Mark Messier
Mark John Douglas Messier is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward and the pride of St. Albert, Alberta, Canada – his hometown.
His playing career in the National Hockey League (NHL) lasted 25 seasons (1979–2004) with the Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers, and Vancouver Canucks. He also played professionally with the World Hockey Association (WHA)’s Indianapolis Racers and Cincinnati Stingers. He also played a short four-game stint in the original Central Hockey League (CHL) with the Houston Apollos in 1979. He was the last WHA player to be active in professional ice hockey, and the last active player in any of the major North American professional sports leagues to have played in the 1970s. After his playing career, he was special assistant to the president and general manager of the Rangers.
Messier is considered one of the greatest ice hockey players of all time. He is second on the all-time list for playoff points (295) and third for regular season games played (1756) and regular season points (1887). He is a six-time Stanley Cup champion—five with the Oilers and one with the Rangers—and is the only player to captain two teams to Stanley Cup championships.
His playoff leadership while in New York, which ended a 54-year Stanley Cup drought in 1994, earned him the nickname “The Messiah”, a play on his name. He was also known, throughout his career, as “The Moose” for his aggression and strength.
He twice won the Hart Memorial Trophy as the league’s most valuable player, in 1990 and 1992, and in 1984 won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player during the playoffs. He was selected for the NHL All-Star Game 16 times. In 2007, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, in his first year of eligibility. In 2017, Messier was named one of the “100 Greatest NHL Players” in history.
His 1,887 points in the regular season are third all-time to Jaromír Jágr and Wayne Gretzky’s 2857 (alongside whom he played for 11 seasons).
On June 30, 2017, he was named an Officer of the Order of Canada by Governor General David Johnston for “contributions to hockey as an outstanding player and captain, and for his leadership in encouraging children to take up the sport.”
Messier only played with Canada once outside North America, winning the silver medal at the 1989 World Championships in Sweden. He also won three consecutive Canada Cups and played for the Canadian team that finished second at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey,
On January 12, 2006, during a very emotional ceremony that featured most of the 1994 Stanley Cup team and the Stanley Cup itself, the New York Rangers retired his number 11 in a game against the Edmonton Oilers. During the game, the Rangers defeated the Oilers.
His is the 4th number retired by the Rangers. His number was retired by the Edmonton Oilers on February 27, 2007,
Messier also awards the NHL’s Mark Messier Leadership Award, given to a player who exemplified on-ice leadership, and leadership within their communities.
Messier owns the Runaway Hill Club on the pink sand beach on Harbour Island in the Bahamas.
