Mark Recchi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mark Recchi
Hockey Hall of Fame, 2017
Recchi in March 2018
Born	(1968-02-01) February 1, 1968 (age 57) Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada
Height	5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight	195 lb (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb)
Position	Right wing
Shot	Left
Played for	Pittsburgh Penguins Philadelphia Flyers Montreal Canadiens Carolina Hurricanes Atlanta Thrashers Tampa Bay Lightning Boston Bruins
National team	Canada
NHL Draft	67th overall, 1988 Pittsburgh Penguins
Playing career	1988–2011
Medal record Representing  Canada World Championship Gold 1997 Finland World Junior Championships Gold 1988 Soviet Union

Mark Louis Recchi (born February 1, 1968) is a famous Canadian former ice hockey player. He was a skilled winger and is now an assistant coach for the Columbus Blue Jackets in the National Hockey League (NHL). Recchi was picked by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1988 NHL Draft. He played an amazing 22 seasons in the NHL for seven different teams.

Mark Recchi is known for winning the Stanley Cup three times as a player. He won with the Penguins in 1991, the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006, and the Boston Bruins in 2011. This is a rare achievement in hockey! He was the last active player in the NHL who had played in the 1980s. In 2011, at 43 years old, he became the oldest player to score a goal in a Stanley Cup Finals game. In 2017, Mark Recchi was honored by being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Playing Career Highlights

Mark Recchi started his junior hockey career with the Kamloops Blazers in the Western Hockey League (WHL). His jersey number 8 was retired by the team, which is a big honor. He joined the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1988 and was a key player when they won the Stanley Cup in 1991.

Time with the Flyers and Canadiens

After his first Stanley Cup win, Recchi was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers. He played for the Flyers from 1992 to 1995. During the 1992–93 season, he had an incredible year, scoring 53 goals and 70 assists for a total of 123 points. This is still the Flyers' record for most points in a single season!

In 1995, he was traded to the Montreal Canadiens. He later returned to the Flyers in 1999. In the 1999–2000 season, Recchi was one of the top scorers in the NHL. He finished third in points, showing how talented he was. The Flyers made it to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2000 and 2004, but they didn't make it to the Stanley Cup Finals.

In 2000, his hometown of Kamloops, British Columbia, named him "Kamloops Male Athlete of the 20th Century." They even named a street "Mark Recchi Way" in his honor!

Winning Another Stanley Cup

In 2004, Recchi rejoined the Pittsburgh Penguins. However, the next season was canceled due to a lockout. In 2006, he was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes. He helped the Hurricanes win the Stanley Cup that year, earning his second championship ring.

Recchi skating with the Penguins in 2007

After winning with the Hurricanes, he signed with the Penguins again. On January 26, 2007, Mark Recchi scored his 500th career NHL goal. This is a huge milestone that only a few players ever reach! Later that year, he played for the Atlanta Thrashers and then the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Final Stanley Cup with the Bruins

In 2009, Recchi was traded to the Boston Bruins. He quickly became an important player for them. He even served as an alternate captain when another player was injured.

Recchi with the Bruins in 2009

In the 2010 playoffs, Recchi became one of the oldest players to score a playoff goal. He also became the oldest player to score two goals in a playoff game. He decided to play one more year with the Bruins.

During the 2010–11 season, on November 24, 2010, Recchi scored his 1,500th career point. This is another incredible achievement that shows his long and successful career.

In Game 2 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals, Recchi, at 43 years old, became the oldest player ever to score a goal in the Finals. On June 15, 2011, the Bruins defeated the Vancouver Canucks in Game 7, and Mark Recchi won his third Stanley Cup. He joined a small group of players who have won the Stanley Cup with three different teams.

After this amazing win, Mark Recchi announced his retirement from hockey. He finished his career as one of the top players in NHL history for games played and total points.

Assistant coach for the Penguins in 2018

Life After Playing Hockey

After retiring as a player, Mark Recchi stayed involved in hockey. He is a co-owner of his old junior team, the Kamloops Blazers. He owns the team with other famous hockey players like Jarome Iginla and Shane Doan.

In 2013, Recchi became a consultant for the Dallas Stars. Then, in 2014, he was hired by the Pittsburgh Penguins as a player development coach. In this role, he helped young players improve their skills. He was part of the Penguins' staff when they won the Stanley Cup in 2016 and 2017, adding two more championships to his name, this time as a coach!

He was later promoted to director of player development and then became an assistant coach for the Penguins. After leaving the Penguins, he worked as an assistant coach for the New Jersey Devils. Currently, he is an assistant coach for the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Personal Life

Mark Recchi was born in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada. He has three brothers. Mark married Kim Lazur in 2016. He has six children in total: Christina, Bella, Samantha, Brendan, Cameron, and Austin.

Awards and Achievements

• Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2017

Recchi in 2006 with the Penguins.

Records

• His 123 points (53 goals, 70 assists) in the 1992–1993 season is the Philadelphia Flyers' regular season scoring record.
• Oldest player to record 5 assists in a game on March 1, 2009, at 41 years, 28 days old.
• Oldest player to score a Stanley Cup Finals goal on June 6, 2011, at 43 years, 126 days old.