Mark Bell is a former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for several teams. He was born on August 5, 1980, in St. Paul's, Ontario, Canada. Bell began his hockey career in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Ottawa 67's in 1997. He played for the 67's for four seasons and was a key player in their 1999 Memorial Cup championship team.
In 1998, Bell was drafted eighth overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut in the 2000-2001 season and played for the Blackhawks for four seasons. During his time with the Blackhawks, Bell was known for his physical play and his ability to score goals. He scored a career-high 21 goals in the 2005-2006 season.
In 2006, Bell was traded to the San Jose Sharks. He played for the Sharks for one season before being traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2007. Bell's time with the Maple Leafs was short-lived, as he was traded to the Anaheim Ducks in 2008. He played for the Ducks for one season before being traded back to the Sharks in 2009.
Bell's career took a turn in 2006 when he was involved in a car accident in California. He was charged with driving under the influence and causing injury. Bell pleaded no contest to the charges and was sentenced to six months in jail. He also received a suspension from the NHL for 15 games.
After his time with the Sharks, Bell played for several teams in the American Hockey League (AHL) and in Europe. He played for the Syracuse Crunch, the Connecticut Whale, and the Hershey Bears in the AHL. He also played for teams in Switzerland, Sweden, and Germany.
Bell retired from professional hockey in 2017. He finished his NHL career with 87 goals and 95 assists in 445 games. Despite his legal troubles, Bell was a talented player who was known for his physical play and his ability to score goals. He was a fan favorite in Chicago and was respected by his teammates and opponents alike.
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