Mark John Douglas Messier, born on January 18, 1961, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, is widely regarded as one of the greatest ice hockey players in National Hockey League (NHL) history.
A dominant power forward and center, Messier’s 25-year career spanned from 1979 to 2004, during which he played for the Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers, and Vancouver Canucks, as well as briefly in the World Hockey Association (WHA) with the Indianapolis Racers and Cincinnati Stingers.
Known for his physicality, leadership, and clutch performances, Messier earned the nickname “The Moose” for his strength and determination on the ice.
Siblings
Mark was born to Doug and Mary-Jean Messier and grew up in a close-knit, hockey-centric family as the third of four children.
His older brother, Paul Messier, born on January 27, 1958, in Nottingham, England, during their father’s stint playing for the Nottingham Panthers, followed a hockey path of his own.
Paul played briefly in the NHL for the Colorado Rockies, appearing in nine games during the 1978–79 season after being drafted 41st overall in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft.
However, his professional career primarily unfolded in the German Eishockey-Bundesliga, where he played for an extended period.
Paul later transitioned to managing a hotel owned by Mark in Harbour Island, Bahamas, and served as head coach and general manager of the Tampa Bay Tritons, a professional roller hockey team owned by Mark, in 1994.
Mark’s sister, Mary-Kay Messier, has carved out a significant role in the hockey community as the director of brand initiatives for Bauer Hockey.
She has collaborated with Mark on initiatives like The First Shift, a program launched in 2012 by Bauer Hockey and Hockey Canada to make hockey more accessible to families by addressing affordability and safety concerns.
Mark’s younger sister, Jennifer Messier, is less documented in public sources, with no specific details about her personal life or career.
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Career
Messier’s professional career began at age 17 in the WHA, where he played five games for the Indianapolis Racers and 47 games for the Cincinnati Stingers in 1978–79, scoring one goal and 10 assists.
Selected 48th overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft, he joined a dynasty in the making.
Alongside stars like Wayne Gretzky, Messier helped the Oilers win five Stanley Cups (1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990), with the 1990 championship notable for coming after Gretzky’s trade to the Los Angeles Kings, showcasing Messier’s ability to lead as captain.
In 1991, a contract dispute led to his trade to the New York Rangers, where he became captain and transformed the franchise.
His most iconic moment came in 1994, when he guaranteed a Game 6 victory against the New Jersey Devils in the Eastern Conference Finals, delivering a hat trick to back it up, ultimately leading the Rangers to their first Stanley Cup in 54 years.
Messier’s tenure with the Vancouver Canucks from 1997 to 2000 was less successful, marked by controversy over wearing the unofficially retired number 11 and the team’s struggles, earning him the unfortunate distinction of being one of the most disliked players in Canucks history.
Returning to the Rangers in 2000, he played until his retirement in 2005, finishing as the last active player from the 1970s and the WHA.
Beyond the NHL, Messier represented Canada internationally, winning three consecutive Canada Cups and a silver medal at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey.
After retiring, he served as a special assistant to the New York Rangers’ president and general manager, coached Canada in tournaments like the Spengler Cup, and joined ESPN as a studio analyst in 2021.
Accolades
Messier won six Stanley Cups—five with the Edmonton Oilers (1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990) and one with the New York Rangers (1994)—and is the only player in NHL history to captain two different teams to championships.
He earned the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 1984 and secured the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player in 1990 and 1992.
Messier also won the Lester B. Pearson Award (now Ted Lindsay Award) in 1990 and 1992, voted by the NHL Players’ Association as the league’s most outstanding player.
A 15-time NHL All-Star, he ranks third all-time in regular-season points (1,887), second in playoff points (295), and third in regular-season games played (1,756).
Despite never winning a scoring title, his career-high 129 points in 1989–90 earned him a runner-up finish.
In 2007, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, followed by inductions into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame (2009), the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame, and Canada’s Walk of Fame.
The NHL created the Mark Messier Leadership Award in 2006, recognizing players who exemplify leadership on and off the ice.
In 2017, he was named an Officer of the Order of Canada for his contributions to hockey and community service, including founding the Mark Messier Foundation to promote youth sports and the Messier Project to design safer hockey helmets.
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