Mark Odnokon – Athlete/Builder
Mark Odnokon’s sports’ career went full circle. He started as a young, successful athlete in Prince Albert and returned to his hometown to become instrumental in developing the next generation of athletes.
Mark played his minor hockey in the Prince Albert Minor Hockey Association and several years of youth soccer. Over the years, Mark’s name was noticeable on many a roster of city champions.
His success did not stop with minor sports. He joined the home-town Prince Albert Raiders as a forward and was a champion each season. Mark and the Raiders claimed the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League title in 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1982. The squad went on to greater achievements winning the national champion Centennial Cup in 1979, 1981 and 1982.
In three full seasons with the Raiders, Mark scored 76 goals and added 73 assists for 149 points. He also picked up 619 minutes in penalties during that span. Mark graduated from junior hockey to the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Over four seasons, from 1982-86, Mark played in 164 games with the Bulldogs and won two NCAA championships. He scored 39 goals and added 80 assists while earning a teaching degree in the classroom.
Mark spent the 1986-87 season playing professionally with the Salt Lake Golden Eagles of the International Hockey League and won the Turner Cup as league champions.
Mark returned to Saskatchewan and to the coaching ranks in 1987. He became the first ever coach of the Melfort Mustangs of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League in 1988.
After two seasons with the Mustangs, Mark came home to Prince Albert and was an assistant coach with the Prince Albert Raiders from 1990-92, and again from 2003 to the time of his induction.
Mark put his hockey knowledge to work as a professional scout for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. He was a scout for the team from 1993-2000. Mark also found time in the early 2000s to coach minor hockey and be an instructor at the NorSask summer hockey school.
The Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame proudly welcomes Mark Odnokon in the Builder/Athlete category.
