He was back in his hometown as Rogers Hometown Hockey visited Summerside.
“What I love about it is it’s going to go to half a million homes in Canada and a ton of homes (in the United States) on the NHL Network,” said MacLean, a hockey analyst for Rogers Sportsnet. “People will see what Summerside is all about, and you get to tell people about your hometown and your great friends here.”
Memories rekindled
One of the feature stories during Sunday night’s live broadcast featured MacLean and four friends from Summerside – Jim Clark, George Matthews, Jim Rankin and Gerard (Turk) Gallant – all working with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
“We did a thing at my old house where we had the backyard rink, and talked about the five guys who came to Columbus,” said MacLean, 61. “I don’t know if people get it, but it’s pretty cool.
“You grow up with guys and you end up working with them in the NHL, and all of them have had real good careers. . . It was a fun day reminiscing about what we did as kids.”
Never forgot home
Although MacLean spent over 20 years as an NHL executive and coach, he never forgot P.E.I.
“Jill (his wife), I and the kids have come here every summer since they were born,” said MacLean. “I love when I look at (son) Clark’s website, and he lives in Chicago now, but his hometown says Chelton, P.E.I.
“It’s nice to be able to sell your hometown and tell people how great it is.”
As head coach, MacLean played a major role in the Florida Panthers coming to Summerside for training camp in 1996. Then as president and general manager, he brought the Blue Jackets to Summerside in 2002.
Quick wit
MacLean has always maintained a quick wit, and couldn’t refuse good-natured jabs at colleagues and “great friends” Nick Kypreos and Daren Millard.
“Of course I really want to outdo Kypreos,” quipped MacLean. “He did the North Bay Hometown Hockey. They did a ‘Welcome Home to North Bay’ and he only played junior there, he’s not even from there.
“We have to top him, but the problem I am up against is they did (Wayne) Gretzky last week in Brantford. Gretzky was on with us this week, and I said to Wayne, ‘You’re a tough act to follow.’”
As for Millard, MacLean commented: “Daren came to visit me a couple of years ago and bought a cottage here (in Chelton). What a way to ruin a summer!
“He wanted to be here so bad this weekend. He’s a Manitoba guy that absolutely loves P.E.I.”
Twitter.com/JpsportsJason
