
Allister MacNeil, of Sydney, Cape Breton, captained his junior team, the Toronto Marlboros, to the Memorial Cup in 1955. He played in the National Hockey League with the Maple Leafs, Canadiens, Blackhawks, Rangers, and Penguins. His 1964-65 Chicago team reached the Stanley Cup finals, only to be turned back in seven games by the Montreal Canadiens.
MacNeil was a hard working defenceman who worked the NHL blue lines for eleven seasons. However, “Chopper” is better known for his accomplishments as a coach and general manager. MacNeil coached the Canadiens to a Stanley Cup win in 1970-71. He also captured three Calder Cups (1972, 1976 and 1977) as the coach of the American Hockey League’s Nova Scotia Voyageurs. In 1972 and 1977 MacNeil was named coach of the year in the AHL.
The year of his second Calder Cup, 1976, MacNeil was also honoured by being named one of the coaches in the Canada Cup. It was not long before the National Hockey League came calling again. MacNeil was appointed to guide the Atlanta Flames in 1979 and remained with the team when they relocated to Calgary in 1980. Head coach until 1982, MacNeil then took over as the director of player development.
• Played 10 NHL Seasons
• Coached the Voyageurs to an AHL Calder Cup
• Coached the Calgary Flames NHL team
• Coached the Montreal Canadiens to a Stanley Cup