"Rookie Mark Fitzpatrick, 19, is coming off his second straight strong season at Medicine Hat (36-15-6, 3.23 goals-against average) and will be given every opportinity to establish himself as the No. 1 goalie. (The Hockey News 1989 Yearbook, p. 49)

"Fitzpatrick is still looking for his shot at being a No. 1 goaltender in the NHL. After posting decent numbers in 1998-99 with Chicago, he's hoping that free agency treats him well. Fitzpatrick's competitive spirit is well-known, but his attitude's not conducive to being a back-up. Time's running out for the NHL to find out what Mark Fitzpatrick knows in his own mind: that he belongs among the starters in the league. (The Sports Forecaster 1999-2000, p. 220)

"Fitzpatrick hasn't posted a winning record in five years but is still considered by many as a solid No. 2 man. Will mostly be remembered as John Vanbiesbrouck's backup during the Panthers' inspirational Stanley Cup run a few years back. At this stage of his career, Fitzpatrick's poise and experience are his main attributes." (The Sports Forecaster 2000-01, p. 217)

• Selected by Los Angeles Kings as underage junior in second round (second Kings pick, 27th overall) of National Hockey League entry draft, June 13, 1987.
• Traded by Kings (with D Wayne McBean and future considerations (D Doug Crossman)) to New York Islanders for G Kelly Hrudey, February 22, 1989.
• Traded by Islanders with first-round pick in 1993 draft (C Adam Deadmarsh) to Quebec Nordiques for G Ron Hextall and first-round pick in 1993 draft (C Todd Bertuzzi), June 20, 1993.
• Selected by Florida Panthers in National Hockey League expansion draft, June 24, 1993.
• Traded by Panthers (with RW Jody Hull) to Tampa Bay Lightning for RW Dino Ciccarelli and D Jeff Norton, January 15, 1998.
• Traded by Lightning (with fourth-round pick in 1999 draft) to Chicago Blackhawks for D Michal Sykora, July 17, 1998.
• Signed as free agent with Carolina Hurricanes, August 7, 1999.

• Named to Western Hockey League All-Star second team, 1985-86.
• Won Western Hockey League Top Goaltender Award, 1985-86.
• Named to Memorial Cup All-Star team, 1986-87.
• Member of Memorial Cup champion Medicine Hat Tigers, 1987.
• Named to Western Hockey League All-Star second team, 1987-88.
• Named to Memorial Cup All-Star team, 1987-88.
• Member of Memorial Cup champion Medicine Hat Tigers, 1988.
• Winner, Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, 1991-92.
• Rated #16 in Hockey Stars Presents "The Top 50 Netminders in Pro Hockey", November 1993.
• Rated #12 in Hockey Stars Presents "The Top 50 Netminders in Pro Hockey", November 1994.
• Rated #12 in Hockey Stars Presents "The Top 50 Netminders in Pro Hockey", November 1995.

• First National Hockey League Game: at Chicago, November 6, 1988.
• First National Hockey League Win: at Chicago, November 6, 1988.
• First National Hockey League Shutout: at Chicago, November 30, 1989.

• Played in 200th National Hockey League game, at New York Islanders, December 12, 1995.

• Injured knee, February 1987.
• Developed Eosinophilic Myalgia Syndrome (EMS) after a reaction to L-Trytophan, an ingredient in a vitamin supplement, September 1990.
• Returned to action, March 1991.
• Suffered recurrance of EMS and underwent biopsy on right thigh; missed ten games, October 22, 1991.
• Strained abdominal muscle; missed five games, December 15, 1992.
• Sprained lower back; missed one game, April 22, 1995.
• Suffered recurring back spasms; missed last four games of season, April 26, 1995.

• Suspended two games without pay and fined $500 by National Hockey League for high-sticking incident, February 16, 1994.

• Mark was born in Toronto, but moved to Kitimat, British Columbia at the age of ten. He did not play organized hockey until after his move.
• Mark was a back-to-back Memorial Cup champion (1987, 1988) with the WHL's Medicine Hat Tigers.
• On March 21, 1989, Mark was the goaltender who allowed Lanny McDonald's 500th career National Hockey League goal.
• Mark was overcome with a rare blood disease called EMS in September of 1990. From the Washington Post (1/16/91): "New York Islanders goalie Mark Fitzpatrick has charged in a $180 million lawsuit that a diet supplement poisoned him and left him unable to play hockey. Fitzpatrick, 22; of Vancouver, said he suffered swollen feet, hands and forearm, shortness of breath and overwhelming fatigue last September after taking L-tryptophan, an amino acid that had been distributed by Nature's Bounty. Fitzpatrick's lawyer, Alan Leibowitz, said the goalie was stricken while on a team trip to California. He said the supplement caused the player to develop eosinophilia myalgia syndrome (EMS), a white blood disease that impairs the functioning of the nerve and muscular systems. Leibowitz said the Centers for Disease Control pinpointed L-tryptophan as the cause of EMS in hundreds of people around the country, some of whom have died because of the malady. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration ordered L-tryptophan off the market when it was linked to EMS, Liebowitz said. The lawyer said his firm has about 25 lawsuits pending against the maker and distributor of the diet supplement. Fitzpatrick's suit, filed in Manhattan's state Supreme Court, names the diet supplement's manufacturer, Showa Denko K.K. of Japan, and its American subsidy, Showa Denko of America, as defendants. A spokesman for Showa Denko, Bob Schwadron of the Hill & Knowlton agency, said it would be inappropriate to comment on specific litigation. But he said the company has given about $870,000 to several biomedical institutions to find a precise cause and cure for EMS. Leibowitz said Fitzpatrick is still on the Islanders' roster and has begun light workouts, but has not been able to return to competitive hockey."