What is Mark Sertich?
{{Infobox Ice Hockey Player | name = Mark Sertich | image = | caption = 2017 | birth_date = {{birth date |1921|7|18}} | birth_place = [[Duluth]], [[Minnesota]], [[USA]] | death_date = {{death date |2020|8|24}} | death_place = [[Duluth]], [[Minnesota]], [[USA]] | draft_year = | career_start = 1981 | career_end = 2020 }}'''Mark Sertich''' (July 18, 1921 – August 24, 2020) was an American [[ice hockey]] player. Sertich died on 24 August 2020 in [[Duluth, Minnesota]] at the age of 99.<ref>[https://www.startribune.com/mark-sertich-world-s-oldest-hockey-player-dies-at-99-in-duluth/572218322/ Mark Sertich, world's oldest hockey player, dies at 99 in Duluth]</ref> == Biography == Mark was born on [[July 18]], [[1921]] in [[Duluth, Minnesota|Duluth]], [[Minnesota]]. His parents were from [[Yugoslavia]], [[Croats|Croatians]] by nationality. He was first introduced to hockey at the age of 10. Initially, he competed without skates, later winning them as a consolation prize for second place in one of the competitions.<blockquote>Later, in an interview, he recalled: “In the beginning, I played hockey without skates, in those days it was considered good luck if your parents could buy you at least a stick.”</blockquote>After graduating from school, Sertich got a job. His father died, and so he had to provide for his family. In [[1942]], he was drafted into the [[Military of the United States|US Armed Forces]], participated in the battles of [[World War II]] and was one of those who liberated the [[Mauthausen concentration camp]] in [[Austria]]. After the war, Mark quickly adapted to civilian life - he returned to work as an office manager, and in his spare time began to develop hockey in his native Duluth. He organized the construction of an outdoor hockey rink - he beat officials for money to buy building materials, prepared all the necessary documents. The new ice rink became a center of attraction for local kids, Sertich created a children's hockey team and coached it for many years, and also led the [[Duluth Amateur