Former head coach of the Montreal Canadiens who led the team to the Stanley Cup in 1971, Al MacNeil passed away on Sunday at the ripe old age of 89.
It was indeed MacNeil who led the Habs during one of its most improbable epics.
Carried by a rookie goalie in full possession of his means by the name of Ken Drydren, the CH defied the predictions by eliminating the Boston Bruins then the Minnesota North Stars before defeating the Chicago Blackhawks in the final.
MacNeil added two Stanley Cups as the Canadiens’ director of player personnel in 1978 and 1979.
He then headed to Atlanta to manage the Flames there and followed the organization when it moved to Calgary. There, MacNeil earned another stint as assistant to the general manager in 1989, while establishing himself as a pillar in the community.
That’s without counting his very honest career of 524 games as a tough defenseman in the National Hockey League with the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Canadiens, the Blackhawks, the New York Rangers and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
MacNeil is survived by his wife Noma, his son Allister Jr., his daughter Allison and two grandchildren.
