Mark Messier
Mark Messier
Mark Douglas Messieris a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre of the National Hockey League and former special assistant to the president and general manager of the New York Rangers. He played a quarter of a century in the NHLwith the Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers, and Vancouver Canucks. He also played professionally with the World Hockey Association's Indianapolis Racers and Cincinnati Stingers. He was the last former WHA player to be active in professional hockey, and the last active...
NationalityCanadian
ProfessionHockey Player
Date of Birth18 January 1961
CityEdmonton, Canada
CountryCanada
But I felt that I was fairly confident in what it took to win a Stanley Cup coming off five Cups in seven years, ... And I was lucky to be a part of a team that was willing to sacrifice themselves for the benefit of the team.
I think to compare any time you win a Stanley Cup would be unfair to all the players from all the teams.
We had built up a team in Edmonton that really knew who each other was from a personal standpoint and from a professional standpoint. Our nucleus had stayed together for a long time.
I started as a fourth-line fighter, went to being a third-line centre, then a second-line winger and a first-line centre. I've played every role there is, and the only thing that matters is helping the team win.
I never was brought into the league thinking as far as, you know, statistics, things like that. We were really brought into the league in a team concept. Everything was focused around winning.
Really the team often will take on the personality of its coach.
Obviously every one of them was special to that particular team, all the people that were involved with it.
I've never really thought about any individual records or anything like that for most of my career,
Besides, ... anyone who plays at 50-odd years old deserves that record.
I've always planned to be involved in the game, ... But I don't know in what capacity at this time. I'm going to be open to offers and suggestions and see what fits best.
I was ready for just about anything that anybody could throw at me. I was ready for the challenge of winning the Stanley Cup. I was ready for this city. I wasn't intimidated about coming to New York.
I don't think any one individual can stand alone.
I wouldn't come back to play for that reason, ... I know that was talked about, but there has to be other reasons. I thought I achieved a lot in my 25 years and it was time to go.
One of the best experiences I've had in hockey.