Mark “Peaches” Brennan
Mark “Peaches” Brennan PHATS 2010 Hall of Fame Inductee Native of Toronto and a graduate of Sheridan College’s Athletic, Training and Management Program, Mark began his career while attending Sheridan College in Oakville, Ontario. During his studies at Sheridan, he was fortunate to work for the two-time Canadian Champion Agincourt Rawlings Baseball team as trainer and equipment manager. As well, he was the Assistant Trainer and Equipment Manager for the Toronto Blizzard of the old North American Soccer League, he spent one season with the Burlington Cougars of the OHA and two seasons with the varsity Bruins at Sheridan College. Upon graduation in 1983, he began his pro hockey career with the New Westminster Bruins of the Western Hockey League. After two seasons in Junior “A” hockey, he moved onto the Adirondack Red Wings of the American Hockey League and won a Calder Cup with them in 1986.
The following season, he was promoted to the NHL Detroit Red Wings and spent seven seasons as their Head Equipment Manager. During his tenure in Detroit he was selected to be the equipment manager for old Campbell Conference in the 1993 NHL All Star game, played for the last time in the old Montreal Forum. After leaving Detroit, he and his family moved to Florida where he was fortunate to spend many seasons as the Head Equipment Manager of the Florida Panthers. During his time in Florida the team played in the 1996 Stanley Cup Finals, eventually losing to Colorado. Following the defeat of Florida in the finals, he was selected as the first Treasurer of the newly formed Society of Professional Hockey Equipment Manages. This was the first year that PHATS/SPHEM were two separate entities under one society. It was also during his tenure in Florida that the Panthers hosted the NHL All Star Game in 2003.
Mark’s professional accomplishments were a proud part of his time in the NHL. He has been a member of the Athletic Equipment Managers Association for 27 years and has been certified with the AEMA since 1994. Following two terms as Treasurer, he was elected President of SPHEM and served with pride for two terms. As well, he worked at helping to establish the National Hockey League standardization program, ice report forms and the establishment of the Injury Analysis Panel and served two terms as the representative for the Society of Professional Hockey Equipment Managers. Upon his retirement from the National Hockey League, he had worked over 1,500 regular season games, won the Norris Division twice, selected to work two All Star Games and made it to the Stanley Cup Finals.
Peaches is still is involved with the two societies and has worked since taking up residence with his family in Portland, Oregon, on the establishment of the PHATS/SPHEM Alumni Association and continues to serve as the Chairman of the Alumni Association. It is an honor to have Peaches inducted into the PHATS hall of fame where his plaque will be hung up at the Hockey Hall of fame in Toronto, Canada in 2010.
Judy Brennan
A career dedicated to hockey 2010 PHATS Hall of Fame Inductee