OHL Mourns the Loss of Mark Reeds

Tuesday April 14, 2015

The Ontario Hockey League mourns the loss of former OHL player and coach Mark Reeds following a lengthy battle with cancer.

Reeds, 55, was in his fourth season as an assistant coach with the Ottawa Senators. 

“The entire OHL family is deeply saddened by the news of Mark’s passing,” said OHL Commissioner David Branch. “As a player and as a coach, Mark showed a genuine passion for the game throughout his career, and true kindness to those around him. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Reed family during this most difficult time.”

He played four OHL seasons beginning with the Toronto Marlboros in 1976 before winning three straight Robertson Cups as a member of the Peterborough Petes from 1977-80 including a Memorial Cup title in 1979.  He returned to the OHL as head coach of the Owen Sound Attack in 2007 helping the club win their first OHL championship in 2011.  That same season he earned the Matt Leyden Trophy as OHL Coach of the Year.

Prior to joining Owen Sound, Reeds spent four seasons as head coach of the United Hockey League’s Kalamazoo Wings. Before his arrival in Kalamazoo, Reeds led the UHL’s Missouri River Otters for four seasons. He began his coaching career with the ECHL’s Peoria Rivermen prior to the 1996-97 campaign and spent three seasons with the club.

Drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the fifth round, 86th overall, of the 1979 NHL Entry Draft, Reeds played in 365 NHL games, registering 159 points (45 goals, 114 assists) with the Blues and the Hartford Whalers between 1981-89.

Reeds is survived by his wife, Mary and two children, Kyle and Kelsey.

Read more about Mark Reeds from the Attack and Senators.

Attack GM Dale DeGray and Bayshore Broadcasting’s Fred Wallace remember Mark Reeds. Listen.

Senators head coach Dave Cameron discusses his relationship with Reeds. Watch.