Terrier Alumni Spotlight: Brendan Mark

This week we check in with former Terrier defenceman, Brendan Mark from Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Brendan played two seasons for the Terriers and was the captain for his 20-year-old-season. Mark was acquired in a trade with the Estevan Bruins in which, looking back now the Terriers won that trade. Mark played with the Estevan Bruins for two years and also spent time with the Minot Minotauros of the NAHL during the 2017-2018 season.

When Mark came to the Terriers via trade with the Estevan Bruins, Mark immediately made an impact with the team. The Terriers were near the bottom of the standings when Mark came in and with his leadership qualities, the Terriers culture and atmosphere changed to a winning culture. In Marks first season with the Terriers, he dressed in 32 games, scoring 3 goals, 9 assists for 12 points, while accumulating 44 penalty minutes. Mark made a big impact on the Terrier organization and head coach Mat Hehr recognized this and awarded him the captaincy for his 20-year-old season.

In his last season with the Terriers, Mark was relied on in every situation. He was a top end defenceman, who also ran the powerplay and penalty kill. Mark played in every situation which he ended up logging heavy minutes. Mark was a great leader and gave everything he had in the tank to help the Terriers win, which is why he was respected by his teammates.

In 58 games, Mark recorded 11 goals, 40 assists for 51 points and had 93 penalty minutes. That season the Terriers made a deep run in the playoffs and Mark played in 14 games recording 3 assists and 26 penalty minutes.

After his junior hockey career ended, Mark went on to play at St. Norbert College of the NCAA III. In his first season there, Mark played in 25 games scoring 2 goals and 7 assists while adding 10 penalty minutes.

Q and A with Brendan Mark

1. Name and years played with the Terriers?

Brendan Mark, played 2 years with the Terriers from 2018-2020

2. Favourite memory during your time with the Terriers?

Favorite memory was winning game 7 in Nipawin during the 2020 playoff run.

3. Toughest SJHL opponent and hardest rink to play in?

The toughest team to play against seemed to always be Nipawin, and the hardest rink to play in was either Nipawins rink because of its rectangle corners or Flin Flons rink because of the wild fans.

4. How did your time with the Terriers help get you to where you are today?

My time with the terriers helped get my game to a high enough level to play college hockey in the NCAA DIII for St. Norbert College. The coaches and staff helped me prepare myself to get to the next level.

5. Favourite TV show or movie?

Favorite TV show is Letterkenny, and my favorite movie is Deadpool.

6. What are you up to these days?

I am currently attending school at St. Norbert College in Green Bay Wisconsin. I am pursuing a degree in pre-med Biology and am in my second year of a 4 year program that will set me up for medical school. I am also playing on the DIII hockey team, as well as the DIII golf team here at St. Norbert. 

7. What are your plans for the next 3-5 years?

My plans for the next couple years are to finish up my degree here at St. Norbert, make a couple more deep playoff runs with the hockey team, and start applying to medical schools around the Midwest area of the U.S.

8.Favourite athlete of all time?

Favorite athlete of all time is Tiger Woods

9. Favourite Meal/Food?

Favorite meal is Carla’s homemade perogies and Sausage.

10. Favourite Music/Musician?

Favorite current musician is Morgan Wallen

11. What are some of your hobbies?

Some of my favorite hobbies besides hockey are golf, snowboarding, waterskiing, wakeboarding, wakesurfing, ice fishing and fishing in the summer time as well.

12.Favourite sport other than hockey?

Favorite sports other than hockey are snowboarding and golf.