Mark Giordano facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mark Giordano
Giordano with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2022
Born	(1983-10-03) October 3, 1983 (age 41) Toronto, Ontario, CAN
Height	6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight	205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Position	Defence
Shoots	Left
NHL team Former teams	Free agent Calgary Flames Dynamo Moscow Seattle Kraken Toronto Maple Leafs
National team	Canada
NHL Draft	Undrafted
Playing career	2004–present

Mark Giordano (born October 3, 1983) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman. A defenceman is a player who mostly helps protect their team's goal. He is currently a free agent, meaning he can sign with any team. Mark most recently played for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the National Hockey League (NHL).

He played for the Calgary Flames for fifteen seasons. During his time there, he was the team's captain for eight seasons. He also played for the Seattle Kraken, where he was their first captain in their first season. Mark was never chosen in the NHL Entry Draft, which is where teams pick young players. Instead, he signed with the Flames as a free agent in 2004. This happened after he played two seasons of junior hockey with the Owen Sound Attack.

Mark was chosen for his first NHL All-Star Game in 2015. He also won the J. R. "Bud" McCaig Award in 2012 for his amazing charity work. He played for Team Canada in the 2010 IIHF World Championship. He also won the 2007 Spengler Cup with Team Canada. In 2019, at 35 years old, he won the James Norris Memorial Trophy. This award goes to the NHL's best defenceman.

Early Life and Family

Mark Giordano was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on October 3, 1983. His father, Paul, worked in real estate, and his mother, Anna, was a hairdresser. Mark has Italian family roots. He has an older sister named Michelle. Mark also had another older sister, Mia, who sadly passed away when he was 14.

This loss had a big impact on Mark and his family, bringing them closer. Before each game, Mark taps his helmet twice with his stick. This is a quiet way to remember his sister. When he was younger, Mark played both hockey and baseball. But as he got older, he chose to focus on hockey. He played minor hockey in North York and went to Chaminade College School.

Playing Career Highlights

Junior Hockey Journey

Mark started his junior hockey career with the Brampton Capitals. In the 2001–02 season, he scored 24 goals in the playoffs. This helped his team win the Ontario provincial championship. After that, he moved up to major junior hockey. He played two seasons with the Owen Sound Attack in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). He was the top-scoring defenceman for his team in both years.

Even though he was a great player in junior hockey, Mark was not picked in the NHL Entry Draft. This is a special event where NHL teams choose young players. He got an invitation to try out for the Phoenix Coyotes. Mark impressed the team, but they thought he would get better by playing another season in the OHL.

After junior hockey, Mark planned to go to York University. But then, the Calgary Flames invited him to their summer camp. Mark really stood out at the camp. The Flames signed him to a contract, and his professional hockey journey began.

Becoming a Flame: Calgary Years

The Flames sent Mark to their minor league team, the Lowell Lock Monsters, for the 2004–05 season. He then played for the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights. Mark was a top scorer for the Knights. He also led all defencemen in the AHL (American Hockey League) in goals and points. The Flames called him up to play in the NHL, and he made his debut on January 30, 2006. He scored his first NHL point, an assist, on April 8, 2006.

In the 2007–08 season, Mark left the NHL to play for HC Dynamo Moscow in Russia. He wanted to play in a higher-level league. Even though he left, he signed a new contract with the Flames and came back for the 2008–09 season. Mark played 58 games that season before a shoulder injury ended his year. He had surgery but was ready for the next season.

Giordano with the Flames, November 2008

The 2009–10 season was a great one for Mark. He set new personal bests in goals and points. He was also invited to play for Team Canada at the 2010 IIHF World Championship. In 2010, Mark signed a five-year contract with the Flames. He continued to lead the team's defencemen in scoring. He became an alternate captain before the 2011–12 season.

On September 20, 2013, Mark was named the 19th captain in Flames history. His teammates and coaches praised him for his hard work and leadership. He played in all parts of the game and was known for blocking shots and defending his teammates. Mark broke his ankle early in the 2013–14 season. Even with the injury, he still set career highs in goals and points.

Giordano during a game against Pittsburgh, December 2013

In the 2014–15 season, Mark was one of the best defencemen in the NHL. He led all defencemen in points and was named the NHL's First Star of November. He was also chosen to play in the 60th National Hockey League All-Star Game. Mark played his 500th career game on February 2, 2015. Sadly, his season ended early due to a torn biceps tendon. Before the 2015–16 season, the Flames signed Mark to another six-year contract.

In the 2016–17 season, Mark's strong defensive play helped the Flames reach the playoffs. In the 2018–19 season, Mark made history. He became only the fifth defenceman in NHL history to score 60 points at age 35 or older. After this amazing season, he won the James Norris Memorial Trophy. This award recognizes the best defenceman in the league.

New Teams: Kraken and Maple Leafs

Giordano with the Kraken in 2022.

On July 21, 2021, Mark was chosen by the Seattle Kraken in the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft. This is when a new team picks players from other teams. Before their first season, Mark was named the first captain in Kraken history. He played well for the Kraken, leading the team in ice time.

On March 5, 2022, Mark played his 1,000th NHL game. This is a huge milestone for any player. He was the first player in Seattle Kraken history to reach this achievement.

Just before the trade deadline on March 20, 2022, Mark was traded to his hometown team, the Toronto Maple Leafs. He continued to play strongly for the Maple Leafs. On May 22, 2022, Mark signed a new contract with the Maple Leafs. He took a lower salary than he could have gotten from other teams. This is called a "hometown discount." It helped the team have more money under the salary cap to sign other players.

During the 2022–23 season, Mark set another record. On February 26, 2023, he passed Kris Russell for the most shots blocked in NHL history. He blocked his 2,045th shot against his former team, the Seattle Kraken.

Giving Back: Personal Life and Charity

Mark and his wife, Lauren, are big supporters of Habitat for Humanity. This organization helps build homes for families in need. In 2011, they started a program called "5-for-5." Their goal was to help build five homes: one in Calgary and four in Africa and Asia. Mark donated a lot of his own money, and the Flames' charity also matched his donation.

The Flames honored him for his work with Habitat for Humanity. Before the 2014–15 season, Mark and Lauren started another project called "Team Giordano Project." They and the Flames' charity gave money to three Calgary schools. This money helped buy new gym equipment and computers. Mark and Lauren also visited the schools to mentor the students. In 2017, Mark won the ESPN Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award for his amazing charity work.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

International

Awards and Honours