22 and still lived with his parents, had never told a player about a trade before. He went to the Leafs dressing room after the game but could not find him. He finally reached him from home hours later by phone. Back then, such calls were usually short and involved the deal’s “meat and potatoes,” Mr. Stellick recalled. Despite his disappointment, Mr. Kirton had an engaging 20-minute conversation with Mr. Stellick.
“All of a sudden it looked like we were having a coffee or beer and we’d been better friends,” Mr. Stellick said. “It just went in a very positive direction – a very personal direction.”
In 1982-83, Mr. Kirton moved to Vancouver for the Wings via trade for aging star Ivan Boldirev, continuing to bounce between the NHL and AHL. He completed his final two pro seasons with Toronto’s farm team in Newmarket, toiling for $35,000 annually. Mr. Kirton launched a new career in retirement, thriving as a residential realtor based in Oakville. Following the twitching episode, his symptoms worsened – but the cause remained a mystery for three years.
From the day he was diagnosed with ALS in 2018, he vowed to live the best life possible.
“I wanted to be able to start every day with a 100-per-cent positive outlook, second-to-none determination and, lastly, never lose my sense of humour, no matter what the challenge was in front of me,” he wrote in an article published on ALSAC’s website.
After receiving a cold call from ALSAC founder and fellow ALS patient Greg Gowe, who has since died, Mr. Kirton eagerly joined the fledgling group, becoming a board member. He became the group’s “heart” and “captain,” who led by example, said ALSAC vice-chair Kevin Moorhead. Mr. Kirton recruited other former NHL players to support the cause.
“I did my best to keep up with him, and I’m an able-bodied guy,” said Mr. Moorhead, who does not have ALS. “But none of us could keep up with Mark.”
Even in death, Mr. Kirton will continue to generate funds for ALS as the Courage to Fight campaign continues in his honour, Mr. Moorhead added.
Mr. Kirton leaves his wife, Lisa Kirton, and their children, Taylor, Sarah and Adam.
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