Mark Reeds facts for kids

Mark Allen Reeds (born January 24, 1960 – died April 14, 2015) was a Canadian ice hockey player and coach. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1981 to 1989. Mark was born in Toronto, Ontario, but he grew up in Burlington, Ontario. Later in his life, he became an assistant coach for the Ottawa Senators. Sadly, he passed away from cancer in 2015.

Mark Reeds' Hockey Journey as a Player

Mark Reeds started his hockey journey in junior leagues. He played for the Toronto Marlboros and then the Peterborough Petes. In 1979, the St. Louis Blues picked him in the NHL draft.

Playing in the NHL

Mark spent some time playing for the Salt Lake Golden Eagles in a league called the CHL. He then got his chance to play in the NHL with the St. Louis Blues. He played many games for the Blues from 1981 to 1987.

Later, in 1987, Mark was traded to the Hartford Whalers. He played fewer games there because of injuries. He also played for the Binghamton Whalers in another league called the AHL. After his time in the NHL, Mark played hockey in Italy for two years. He finished his playing career in 1993 with the Peoria Rivermen.

Overall, Mark Reeds played in 365 NHL games. He scored 45 goals and made 114 assists, adding up to 159 points. He also played in 53 NHL playoff games.

Mark Reeds' Coaching Career

After he stopped playing, Mark Reeds became a coach. He started as an assistant coach for the Peoria Rivermen from 1992 to 1996.

Coaching in Minor Leagues

When the Rivermen moved to the ECHL, Mark became their head coach. He led them to good records for three seasons. Then, he moved to coach the Missouri River Otters in the United Hockey League (UHL). He helped them reach the playoffs in all four of his seasons there.

Next, Mark coached the Kalamazoo Wings in the UHL. In 2006, he led them to win the Colonial Cup Championship! They almost won it again in 2007 but lost in the finals. In 2007, Mark became the head coach of the Owen Sound Attack in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).

Success with Owen Sound Attack

When Mark first coached the Owen Sound Attack, the team was rebuilding. They missed the playoffs in his first year. But they got much better in 2008–09 and made the playoffs.

In the 2010–11 season, the Owen Sound Attack had an amazing year! Many people didn't expect them to do well, but they ended up with the best record in their conference. In the playoffs, they beat several strong teams to reach the J. Ross Robertson Cup finals. They surprised everyone by winning the cup in a thrilling seven-game series! This win meant they got to play in the 2011 Memorial Cup tournament. They started strong but faced injuries and were eventually eliminated.

Coaching in the NHL

On June 23, 2011, Mark Reeds was named an assistant coach for the Ottawa Senators in the NHL. This was a big step in his coaching career.

Illness and Passing

In March 2015, the Ottawa Senators announced that Mark Reeds was very sick with cancer. Mark passed away on April 14, 2015, at the age of 55. He was in the hospital with pneumonia when he died from esophageal cancer. He is remembered by his wife, Mary, and his two children.

During the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs, both the Montreal Canadiens and the Ottawa Senators held special moments of silence to honor Mark Reeds.