Mike Marson

Mike Marson
Born	July 24, 1955 (1955-07-24) (age 56) Scarborough, ON, CAN
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight	200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb)
Position	Forward
Played for	Washington Capitals Los Angeles Kings
NHL Draft	19th overall, 1974 Washington Capitals
Playing career	1974–1981

Michael Robert Marson (born July 24, 1955 in Scarborough, Ontario) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who played five seasons in the National Hockey League for the Washington Capitals and the Los Angeles Kings.

Marson was drafted in the 2nd Round, 19th overall by the Washington Capitals in the 1974 NHL Entry Draft. Marson signed a five-year contract with the Capitals and would become the second African-Canadian to play in the NHL. Former Boston Bruin Willie O'Ree broke the NHL's colour barrier in 1957–58.

After his hockey playing career ended in 1980 he studied Martial arts. Marson became a 5th 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. Current NHL player Rick Nash is a student of the program.

After hockey, Marson also worked as a bus operator for the Toronto Transit Commission.

Awards and Miscellaneous Information

Pre-draft honors

• OMJHL All-Star Second Team 1973-74
• Led Sudbury Wolves with 94 points at age 18 in 1973-74.

NHL awards and honours

• Was available in 1974 NHL Amateur Draft because of league's decision to allow drafting of underage players that year
• Scored hat trick in 1974 preseason game vs. Detroit in Ann Arbor, Michigan
• His first NHL game was also first game in Washington Capitals franchise history.
• Number 16 (Washington) & Number 9 (Los Angeles)
• Suffered concussion in collision with St. Louis Blues Garnet "Ace" Bailey during a Dec. 7, 1974, game at St. Louis.

Non-NHL career post-draft teams

Baltimore Clippers (AHL); Springfield Indians (AHL); Hershey Bears (AHL); Philadelphia Firebirds (AHL); Binghamton Dusters (AHL);

Non-NHL awards and honours

Took classes at University of Maryland during his playing days in Washington.

See also

Biography portal

• List of black NHL players

External links

• Profile at hockeydraftcentral.com
• Mike Marson's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database
• Mike Marson's biography at Legends of Hockey
• Hockey Fight School

Persondata
Name	Marson, Mike
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	July 24, 1955
Place of birth	Scarborough, ON, CAN
Date of death
Place of death