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 Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He was a winger who played for 22 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). Mark Recchi was chosen by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft.

He played for many teams, including the Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers, Montreal Canadiens, Carolina Hurricanes, Atlanta Thrashers, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Boston Bruins. Recchi won the Stanley Cup three times during his career. He won in 1991 with the Penguins, in 2006 with the Hurricanes, and in 2011 with the Bruins.

During the 2010-11 season, Recchi was the last active player who had played in the NHL in the 1980s. In the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals, he became the oldest player ever to score a goal in a Stanley Cup Finals game at 43 years old. Mark Recchi was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on June 26, 2017.

Playing Hockey

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 after he joined the NHL.

Early NHL Career

Recchi was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins and began playing in the NHL in 1988. He was a very important player for the Penguins when they won the Stanley Cup in 1991.

The next season, Recchi was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers. He played for the Flyers from 1992 to 1995. He was part of a famous line called the "Crazy Eights" with Eric Lindros and Brent Fedyk. In the 1992–93 season, he had an amazing 123 points (53 goals and 70 assists). 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 the 1998–99 season. He was always one of their top scorers.

Later Career and More Stanley Cups

During the 1999–2000 season, Recchi was a finalist for the Lester B. Pearson Award. This award is given to the NHL's most valuable player as voted by the players. He finished third in scoring that season.

In 2000, Mark Recchi was named "Kamloops Male Athlete of the 20th Century." A street in his hometown was also named "Mark Recchi Way" in his honor.

In 2004, Recchi rejoined the Pittsburgh Penguins. The first year of his contract was canceled because of the NHL lockout. In his second year with the Penguins, he was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes. He helped the Hurricanes win his second Stanley Cup in 2006.

Recchi skating with the Penguins in January 2007

On January 20, 2007, he scored his seventh career hat-trick (three goals in one game). A week later, on January 26, 2007, Recchi scored his 500th career goal.

In 2007, Recchi signed another one-year contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins. However, he was later claimed by the Atlanta Thrashers. In his first game against his old team, he scored the winning goal in a shootout.

On July 7, 2008, Recchi signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning. In March 2009, he was traded to the Boston Bruins. He scored his first two goals for the Bruins just three days later.

Recchi with the Bruins in October 2009

Recchi re-signed with the Bruins for another year on July 2, 2009. He had said that the 2009–10 season would be his last. With Joe Sakic retiring, Recchi became the active player with the most points and assists. He played 81 out of 82 games that season.

During the 2010 playoffs, Recchi became the third-oldest player to score a playoff goal. He also became the oldest player to score two goals in a playoff game. After losing in the playoffs, Recchi decided not to retire and signed with the Bruins for one more year.

In the 2010–11 season, on November 24, 2010, Recchi scored two goals against the Florida Panthers. These goals gave him his 1,500th career point.

In Game 2 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals, Recchi became the oldest player ever to score a goal in a Stanley Cup Finals game at 43 years old. He scored the final two goals of his career in Game 3. On June 15, 2011, Recchi won his third Stanley Cup as the Bruins beat the Vancouver Canucks. He also led the team in scoring during the Finals.

After the Bruins won, Recchi announced his retirement. He was the last player active in professional hockey who had played in the NHL in the 1980s. He finished his career fourth all-time in games played and 12th all-time in points.

After Retirement

After retiring from playing, Mark Recchi became a co-owner of the Kamloops Blazers. He owns the team with Dallas Stars owner Tom Gaglardi, Jarome Iginla, Shane Doan, and Darryl Sydor.

In 2013, Recchi joined the Dallas Stars as a consultant.

On July 18, 2014, Recchi was hired by the Pittsburgh Penguins as a player development coach. He was part of the Penguins teams that won the Stanley Cup in 2016 and 2017. He was later promoted to director of player development on June 15, 2017. He became an assistant coach on July 11, 2017.

The Penguins did not renew his contract after the 2019-20 season.

Recchi was hired by the New Jersey Devils as an assistant coach on September 8, 2020. He left the Devils on May 4, 2022. The Columbus Blue Jackets hired Recchi as an assistant coach on September 25, 2023.

Personal Life

Mark Recchi was born on February 1, 1968, in Kamloops, British Columbia. His parents are Mel and Ruth Recchi. He has three brothers: Marty, Mike, and Matt.

Mark Recchi married Kim Lazur on August 20, 2016. They have two children together. In total, Recchi has six children, including four from a previous marriage. Their names are Christina, Bella, Samantha, Brendan, Cameron, and Austin.

Awards and Achievements

• Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2017

Records

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

See also

• List of NHL players with 1,000 games played
• List of NHL players with 500 goals
• List of NHL players with 1,000 points
• List of NHL statistical leaders