Mark Messier is one of the greatest players in the history of the National Hockey League. He is known for his prodigious accomplishments, unparalleled leadership skills, and unwavering dedication and loyalty to his team. Mark’s achievements over the entirety of his 26-year NHL career are astounding: Six Stanley Cup championships, 1887 points scored, placing him third on the all-time NHL list (behind only Wayne Gretzky and Jaromir Jagr), two Hart Memorial trophies as the league’s Most Valuable Player, and his standing as the only professional athlete ever to captain two different franchises – the Edmonton Oilers and the New York Rangers – to championships. He will always be cherished by New Yorkers for his success with the Rangers, especially for his legendary heroics in 1994 when he led the Blueshirts to their first Stanley Cup championship in fifty-four years.
Mark Messier’s post-career honours reflect the accomplishments of his career. In 2007, Mark was a first-ballot selection to the Hockey Hall of Fame, and in 2009, he received the Lester Patrick Award for his outstanding contributions to hockey in the United States. In February of 2017, as the National Hockey League launched its 100th anniversary celebration, Mark was named to the list of the NHL’s 100 Greatest Players of All-Time. In June of 2017, Mark was named an Officer of the Order of Canada, the highly prestigious award which recognizes outstanding achievement, dedication to the community, and service to the nation of Canada.
Since retiring as a player in 2004, Mark has taken on numerous executive roles. He is currently the CEO of the Kingsbridge National Ice Center, a development project that plans to convert a former National Guard armoury in the Bronx, NY into the world’s largest indoor ice facility. Mark has also served as an executive with the New York Rangers and Hockey Canada and was a founder of the Messier Project which developed the M-11 hockey helmet to maximize protection, particularly regarding concussions. Mark also serves on the board of Answer the Call, the NY Police & Fire Widows and Children’s Fund, and is an active supporter of Tomorrow’s Children’s Fund.
In 2007, the NHL instituted the annual Mark Messier Leadership Award, given annually to the player who combines excellent on-ice performance with extraordinary dedication to community and charity involvement. It is in service of those ideals of social responsibility, that Mark has created the Mark Messier Foundation. In the world of sports, the name Mark Messier has become synonymous with leadership, compassion, and success. Now, on behalf of the Mark Messier Foundation, he harnesses those same attributes to meaningfully improve the lives of those in need.
