Al MacNeil was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and coach who had a successful career in the National Hockey League (NHL) and the World Hockey Association (WHA). He played as a defenseman for several teams, including the Montreal Canadiens, Chicago Blackhawks, and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
MacNeil began his professional career in 1957 with the Montreal Canadiens, where he played for six seasons and won three Stanley Cup championships. He was known for his physical play and his ability to block shots. In 1963, he was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks, where he played for two seasons before being traded to the New York Rangers.
After retiring as a player in 1970, MacNeil became a coach. He started as an assistant coach for the St. Louis Blues before becoming the head coach of the Nova Scotia Voyageurs, the Canadiens' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate. In 1979, he was named head coach of the Canadiens, where he won the Stanley Cup in his first season.
MacNeil also coached in the WHA, where he led the Cincinnati Stingers to the Avco Cup finals in 1977. He later coached the Winnipeg Jets and the Birmingham Bulls before returning to the NHL as head coach of the Calgary Flames in 1981.
In 1984, MacNeil was named the NHL's Coach of the Year after leading the Flames to the Stanley Cup finals. He later coached the Minnesota North Stars and the Hartford Whalers before retiring from coaching in 1991.
After retiring from coaching, MacNeil worked as a scout for the Flames and the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was inducted into the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame in 1992 and the AHL Hall of Fame in 2010.
Overall, Al MacNeil had a successful career as both a player and a coach in the NHL and the WHA. He won four Stanley Cup championships as a player and coach and was recognized as the NHL's Coach of the Year in 1984.
🏒