Al MacNeil
{{Short description|Canadian ice hockey player and coach (1935–2025)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2011}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox ice hockey biography
| name = Al MacNeil
| image = 1963 Topps Al MacNeil (cropped).jpg
| image_size = 230px
| caption = MacNeil from 1963 Topps card
| birth_date = {{birth date|1935|9|27|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada
| death_date = {{death date and age|mf=y|2025|1|5|1935|9|27}}
| death_place = Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| position = Defence
| shoots = Left
| prospect_league = Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
| prospect_team = Toronto Malboros
| played_for = Toronto Maple Leafs
Montreal Canadiens
Chicago Black Hawks
New York Rangers
Pittsburgh Penguins
| career_start = 1956
| career_end = 1970
| league_coach = NHL
| coached_for = NHL Montreal Canadiens
NHL Atlanta/Calgary Flames
CHL Houston Apollos
AHL Montreal/Nova Scotia Voyagers
| career_start_coach = 1968
| career_end_coach = 1977, 1979–1982, 2001, 2002
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalCompetition | Stanley Cups }}
{{MedalGold | 1971 Stanley Cup | Montreal Canadiens }}
{{MedalGold | 1978 Stanley Cup | Montreal Canadiens }}
{{MedalGold| 1979 Stanley Cup | Montreal Canadiens }}
{{MedalGold| 1989 Stanley Cup | Calgary Flames }}
}}
Allister Wences MacNeil (September 27, 1935 – January 5, 2025) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player, coach and executive. MacNeil played 524 games in the National Hockey League and was a four-time Stanley Cup winner. He was the first native of Atlantic Canada to serve as a head coach in the NHL. He won three Stanley Cups with the Montreal Canadiens, first as the team's rookie head coach in 1971, and then back-to-back championships as Director of Player Personnel in 1978 and 1979. He went back into coaching in 1979, becoming the last head coach of the Atlanta Flames and then the first one for the Calgary Flames in 1980. As an NHL head coach, with the Canadiens and Flames, his career win-loss-tie total was 160–134–55. The final time he won a Stanley Cup was as the assistant general manager of the Calgary Flames in 1989.
MacNeil won three Calder Cup Championships as the general manager and head coach of the Montreal Canadiens' farm team, the Nova Scotia Voyageurs, in 1972, 1976 and 1977. He was twice selected as American Hockey League Coach of the Year in 1972 and 1977. In 2014, his coaching career was celebrated when he was inducted into the AHL Hall of Fame.
Early life
Allister Wences "Al" MacNeil was born on September 27, 1935, in Sydney, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. He grew up in the steel town and played his first hockey there. As a junior player in the Toronto Maple Leafs organization, he moved to Weston, Ontario, going to high school there on a scholarship and playing with the Weston Dukes in 1953. He won back-to-back Memorial Cups with the Toronto Marlboros, in 1955, and then, as captain of the team, in 1956. 1956—57 was his first year as a professional hockey player, as he made the Leafs team and played 53 games that season for them.
{{Cite web
| author = Sports Ref Staff
| title = Al MacNeil
| work = Hockey Reference
| publisher = Sports Reference LLC
| location = Philadelphia
| year = 2025
| url = https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/m/macneal01/splits/1957
| access-date = January 7, 2025
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240929011020/https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/m/macneal01/splits/1957
| archive-date = September 29, 2024
| url-status = live
}} In 1960—61 he captained, and was an all-star defenceman for, the Eastern Professional Hockey League's Hull-Ottawa Canadiens.
{{Cite news
| author = Journal Staff
| title = Habs' Near All-Star Sweep No Help Against Beavers
| work = The Ottawa Journal
| publisher = F.P. Publications
| location = Ottawa
| issn = 0841-4572
| date = April 4, 1961
| page = 10
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-journal-habs-near-all-star-s/162524208/
| access-date = January 7, 2025
| via = Newspapers.com
}} His team won the league's championship that year.
{{Cite news
| last1 = Koffman
| first1 = Jack
| title = Hull Honors EPHL Canadiens—City of Ottawa Apologizes
| work = The Ottawa Citizen
| publisher = Southam Inc.
| location = Ottawa
| issn = 0839-3222
| date = April 29, 1961
| page = 12
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-journal-habs-near-all-star-s/162524208/
| access-date = January 7, 2025
| via = Newspapers.com
}}
NHL playing career
As a defenceman, MacNeil participated in parts of eleven seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL), from 1956 to 1968.
{{Cite web
| author = NSSHOF Staff
| title = Allister MacNeil
| publisher = Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame
| location = Halifax, Nova Scotia
| year = 2024
| url = https://nsshf.com/inductee/allister-macneil/
| access-date = January 12, 2025
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210927173138/https://nsshf.com/inductee/allister-macneil/
| archive-date = September 27, 2021
| url-status = live
}} He played in a total of 524 NHL games with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, Chicago Black Hawks, New York Rangers, and Pittsburgh Penguins.
Managerial career
Between 1968 and 1970, he became a player-coach in the Montreal Canadiens' farm team system. He started with the Central Hockey League's (CHL) Houston Apollos, a Canadiens affiliate in Houston, Texas.
{{Cite news
| last1 = Griffin
| first1 = Kyle
| title = Stars Host 'Best Team' In CHL Tonight
| work = The Commercial Appeal
| publisher = Scripps-Howard Newspapers
| location = Memphis, Tennessee
| issn = 0745-4856
| date = October 28, 1968
| page = 22
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-commercial-appeal-stars-host-best-t/162613152/
| access-date = January 9, 2025
| via = Newspapers.com
}} This was their final season in Houston, and the franchise moved to Montreal, and joined the American Hockey League (AHL) as the Montreal Voyageurs in June 1969.
{{Cite news
| last1 = Brown
| first1 = Ron
| title = An AHL team for Kingston?
| work = The Kingston Whig-Standard
| location = Kingston, Ontario
| issn = 1197-4397
| date = May 22, 1969
| page = 1
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kingston-whig-standard-an-ahl-team-f/162613725/
| access-date = January 9, 2025
| via = Newspapers.com
{{Cite news
| author = Gazette Staff
| title = Montreal AHL team is named Voyageurs
| work = The Gazette
| publisher = Southam Inc.
| location = Montreal
| issn = 0384-1294
| date = June 28, 1969
| page = 14
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-montreal-ahl-team-is-named-v/162614116/
| access-date = January 9, 2025
| via = Newspapers.com
}} He continued as a player/coach in Montreal for the 1969–70 AHL season. After a successful debut as a minor-league coach, MacNeil became an assistant coach to Claude Ruel of the NHL Canadiens for the 1970–71 season on September 8, 1970.
{{Cite news
| last1 = Fisher
| first1 = Red
| authorlink1 = Red Fisher (journalist)
| title = Ruel chooses MacNeil Habs' assistant coach
| work = Montreal Star
| publisher = FP Publications
| location = Montreal
| issn = 0842-1331
| date = September 9, 1970
| page = 29
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montreal-star-ruel-chooses-macneil-h/162464691/
| access-date = January 7, 2025
| via = Newspapers.com
}}
=Montreal Canadiens=
During the beginning of the 1970–71 season, the Canadiens struggled to win, and were in danger of missing the playoffs for a second straight year.
{{Cite news
| last1 = Curran
| first1 = Pat
| title = Fergy ready to hit
| work = The Gazette
| publisher = Southam Inc.
| location = Montreal
| issn = 0384-1294
| date = December 2, 1970
| page = 15
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-fergy-ready-to-hit/162465672/
| access-date = January 7, 2025
| via = Newspapers.com
}} Head coach Ruel resigned 23 games into the season and MacNeil took over the helm on December 3, 1970.
{{Cite news
| last1 = Curran
| first1 = Pat
| title = Ruel admits couldn't get Habs flying
| work = The Gazette
| publisher = Southam Inc.
| location = Montreal
| issn = 0384-1294
| date = December 4, 1970
| page = 15
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-ruel-admits-couldnt-get-hab/162459685/
| access-date = January 7, 2025
| via = Newspapers.com
}} The appointment made him the first native of Atlantic Canada to serve as a head coach in the NHL.
{{cite book
| last1 = Jenish
| first1 = D'Arcy
| title = The Montreal Canadiens:100 Years of Glory
| publisher = Doubleday Canada
| location = Toronto
| year = 2008
| page = 197
| isbn = 978-0-385-66325-0
}} His first game as coach went well, as the Canadiens won over the St. Louis Blues, including beating his future Calgary Flames Stanley Cup winning coach, Terry Crisp, who was a Blues centre at the time.
{{Cite news
| last1 = Curran
| first1 = Pat
| title = ... and Al MacNeil starts off as a winner
| work = The Gazette
| publisher = Southam Inc.
| location = Montreal
| issn = 0384-1294
| date = December 4, 1970
| page = 15
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-and-al-macneil-starts-of/162460312/
| access-date = January 7, 2025
| via = Newspapers.com
}}
==1971 NHL playoffs run==
Canadiens general manager, Sam Pollock, bolstered the club when he swung a major trade to net top-scoring left-wing Frank Mahovlich from the Detroit Red Wings on January 13, 1971.
{{Cite news
| last1 = Fisher
| first1 = Red
| author-link = Red Fisher (journalist)
| title = Mahovlich joins Habs' camp 'eager to play'
| work = Montreal Star
| publisher = FP Publications
| location = Montreal
| issn = 0842-1331
| date = January 14, 1971
| page = 21
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montreal-star-mahovlich-joins-habs/162462007/
| access-date = January 7, 2025
| via = Newspapers.com
}} The Canadiens rallied to qualify for the playoffs as the third seed in their division.
{{Cite news
| last1 = Robertson
| first1 = John
| author-link1 = John Robertson (journalist)
| title = John Robertson's column
| work = Montreal Star
| publisher = FP Publications
| location = Montreal
| issn = 0842-1331
| date = April 2, 1971
| page = 11
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montreal-star-john-robertsons-colum/162463215/
| access-date = January 7, 2025
| via = Newspapers.com
}} The Canadiens stunned the heavily favoured, league-leading, Boston Bruins in the opening round of the playoffs by beating them four games to three in the quarter final round.
{{Cite news
| last1 = Dunnell
| first1 = Milt
| authorlink1 = Milt Dunnell
| title = Maybe for MacNeil belated recognition
| work = The Toronto Daily Star
| publisher = Torstar
| location = Toronto
| issn = 0319-0781
| date = April 19, 1971
| page = 10
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-toronto-star-maybe-for-macneil-belat/162466335/
| access-date = January 7, 2025
| via = Newspapers.com
}} They then defeated the Minnesota North Stars in the semi-finals. Unexpectedly, they made it to the Stanley Cup finals, playing the Chicago Black Hawks, and then beating them four games to three after having been behind in this series 3–2.
{{Cite news
| last1 = Burnett
| first1 = Red
| authorlink1 = Red Burnett
| title = Habs' greatest victory – Toe Blake
| work = The Toronto Daily Star
| publisher = Torstar
| location = Toronto
| issn = 0319-0781
| date = May 19, 1971
| page = 25
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-toronto-star-habs-greatest-victory/162469469/
| access-date = January 7, 2025
| via = Newspapers.com
}} Game seven was in Chicago, and at the end of the second period, the score was tied at 2–2 after. The Canadiens scored the winning goal early in the third period to take the series and the championship, with Henri Richard scoring both the equalizer and game-winner.
{{Cite news
| last1 = Blackman
| first1 = Ted
| title = Our Cup (Stanley) runneth over
| work = The Gazette
| publisher = Southam Inc.
| location = Montreal
| issn = 0384-1294
| date = May 19, 1971
| page = 1
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-our-cup-stanley-runneth-ov/162471094/
| access-date = January 7, 2025
| via = Newspapers.com
}} MacNeil and Richard hugged at the end of the game, but that did little to patch up their differences.
Crucial to the Stanley Cup victory was MacNeil's decision to use rookie goaltender Ken Dryden in the playoffs despite Dryden having played only six regular-season games in 1970–71.
{{Cite news
| last1 = Orr
| first1 = Frank
| authorlink1 = Frank Orr
| title = No mystery to it, Dryden beat Bruins
| work = The Toronto Daily Star
| publisher = Torstar
| location = Toronto
| issn = 0319-0781
| date = April 19, 1971
| page = 10
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-toronto-star-no-mystery-to-it-dryde/162467775/
| access-date = January 7, 2025
| via = Newspapers.com
{{Cite news
| last1 = Stubbs
| first1 = Dave
| title = Dryden recalls MacNeil making him Canadiens starter for 1970–71 playoffs
| work = NHL.com
| publisher = National Hockey League
| location = New York
| date = January 7, 2025
| url = https://www.nhl.com/news/ken-dryden-recalls-al-macneil-picking-him-for-1971-postseason
| access-date = January 7, 2025
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250108040313/https://www.nhl.com/news/ken-dryden-recalls-al-macneil-picking-him-for-1971-postseason
| archive-date = January 8, 2025
| url-status = live
}} MacNeil was presumably impressed that Dryden won all these regular games, allowing only nine goals for a 1.65 goals against average (GAA).
{{Cite news
| last1 = Orr
| first1 = Frank
| authorlink1 = Frank Orr
| title = Some Bruins wept, some got sick after 4–2 loss
| work = The Toronto Daily Star
| publisher = Torstar
| location = Toronto
| issn = 0319-0781
| date = April 19, 1971
| pages = 1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-toronto-star-no-mystery-to-it-dryde/162467775/ 10]
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-toronto-star-some-bruins-wept-some/162468244/
| access-date = January 7, 2025
| via = Newspapers.com
}} Another crucial choice was having rookie Réjean Houle shadow the Black Hawks' star goal scorer Bobby Hull.
{{Cite news
| last1 = Robertson
| first1 = John
| title = Houle's tactics rapped
| work = Montreal Star
| publisher = FP Publications
| location = Montreal
| issn = 0842-1331
| date = May 14, 1971
| page = 13
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montreal-star-houles-tactics-rapped/162470861/
| access-date = January 7, 2025
| via = Newspapers.com
}} Houle held Hull to only one even-strength goal in the finals series.
{{Cite news
| last1 = Rollow
| first1 = Cooper
| title = Canadien Joy, Pride Fill the Cup to Brim
| work = Chicago Tribune
| publisher = Tribune Publishing
| location = Chicago
| issn = 1085-6706
| date = May 19, 1971
| page = S3-P1
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-canadien-joy-pride-fill/162539098/
| access-date = January 7, 2025
| via = Newspapers.com
}}
==Coaching decisions==
As a unilingual English-speaker, MacNeil had a challenging relationship with some of the team's francophone players, most notably Henri Richard.
{{Cite news
| last1 = Robertson
| first1 = John
| title = An honest man is hurt as Richard leads revolt
| work = Montreal Star
| publisher = FP Publications
| location = Montreal
| issn = 0842-1331
| date = May 14, 1971
| page = 13
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montreal-star-an-honest-man-is-hurt/162470024/
| access-date = January 7, 2025
| via = Newspapers.com
}} He was the first Canadiens coach in recent memory who could not speak French.
{{Cite news
| last1 = Coleman
| first1 = Jim
| title = Will there be sweet seconds to erase MacNeil's bitter sip?
| work = Windsor Star
| publisher = Windsor Star Limited
| location = Windsor, Ontario
| issn = 0839-2277
| date = March 13, 1981
| page = 16
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-will-there-be-sweet-sec/162615574/
| access-date = January 9, 2025
| via = Newspapers.com
}} When MacNeil benched Richard during the final series against the Black Hawks, Richard publicly criticized the coach, calling him incompetent.
{{Cite news
| last1 = Dunnell
| first1 = Milt
| authorlink1 = Milt Dunnell
| title = Scant acclaim for the coach
| work = The Toronto Daily Star
| publisher = Torstar
| location = Toronto
| issn = 0319-0781
| date = May 19, 1971
| page = 25
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-toronto-star-scant-acclaim-for-the-c/162468755/
| access-date = January 7, 2025
| via = Newspapers.com
}}
Because he benched fan-favourite Richard during the playoffs, he received death threats and had to get police protection.
{{Cite news
| last1 = Robertson
| first1 = John
| title = Players have big opportunity to re-write Canadiens motto
| work = Montreal Star
| publisher = FP Publications
| location = Montreal
| issn = 0842-1331
| date = June 8, 1971
| page = 11
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montreal-star-players-have-big-oppor/162511870/
| access-date = January 7, 2025
| via = Newspapers.com
}} The death threats were taken seriously because of the politically volatile environment in Montreal only a few months after the October Crisis.
{{cite web
| last1 = Bélanger
| first1 = Claude
| title = Chronology of the October Crisis, 1970, and its Aftermath – Quebec History
| work = Quebec History
| publisher = Marianopolis College
| location = Westmount, Quebec
| date = August 23, 2000
| url = http://faculty.marianopolis.edu/c.belanger/quebechistory/chronos/october.htm
| access-date = January 7, 2024
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060505051836/http://faculty.marianopolis.edu/c.belanger/quebechistory/chronos/october.htm
| archive-date = May 5, 2006
| url-status = live
}} Sports writers noted and praised MacNeil's calm coolness in the wake of Richard's comments.
{{Cite news
| last1 = McKay
| first1 = Jim
| title = MacNeil plays it cool after Richard's blast
| work = Windsor Star
| publisher = Windsor Star Limited
| location = Windsor, Ontario
| issn = 0839-2277
| date = May 15, 1971
| page = 22
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star-macneil-plays-it-cool-a/162532468/
| access-date = January 7, 2025
| via = Newspapers.com
}}
After the Stanley Cup victory, there was a question of whether MacNeil would remain as the coach, especially after what seemed like a player revolt during the playoffs.
{{Cite news
| last1 = Robertson
| first1 = John
| title = Bowman on MacNeil: 'I know Sam wants him back!'
| work = Montreal Star
| publisher = FP Publications
| location = Montreal
| issn = 0842-1331
| date = June 1, 1971
| page = 26
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montreal-star-bowman-on-macneil-i/162534275/
| access-date = January 7, 2025
| via = Newspapers.com
{{Cite news
| author = CP Staff
| title = Habs Postpone Decision on AL MacNeil
| work = The Ottawa Journal
| location = Ottawa
| agency = The Canadian Press
| date = June 8, 1971
| page = 15
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-journal-habs-postpone-decisio/162534599/
| access-date = January 7, 2025
| via = Newspapers.com
}} He ended weeks of speculation from the press and the public when he resigned in early June as head coach of the Canadiens, with Sam Pollock replacing him with Scotty Bowman.
{{Cite news
| last1 = Blackman
| first1 = Ted
| title = Scotty gets the job officially today
| work = The Gazette
| publisher = Southam Inc.
| location = Montreal
| issn = 0384-1294
| date = June 10, 1971
| page = 13
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-scotty-gets-the-job-official/162513486/
| access-date = January 7, 2025
| via = Newspapers.com
}}
==Nova Scotia (AHL)==
He stayed with the Canadiens' organization, moving to take over as general manager and head coach of their American Hockey League farm team, the Nova Scotia Voyageurs.
{{Cite news
| last1 = Fisher
| first1 = Red
| author-link = Red Fisher (journalist)
| title = Bowman: Canadiens' coach MacNeil: Voyageurs' boss
| work = Montreal Star
| publisher = FP Publications
| location = Montreal
| issn = 0842-1331
| date = June 10, 1971
| page = 33
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montreal-star-bowman-canadiens-coa/162511250/
| access-date = January 7, 2025
| via = Newspapers.com
}} MacNeil won three Calder Cup Championships (1972, 1976, 1977) in six years with the Voyageurs.
{{Cite news
| last1 = Smith
| first1 = Al
| title = MacNeil New Hope For Flames
| work = The Atlanta Constitution
| publisher = Cox Enterprises
| issn = 1539-7459
| date = June 8, 1979
| page = D1
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-macneil-new-hop/162542150/
| access-date = January 8, 2025
| via = Newspapers.com
}}
In 1971–72, he led the Voyageurs, also known as the Vees, to a 41–21–14 record and their first Calder Cup championship, earning the Louis A.R. Pieri Award as the league's outstanding coach. Nova Scotia returned to the Finals in 1973 and qualified for the playoffs again in 1974 and 1975 under MacNeil's direction.
{{cite web
| author = AHL Staff
| title = AHL Hall of Fame Class of 2014 Set
| publisher = American Hockey League
| location = Springfield, Massachusetts
| date = October 10, 2013
| url = http://theahl.com/ahl-hall-of-fame-class-of-2014-set-p187710
| access-date = January 7, 2025
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131013064625/http://theahl.com/ahl-hall-of-fame-class-of-2014-set-p187710
| archive-date = October 13, 2013
| url-status = dead
}}
MacNeil's Voyageurs posted two of the greatest back-to-back seasons in AHL history in 1975–76 and 1976–77, combining for 100 regular-season wins. On April 29, 1976, with over 6,000 fans at the Halifax Forum, the Vees took on the Hershey Bears in the deciding game of the Calder Cup finals. MacNeil's team won the deciding game in dramatic fashion, with an overtime goal to win the game 5–4 and take the 1976 Calder Cup.
{{Cite news
| last1 = Whitman
| first1 = Bruce
| title = Vees Calder Kings, 5–4
| work = The Patriot-News
| publisher = Newhouse
| location = Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
| issn = 1041-4029
| date = April 29, 1976
| page = 55
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-patriot-news-vees-calder-kings-5-4/162617002/
| access-date = January 9, 2025
| via = Newspapers.com
}} MacNeil claimed it was his sweetest victory and this was the best team, on and off the ice, that he had had the honour of coaching.
{{Cite news
| author = CP Staff
| title = Vees Capture Calder Cup
| work = The Evening Times-Globe
| publisher = New Brunswick Printing Co. Ltd.
| location = Saint John, New Brunswick
| agency = The Canadian Press
| date = April 29, 1976
| page = 22
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/saint-john-times-globe-vees-capture-cald/162617171/
| access-date = January 9, 2025
| via = Newspapers.com
}} This squad's performance over the 1975–76 season allowed MacNeil win his second Pieri Award in 1976.
In 1976–77, the Voyageurs had another 100-point season. The Vees played the Rochester Americans in finals. On April 30, 1977, before a crowd of over 7,200 fans at the sold out Rochester War Memorial Arena, the Vees beat the Americans 4–3 in the decisive sixth game. It was their second consecutive Calder trophy and the third overall for MacNeil.
{{Cite news
| last1 = Bump
| first1 = Larry
| title = Voyageurs keep the Calder Cup
| work = Democrat and Chronicle
| publisher = Gannett
| location = Rochester, New York
| issn = 1088-5153
| date = May 1, 1977
| page = D1
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-voyageurs-keep-th/162617837/
| access-date = January 9, 2025
| via = Newspapers.com
}}
His Nova Scotia team had four 100-point campaigns in his six years as head coach. With a 304–149–78 record in his six seasons as an AHL head coach, he has the highest winning percentage (.646) in league history. He was only one of six coaches that ever won three Calder Cups, and also one of six people ever to coach championship teams in both the AHL and the NHL. Players who skated under MacNeil's tutelage in the AHL include Hockey Hall of Fame members Larry Robinson, Bob Gainey, Steve Shutt and Guy Lapointe. On October 10, 2013, it was announced MacNeil had been named to the AHL's 2014 Hall of Fame class, alongside Bob Perreault, John Slaney and Bill Dineen.
{{Cite news
| last1 = Bombulie
| first1 = Johnathan
| title = Buckets on, boys
| work = The Times-Tribune
| publisher = Times-Shamrock Communications
| location = Scranton, Pennsylvania
| issn = 1930-6377
| date = October 11, 2013
| page = 55
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-tribune-buckets-on-boys/162618796/
| access-date = January 9, 2025
| via = Newspapers.com
}} He was inducted into the Hall on February 12, 2014, at the AHL All-Star game festivities in St. John's, Newfoundland.
{{Cite news
| author = Herald Staff
| title = 'Chopper' MacNeil inducted into the AHL Hall of Fame
| work = Calgary Herald
| publisher = Postmedia Network
| issn = 0828-1815
| date = February 13, 2014
| page = B7
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/calgary-herald-chopper-macneil-inducte/162618529/
| access-date = January 9, 2025
| via = Newspapers.com
}}
==Canadiens executive==
After the 1976–77 AHL season, MacNeil's contract expired at the end of June, prompting interest from other NHL clubs to hire him as their coach. Punch Imlach, the general manager for the Buffalo Sabres made an offer of $100,000 for five years but MacNeil turned it down.
{{Cite news
| last1 = Martzke
| first1 = Rudy
| title = Sabres aftrer MacNeil
| work = Democrat and Chronicle
| publisher = Gannett
| location = Rochester, New York
| issn = 1088-5153
| date = June 24, 1977
| page = 4D
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-sabres-aftrer-mac/162619901/
| access-date = January 9, 2025
| via = Newspapers.com
}} On August 3, 1977, MacNeil signed a new contract with the Canadiens to stay in Halifax as general manager and coach, and play home games in the inaugural season of the new Halifax Metro Centre arena.
{{Cite news
| last1 = Johnston
| first1 = Dick
| title = MacNeil keeps old job
| work = The Buffalo News
| publisher = Berkshire Hathaway
| location = Buffalo, New York
| issn = 0745-2691
| date = August 4, 1977
| page = 27
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-buffalo-news-macneil-keeps-old-job/162620502/
| access-date = January 9, 2025
| via = Newspapers.com
}} Pollock then promoted MacNeil within the Canadiens organization, becoming the Director of Player Personnel in Montreal. He won two more Stanley Cups as a Canadiens executive in 1978 and 1979.
{{Cite news
| author = AP Staff
| title = Al MacNeil, a former NHL player and winner of the Stanley Cup as coach of the Canadiens, dead at 89
| work = The Associated Press
| location = New York
| date = January 6, 2025
| url = https://apnews.com/article/al-macneil-nhl-dead-e235670a4b0594fb249703673428b7d1
| access-date = January 7, 2025
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250107025010/https://apnews.com/article/al-macneil-nhl-dead-e235670a4b0594fb249703673428b7d1
| archive-date = January 7, 2025
| url-status = live
}} A major change happened within the Canadiens' management when Pollock retired as general manager in September 1978, and was replaced by Irving Grundman, a Pollock protégé.
{{Cite news
| last1 = Cole
| first1 = Glenn
| title = Canadiens' winning tradition is alive!
| work = The Gazette
| publisher = Southam Inc.
| location = Montreal
| issn = 0384-1294
| date = September 26, 1978
| page = 49
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-canadiens-winning-tradition/162582371/
| access-date = January 8, 2025
| via = Newspapers.com
}}
=Atlanta/Calgary Flames=
On June 7, 1979, MacNeil resigned from his position with the Canadiens, and Flames general manager Cliff Fletcher introduced him to Atlanta's media as the successor to Fred Creighton as the third-ever head coach of the Atlanta Flames.
{{Cite news
| author = AP Staff
| title = Flames hire MacNeil as new coach
| work = Lakeland Ledger
| publisher = The New York Times Company
| location = Lakeland, Florida
| issn = 0163-0288
| agency = The Associated Press
| date = June 8, 1979
| page = D1
| url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1346&dat=19790608&id=s91MAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CvsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2391,3035028&hl=en
| access-date = January 7, 2025
| via = Google Books
}} He remained in that capacity through the franchise's move to Calgary. On May 31, 1982, general manager Fletcher removed MacNeil as coach, and promoted him to director of player development and professional scouting.
{{Cite news
| author = AP Staff
| title = Johnson signs on to stir up Flames
| work = Star-Phoenix
| publisher = Armadale Co. Ltd.
| location = Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
| issn = 0832-4182
| agency = The Canadian Press
| date = June 2, 1982
| page = B3
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-leader-post-johnson-signs-on-to-stir/162454758/
| access-date = January 7, 2025
| via = Newspapers.com
}} MacNeil won his fourth Stanley Cup in 1989 as Calgary's assistant general manager.
{{Cite news
| last1 = Stubbs
| first1 = Dave
| title = MacNeil dies at 89, won Stanley Cup 3 times with Canadiens as coach, executive
| work = NHL.com
| publisher = National Hockey League
| location = New York
| date = January 6, 2025
| url = https://www.nhl.com/news/ken-dryden-recalls-al-macneil-picking-him-for-1971-postseason
| access-date = January 9, 2025
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250109081007/https://www.nhl.com/news/al-macneil-dies-at-89-won-stanley-cup-4-times-with-canadiens-flames
| archive-date = January 9, 2025
| url-status = live
}}
On December 10, 2001, the NHL suspended Greg Gilbert, the Flames head coach, for two games for his role in a brawl with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim on December 8, 2001.
{{Cite news
| last1 = Strachan
| first1 = Al
| title = All hell broke loose
| work = Winnipeg Sun
| publisher = Quebecor
| location = Winnipeg, Manitoba
| issn = 0711-3773
| date = December 11, 2001
| page = 47
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-winnipeg-sun-all-hell-broke-loose/162713506/
| access-date = January 10, 2025
| via = Newspapers.com
}} Gilbert was replaced by Al MacNeil, who then made his first appearance as an NHL head coach since April 1, 1982.
{{Cite news
| last1 = Kimberly
| first1 = Todd
| title = MacNeil happy pilot after Flames glide to win
| work = Calgary Herald
| publisher = Southam Inc.
| location = Calgary, Alberta
| issn = 0828-1815
| date = December 13, 2001
| page = F2
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/calgary-herald-macneil-happy-pilot-after/162711687/
| access-date = January 10, 2025
| via = Newspapers.com
}} The Flames played the Scotty Bowman-coached Detroit Red Wings in Calgary, and shut them out them 2–0.
{{Cite news
| last1 = Kimberly
| first1 = Todd
| title = Flames Game Story
| work = Calgary Herald
| publisher = Southam Inc.
| location = Calgary, Alberta
| issn = 0828-1815
| date = December 11, 2001
| page = C2
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/calgary-herald-flames-game-story/162715551/
| access-date = January 10, 2025
| via = Newspapers.com
}} The game gave MacNeil his first victory in 19 years, eight months and nine days. He didn't officially get credit for the win, as Gilbert was still the coach of record.
When Gilbert was fired the following season — on December 3, 2002 — because of the Flames' poor performance, MacNeil once again assumed interim head coaching duties.
{{Cite news
| last1 = Fisher
| first1 = Red
| author-link = Red Fisher (journalist)
| title = Gainey great coaching material
| work = The Gazette
| publisher = Southam Inc.
| location = Montreal
| issn = 0384-1294
| date = December 4, 2002
| page = C2
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-gainey-great-coaching-materi/162708264/
| access-date = January 10, 2025
| via = Newspapers.com
}} The Flames took 25 days to replace Gilbert, and in that time they went 4–5–2 under MacNeil.
{{Cite news
| last1 = Cruickshank
| first1 = Scott
| title = Sutter: Ever onward, upward
| work = Calgary Herald
| publisher = Southam Inc.
| location = Calgary, Alberta
| issn = 0828-1815
| date = December 29, 2002
| page = B4
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/calgary-herald-sutter-ever-onward-upwa/162709342/
| access-date = January 10, 2025
| via = Newspapers.com
}} That gave him a career NHL games coached win-loss-tie total record of 160–134–55, a figure that combines both regular season and playoff results. Darryl Sutter was finally hired as the permanent coach, and MacNeil returned to being a special assistant to general manager Craig Button.
Personal life and death
Al MacNeil was married to Norma MacNeil (née MacSween) from New Waterford on Cape Breton Island. They had two children, a daughter Allison, and a son Allister. He had two grandsons from his daughter. His descendants are involved with professional hockey as his son is a scout for the Calgary Flames. His grandson, Jason Sparkes, joined the Los Angeles Kings in the 2022 NHL entry draft.
{{Cite news
| last1 = Fraser
| first1 = Jeremy
| title = 'He was a hell of a nice guy': Cape Breton's Al MacNeil remembered for distinguished career in professional hockey
| work = Cape Breton Post
| publisher = PNI Atlantic News
| location = Sydney, Nova Scotia
| issn = 0839-4970
| date = January 6, 2025
| url = https://www.saltwire.com/cape-breton/he-was-a-hell-of-a-nice-guy-cape-bretons-al-macneil-remembered-for-distinguished-career-in-professional-hockey
| access-date = January 7, 2025
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250107204231/https://www.saltwire.com/cape-breton/he-was-a-hell-of-a-nice-guy-cape-bretons-al-macneil-remembered-for-distinguished-career-in-professional-hockey
| archive-date = January 7, 2025
| url-status = live
}}
MacNeil is a member of the American Hockey League Hall of Fame, the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame and the Cape Breton Sports Hall of Fame. On November 15, 2015, he was featured on a Sportsnet national broadcast as part of a tribute to Cape Bretoners that were affiliated with the NHL, on Rogers Hometown Hockey Tour.
{{Cite news
| last1 = King
| first1 = Nancy
| title = Ron MacLean talks about childhood summer visits to Cape Breton
| work = Cape Breton Post
| publisher = SaltWire Network
| location = Sydney, Nova Scotia
| issn = 0839-4970
| date = November 12, 2015
| url = https://www.saltwire.com/cape-breton/ron-maclean-talks-about-childhood-summer-visits-to-cape-breton-10449
| access-date = January 7, 2025
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250107233607/https://www.saltwire.com/cape-breton/ron-maclean-talks-about-childhood-summer-visits-to-cape-breton-10449
| archive-date = January 7, 2025
| url-status = live
}} MacNeal was honoured by his hometown when Cape Breton University bestowed him with an honorary Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) degree in 2011.
{{Cite web
| author = CBU Staff
| title = Al MacNeil
| work = Honorary Degree Recipients
| publisher = Cape Breton University
| location = Sydney, Nova Scotia
| year = 2025
| url = https://www.cbu.ca/alumni/honorary-degree-recipients/al-macneil/
| access-date = January 7, 2025
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180429092036/https://www.cbu.ca/alumni/honorary-degree-recipients/al-macneil/
| archive-date = April 29, 2018
| url-status = live
}}
MacNeil died at his home in Calgary on January 5, 2025, at the age of 89.
{{Cite news
| last1 = Ellis
| first1 = Brendan
| title = Al MacNeil, long-time Flames coach, executive, dies at 89
| work = CTV News
| publisher = Bell Media
| date = January 6, 2025
| url = https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/al-macneil-long-time-flames-coach-executive-dies-at-89-1.7166216
| access-date = January 7, 2025
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250107010211/https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/al-macneil-long-time-flames-coach-executive-dies-at-89-1.7166216
| archive-date = January 7, 2025 | url-status = live
}}
Career statistics
=Regular season and playoffs=
| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em" | ||||||||
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! colspan="5"|Regular season ! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! colspan="5"|Playoffs | ||||||||
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! Season ! Team ! League ! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM | ||||||||
| 1954–55
| OHA | 47 | 3 | 16 | 19 | 0
| — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 1955–56 | Toronto Marlboros | OHA | 48 | 9 | 12 | 21 | 0
| — | — | — | — | — |
| 1955–56
| NHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2
| — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 1956–57 | AHL | 13 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 35
| — | — | — | — | — |
| 1956–57
| Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 53 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 84
| — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 1957–58 | Rochester Americans | AHL | 54 | 3 | 18 | 21 | 91
| — | — | — | — | — |
| 1957–58
| Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9
| — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 1958–59 | Rochester Americans | AHL | 69 | 4 | 13 | 17 | 119
| 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 17 |
| 1959–60
| Rochester Americans | AHL | 49 | 4 | 16 | 20 | 44
| 12 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 12 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 1959–60 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2
| — | — | — | — | — |
| 1960–61
| EPHL | 60 | 6 | 20 | 26 | 101
| 14 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 21 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 1961–62 | NHL | 61 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 74
| 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1962–63
| NHL | 70 | 2 | 19 | 21 | 100
| 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 1963–64 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 70 | 5 | 19 | 24 | 91
| 7 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 25 |
| 1964–65
| Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 69 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 119
| 14 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 34 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 1965–66 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 51 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 34
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1966–67
| NHL | 58 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 44
| 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 1967–68 | NHL | 74 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 58
| — | — | — | — | — |
| 1968–69
| CHL | 70 | 1 | 11 | 12 | 70
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 1969–70 | AHL | 66 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 14
| 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" | NHL Totals ! 524 !! 17 !! 75 !! 92 !! 617 ! 37 !! 0 !! 4 !! 4 !! 67 |
Source: Hockey Reference
=Coaching record =
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align:center; width: 52em;" | ||||||
| rowspan="2" | Team
! rowspan="2" | Year ! colspan="7" | Regular season ! colspan="4" | Post season | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | L | T | OTL | Pts | Finish
! colspan=3 | Result |
| style="background:#FDE910;"
!|MTL | 1970–71
|55 | 31 | 15 | 9| | ||
| |(97) | 3rd in East | Won Stanley Cup | ||||
| ATL||1979–80
|80||35||32||13| | ||||||
| |83 | 4th in Patrick | Lost in First Round | ||||
| CGY||1980–81
|80||39||27||14| | ||||||
| |92 | 3rd in Patrick | Lost in Conf Finals | ||||
| CGY||1981–82
|80||29||34||17| | ||||||
| |75 | 4th in Patrick | Lost in First Round | ||||
| CGY||2002–03
|11||4||5||2||0||(75)||5th in Northwest||Missed Playoffs | ||||||
| colspan="2"|Total ||306||138||113||55||0 |
Source: Hockey Reference{{Cite web | title = Al MacNeil Coaching Record | work = Hockey Reference | publisher = Sports Reference LLC | location = Philadelphia | year = 2025 | url = https://www.hockey-reference.com/coaches/macneal01c.html | access-date = January 11, 2025 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240915061613/https://www.hockey-reference.com/coaches/macneal01c.html | archive-date = September 15, 2024 | url-status = live }}
References
{{reflist | 30em}}
External links
- {{IMDb name| 12963385}}
- {{icehockeystats|legends=13480}}
{{s-start}}
{{succession box | title=Head coach of the Montreal Canadiens | before=Claude Ruel | years=1970–71| after=Scotty Bowman}}
{{succession box | title=Head coach of the Atlanta Flames | before=Fred Creighton | years=1979–80| after = Himself
Calgary Flames head coach}}
{{succession box | title=Head coach of the Calgary Flames | before= Himself
Atlanta Flames head coach | years=1980–82| after=Bob Johnson}}
{{succession box | before = Greg Gilbert | title = Head coach of the Calgary Flames | years = 2002–03 | after = Darryl Sutter}}
{{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:MacNeil, Al}}
Category:Atlanta Flames coaches
Category:Calgary Flames coaches
Category:Calgary Flames executives
Category:Calgary Flames scouts
Category:Canadian ice hockey centres
Category:Canadian ice hockey coaches
Category:Canadian people of Scottish descent
Category:Chicago Blackhawks players
Category:Hull-Ottawa Canadiens players
Category:Ice hockey people from Nova Scotia
Category:Montreal Canadiens coaches
Category:Montreal Canadiens players
Category:New York Rangers players
Category:People from Cape Breton Island
Category:Sportspeople from Sydney, Nova Scotia
Category:Pittsburgh Penguins players
Category:Sportspeople from the Cape Breton Regional Municipality
Category:Stanley Cup champions
Category:Stanley Cup championship–winning head coaches
Category:Toronto Maple Leafs players