September 27, 1935 – Sydney, Nova Scotia
January 5, 2025 – Calgary, Alberta
Nova Scotia-born Al MacNeil, a Stanley Cup profitable Head Coach, Nationwide Hockey League (NHL) participant, and Calgary Flames govt and guide whose identify is engraved on the Stanley Cup 4 occasions, handed away on the age of 89 years, on Sunday, January 5, 2025, surrounded by household in Calgary, AB.
A proud Cape Bretoner, Al was the fourth of eight born to Helen and Stephen MacNeil of Sydney, NS. Al was married to Norma (MacSween) for 58 years, dwelling in numerous NHL cities, however all the time returning to their cottage in Cape Breton to be close to cherished prolonged household, summer time pals and neighborhood.
They’ve two kids, Allister MacNeil, a scout for the Calgary Flames, and Allison MacNeil Sparkes (Paul), in addition to two grandsons, Jack, and Ben Sparkes.
Al is predeceased by older siblings Frank MacNeil (Dolly), and Betty Nicholson (Nick). His dwelling siblings are Mary Shea (Frannie, deceased), and brothers John Hayes (Elaine), Dugga (Florence, deceased), Vincent (Etta, deceased), Elwin (Jane), and plenty of cousins, nieces, and nephews throughout Canada and the USA.
Al’s ardour for his household, Nova Scotia, and the sport of hockey was lifelong and by no means dimmed.
An Unique Six participant, Al was a rugged defenceman and open-ice hitter who performed 524 NHL video games for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers, and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Montreal Canadiens’ Normal Supervisor Sam Pollock acquired his rights and Al spent two seasons mentoring younger gamers as a Participant Coach, first for the Houston Apollos of the Central Hockey League (CHL) in 1968-69, after which for the Montreal Voyageurs of the American Hockey League (AHL) in 1969-70.
Al received his first Stanley Cup because the rookie Head Coach of the Montreal Canadiens in 1971, his second and third Cups because the Director of Participant Personnel for the Canadiens of their 1978 and 1979 Stanley Cup wins, and his fourth because the Assistant Normal Supervisor of the Calgary Flames 1989 Stanley Cup profitable crew.
As an NHL participant, coach, and govt, Al took large satisfaction in growing and training tons of of NHL hockey gamers over many a long time.
Because the Normal Supervisor and Head Coach of the Montreal Canadiens’ farm crew, he guided the Nova Scotia Voyageurs to a few Calder Cup Championships in 1972, 1976 and 1977. He was named American Hockey League Coach of the 12 months two occasions in 1972 and 1977 and was inducted into the American Hockey League Corridor of Fame in 2014.
Al was an Assistant Coach of Staff Canada, profitable the 1976 Canada Cup, and likewise for the 1981 Canada Cup crew.
As a junior participant with the Toronto Marlboros, he received two Memorial Cups in 1955, and as crew captain in 1956. One in every of his proudest achievements was being named Finest Defenceman for the Japanese Skilled Hockey League (EPHL) whereas additionally captaining the crew to the championship within the 1960-61 season.
Al was the final Head Coach of the Atlanta Flames and the primary Head Coach of the Calgary Flames for his or her first two seasons in that metropolis. He was part of the Flames’ hockey operations for greater than 4 a long time. He returned to the NHL Bench as Interim Head Coach for the Flames for 13 video games within the 2002-2003 season. Al liked the crew, the group, and town of Calgary and made it dwelling since arriving for the 1979-80 season from Atlanta.
A member of the American Hockey Corridor of Fame, the Nova Scotia Sports activities Corridor of Fame, and the Cape Breton Sports activities Corridor of Fame, he additionally holds an honourary doctorate from Cape Breton College.
Al’s two grandsons, Jack Sparkes, a 2022 draft decide of the Los Angeles Kings, and Ben Sparkes, a college scholar in Nova Scotia who performs Junior B hockey, have grown up in Toronto however spend time on the household cottage in Cape Breton within the summers.
We want to thank the possession, administration and workers of the Calgary Flames Hockey Membership, Flames followers, the Nationwide Hockey League, and the American Hockey League for being sources of lifelong pleasure for Al.
Particular thanks to Dr. Terry Groves, Dr. Stuart Hutchinson, Dr. Garnette Sutherland and to the fantastic nurses and medical doctors of the Intensive Care and Neurosurgery Items of the Foothills Medical Centre for taking glorious care of Al in his final weeks.
A funeral service will probably be held in Calgary with preparations being made by McInnis & Holloway. A celebration of life will probably be deliberate for Cape Breton in the summertime of 2025.
The household want to share the next tributes and information releases celebrating Al’s life and legacy, as shared by the Calgary Flames and the Nationwide Hockey League.
These items spotlight Al’s contributions and the profound impression he had on the game, the neighborhood, and past.
Condolences, reminiscences, and pictures could also be shared and seen with Al’s household right here.
In dwelling reminiscence of Allister Wences MacNeil, a tree will probably be planted within the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Space by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Houses, Deerfoot South, 12281 – fortieth Avenue SE, Calgary, AB T2Z 4E6, Phone: 403-203-0525.
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