Editing Mark Messier (section)

===Early years and WHA===
In 1976, Messier tried out for the [[junior ice hockey|junior]] [[Spruce Grove Mets]] of the [[Alberta Junior Hockey League]] (AJHL), where his father, Doug Messier, was coaching. As Messier was only 15 (the age limit was 20), Doug did not expect him to make the team, though he was surprised and was added to the roster.<ref>{{harvnb|Klein|2003|pp=9–10}}</ref> Messier recorded 66 points in 57 games with the Mets in the 1976–77 season. The team, which relocated to St. Albert the following season and was renamed the [[St. Albert Saints]], named Messier captain for 1977–78, and he scored 74 points in 54 games.<ref>{{harvnb|Klein|2003|p=10}}</ref> After the season he joined the [[Portland Winterhawks]] of the [[major junior]] [[Western Hockey League]] (WHL) for the playoffs, appearing in 7 games and scoring 5 points.<ref>{{harvnb|Klein|2003|pp=10–11}}</ref>

Before the start of the 1978–79 season, Messier was looking for alternatives to another season with the Saints, as he felt he was too good for the AJHL.<ref>{{harvnb|Klein|2003|p=13}}</ref> He was not interested in playing in the WHL, so he initially tried out for the [[Canada men's national ice hockey team|Canadian Olympic team]], which was preparing for the [[1980 Winter Olympics]].<ref name="Klein 14">{{harvnb|Klein|2003|p=14}}</ref> At the same time, Doug contacted his former junior teammate [[Pat Stapleton (hockey)|Pat Stapleton]], who was coaching of the [[Indianapolis Racers]] of the [[World Hockey Association]] (WHA), who needed someone to replace another young player they had just traded, [[Wayne Gretzky]]. Doug called him and got Messier a contract to play hockey in Indianapolis for $30,000.<ref>{{harvnb|Willes|2004|p=236}}</ref> However Messier only took a 5-game amateur tryout, as it would allow him to return to junior hockey if need be.<ref name="Klein 14"/>

Messier played 13 games with the Saints to start the season, then joined the Racers on November 5 for his professional debut against the [[Winnipeg Jets (1972–96)|Winnipeg Jets]]. He played four games with the Racers, followed by a further two more with the Saints, before his final game with Indianapolis on November 28.<ref>{{harvnb|Klein|2003|p=15}}</ref> Offered a longer contract, Messier held off on signing it, which proved fortuitous as the team folded on December 15; his only cheque from them [[bounced cheque|bounced]]. Returning to the Saints, Messier played his final two games of junior hockey for them before he was signed by the [[Cincinnati Stingers]], also of the WHA.<ref>{{harvnb|Klein|2003|pp=15–16}}</ref> Messier signed a contract for $35,000 to play the rest of the season with the Stingers.<ref>{{harvnb|Klein|2003|p=19}}</ref> He scored his first professional goal on March 20, 1979, against [[Pat Riggin]] of the [[Birmingham Bulls (WHA)|Birmingham Bulls]].<ref>{{harvnb|Klein|2003|p=23}}</ref> Messier played 47 games for the Stingers, tallying one goal and 10 assists.