Mark, Roy said, had been a rock on the team defence for most of his playing career. In his initial year 1989, Mark played against a very talented deaf Russian, Oleg Malenkov and they continued to play hard against each other up to the Salt Lake City Deaflympic Games in 2007. Both loved the game of hockey. What was particularly intriguing about Malenkov was his similar style of playing that the late Valeri Kharlamov exhibited so well during the Canada-Russia Summit of 1972. 

One of the greatest highlights of Mark’s playing career with the Deaf Canada team was the Deaf Line of Mark Couture, Bruce Gibson (Alberta) and Donnie Vetter (Saskatchewan). Roy recalls how Gibson set up plays while Couture dug in the corners and hitting opponents and Vetter finished off what Gibson and Couture did by scoring.Roy said the Deaf Line resembled the NHL Buffalo’s “French Connection Line” of Rick Martin, Gilbert Perreault and Rene Robert in the early 1970s.Recalling what Russia tried to do to slow down the Deaf Line during the Invitational Tournament, the Russian coach presented the three players boxes of vodka and sausages, a subtle way of “slowing them down” but Roy and Bruce Hood, Hall of Fame NHL referee wisely took these gifts away till after the tournament was finished. 

The late Barrie Elliott advised Roy to have a look at Mark Couture who played with the Kitty Bees for two years. Mark then tried out for the now defunct Hamilton Steelhawks OHL hockey team coached by the late Bill Laforge who would coach in the NHL for a short period of time. Mark was relegated to the Burlington Cougars Junior B team soon afterwards.

Mark, after joining the Deaf Canada team, continued to show great leadership playing by example to others. In 1995, Dan Cameron decided to switch Mark to defence as he felt Mark could be even more effective as a “quarterback” by setting up plays from the blue line opening up more scoring opportunities for the team and younger players during the Winter Deaflympics in Finland. Having a blistering slap shot was an added asset for the team. Mark later said it was all because he wanted to be like his favorite player, Bobby Orr. 

In all, Mark Couture is the only player in Deaf Canada hockey history to have played 24 games in Deaflympic Games and invitational tournaments. He surpassed another good player, Jim Ealey who had played in 16 games from 1975 to 1991. Mark still holds the Deaf Canada records for the most points and penalty minutes by a defenceman. His consistent play resulted in getting two gold, three silver and one bronze medals in the years playing on the Deaf Canada team. With these accomplishments on the ice, he gained the respect and admiration of Deaf hockey players and coaches around the world.  

Despite being retired from the game he loves, Mark won’t be far away from it. He continues to attend Deaf hockey clinics and school helping younger deaf and hard of hearing players learn skills and fundamentals of the game. He maintains close ties with the Deaf Canada team working with the coaching staff and its general manager. With Roy Hysen’s mentoring, it is hoped Mark will be a coach in the near future for the Deaf Canada hockey team.   

It is no surprise that if Mark had not been deaf, he would have been playing for a team in the NHL in his younger years. 

Asked some time ago why he used the number 27 as some thought perhaps emulating Darryl Sittler or Frank Mahovlich, Mark said there were two reasons: his birthday date and his first date with his future wife on a January 27. Today, the couple has two daughters, Keltie (age 9) and Janaye (age 5). The Canadian Deaf Ice Hockey Federation (CDIHF) has decided to honor Mark Couture for his tremendous contributions to the team by retiring his number 27. He will be only the 2^nd player to have this honor, the other one being Donnie Vetter (22). 

Congratulations and best wishes for success in your future endeavors, Mark Couture!