The Calgary Flames announced on Monday afternoon that former executive and head coach Al MacNeil passed away at 89 with his family by his side in Calgary.
We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of long-time Flames executive and former head coach Al MacNeil.
Al passed away at the age of 89 years, on Jan. 5, 2025, surrounded by his family in Calgary: https://t.co/4KV9YBjYwA
You will be so missed, Chopper. Rest in peace ❤️ pic.twitter.com/8JVVh6PS1B
— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) January 6, 2025
At 20, MacNeil made his NHL debut in 1955-56 with the Toronto Maple Leafs, where he spent four seasons before moving on to the Montreal Canadiens (1961-62), Chicago Blackhawks (1962-1966), and New York Rangers (1966-67).
His last NHL stop was with the Pittsburgh Penguins, for one season, who claimed him in the 1967 Expansion Draft.
Additionally, he played for two AHL clubs, the Rochester Americans and the Montreal Voyageurs, while skating in the EPHL and CHL.
During MacNeil’s final season with the Voyageurs, he was a player-coach before transitioning to an assistant coach role with the Canadiens in 1970-71. He served briefly as head coach that year, helping Montreal win the Stanley Cup.
The following season, MacNeil began his AHL Hall of Fame journey by winning the first of three consecutive Calder Cup titles with the Nova Scotia Voyageurs in 1972, 1973, and 1974.
Al MacNeil is forever a Flames legend.
He’s an icon in Calgary and in his home province of Nova Scotia. Here’s a clip of Chopper addressing the crowd in Halifax after coaching the NS Voyageurs to their first Calder Cup in ’72.
Thinking of his family and those who love him today pic.twitter.com/Za4MaA9zkw
— Cami Kepke (@CamiKepke) January 6, 2025
In addition, he won the AHL Coach of the Year Award (Louis AR Pieri Memorial Award) in 1971 and 1973.
By 1977, MacNeil was back with Montreal, serving as the Director of Player Personnel, winning two more Stanley Cup rings in 1978 and 1979.
However, that was the end of his connections with the Original Six franchise, as he became the head coach of the Atlanta Flames for the 1979-80 season, a role he retained when the club moved to Calgary in 1980.
From 1979 to 2006, MacNeil was part of the Flames family. After helping the organization win its first playoff series in 1981, he remained head coach for one more season before being promoted to assistant general manager in 1985.
During his management tenure, MacNeil saw Calgary advance to the Stanley Cup Final in 1986,…