The Toronto Maple Leafs announced late on Sunday that alumnus Mark Kirton, who became a leading advocate in the fight against Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), had passed away at age 67.
A third-round pick of the Maple Leafs in 1978, Kirton played 13 of his 266 NHL games with the team over two years before stops with the Detroit Red Wings and Vancouver Canucks.
Nearly 30 years after his professional hockey career ended, Kirton was diagnosed with ALS in 2018. He first noticed something was not right in early 2015 when he experienced an uncontrollable twitch in his right bicep, a weakening grip in his right hand, and frequent falls.
Also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative condition that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. This leads to the gradual loss of muscle control, impacting abilities such as eating, swallowing, and moving, and eventually affecting breathing.
Following his diagnosis, Kirton dedicated his life to becoming an advocate for fighting the disease, for which there is no cure. Rather than "go hide in a corner," he maintained a positive disposition and refused to let the negativity of the bleak diagnosis affect him. His personal battle with the disease fueled him to become a leading voice in pursuit of a cure and improved patient care.
In collaboration with ALS Action Canada and Charitable Impact, he co-founded the ALS Super Fund. He helped bring all seven Canadian NHL franchises to back the ALS Super Fund, and since that time, other NHL franchises have also stepped in. Through June of 2025, the ALS Super Fund raised approximately $1.4 million toward its $2 million goal within an 18-month period.
More than just the disease itself, Kirton wanted to stress the devastating impact the disease has on families, mostly due to the coverage and costs associated with treatment.
The disease had a personal impact on the Maple Leafs community in 2022 when Hockey Hall of Famer Börje Salming passed away due to the affliction. Leafs legend Darryl Sittler hailed Kirton as a hero, drawing parallels to the late Terry Fox for his strength and determination to fight a disease while battling it to the end.
The hockey world has lost some beloved figures in recently. In addition to Salming, Calgary Flames executive Chris Snow passed after a long battle with the disease in September of 2023 at age 42. Former Ottawa Senators assistant coach Bob Jones died last summer at age 54.
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