Mike Marson


Michael Robert Marson is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger who played five seasons in the National Hockey League for the Washington Capitals and the Los Angeles Kings.

Hockey career

Amateur

As a youth, Marson played in the 1968 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hockey team from Wexford, Toronto. During the 1973–74 OHA season, he was named a second team all-star, and led the Sudbury Wolves with 94 points at age 18.

Professional

Marson was drafted in the 2nd Round, 19th overall by the Washington Capitals in the 1974 NHL Entry Draft. He signed a five-year contract with the Capitals and would become the second Black Canadian to play in the NHL. He was available in the 1974 NHL amateur draft because of league's decision to allow drafting of underage players that year. His first NHL game was also the first game in Washington Capitals franchise history.
During his career in the American Hockey League, Marson played for the Baltimore Clippers, Springfield Indians, Hershey Bears, Philadelphia Firebirds, and Binghamton Dusters.

Personal life

Took classes at University of Maryland during his playing days in Washington.
After his hockey playing career ended in 1980 he studied Martial arts. Marson became a seventh degree black belt in the Japanese style of Shotokan, attaining the status of Master-Shihan. Marson has developed an off-ice martial arts training program for hockey players designed to improve timing, focus and confidence. Former NHL player Rick Nash was a student of the program.
After hockey, Marson currently works as a bus operator for the Toronto Transit Commission.