Marty McSorley

Lore & Background

McSorley was born in Cayuga, Ontario. He made his NHL debut in October 1983 with the Pittsburgh Penguins but rose to fame after a trade to the Edmonton Oilers in September 1985. He was a member of the Oilers' Stanley Cup winning teams in 1987 and 1988. He was traded to the Los Angeles Kings in 1988 along with Gretzky and Mike Krushelnyski. With the Kings, he shared the NHL Plus-Minus Award in 1991 and led all defensemen in shorthanded goals in 1992–93. He was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in August 1993, re-acquired by the Kings in February 1994, and traded to the New York Rangers in March 1996. He later played for the San Jose Sharks, returned to Edmonton, and signed with the Boston Bruins in December 1999. His last NHL game was in 2000.

In Their Own Story

The Forum was shaking. It was the third period, the Kings down by one, and the crowd had settled into that tense, breathless silence that only a close game at home can produce. McSorley was on the ice for a penalty kill, skating his shift with the same methodical calm he brought to everything. A pass came in to the point. He didn't hesitate. One motion — stick back, wrist snap — and the puck was a white blur arcing off his blade, threading the top corner before the goaltender could even shift his weight. The arena detonated.

Thirty seconds later, a scrum was forming near the boards after a rough hit on a Kings winger. McSorley was already there, sticks on the ice, gloves coming up. A forward a full head taller swung first. McSorley absorbed it, countered, and the two of them traded three, four, five exchanges while the other players formed a loose circle around them. The referee separated them. McSorley skated back to the bench, took a breath, and was on the next shift, still tracking his man, still playing two-way hockey as if nothing had happened.

That was Marty McSorley. That was always Marty McSorley.

Reader's Guide

McSorley coached the Springfield Falcons of the AHL from 2002 to 2004. He appeared in four movies: Bad Boys (1995), Forget Paris (1995), Con Air (1997), and Do Me A Favor (1997). He worked as an in-studio analyst for Fox Sports West in 2005–06 and provided color commentary for San Jose Sharks games in 2006–07. He has appeared on CSI: Miami, Greek, and Pros vs Joes. He is currently a TV analyst for Sportsnet and occasionally Hockey Night in Canada.

Did You Know?

• McSorley was found guilty of assault with a weapon for hitting Donald Brashear with his stick in 2000, receiving 18 months probation with a conditional discharge.
• He was the only King to score during the final game of the 1993 Stanley Cup Final.
• McSorley is referenced in Kathleen Edwards' song 'I Make the Dough, You Get the Glory' and appears in its music video.