Behind the ECHL Benches - Cail MacLean, Adirondack Thunder

Cail MacLean was named head coach of Adirondack on July 23, 2015 and in his first season with the team led the Thunder to the Eastern Conference Semifinals. MacLean, 39, joined the Thunder with two years of head coaching experience in the ECHL, having previously led the South Carolina Stingrays to a 78-48-18 record and two playoff appearances over two seasons from 2009-11. MacLean’s tenure included a 41-win season in 2009-10, where the Stingrays’ 94 points were tied for the second most in the league. MacLean was named the head coach of the American Conference at the 2010 ECHL All-Star Game and finished as the runner up for the John Brophy Award as the ECHL’s Coach of the Year. The Stingrays ranked amongst the top five in the ECHL in fewest goals against in both of his seasons behind the bench and saw 26 players recalled to the AHL. MacLean also spent the 2008-09 season as an assistant coach with the Stingrays, where he helped lead his team to the 2009 Kelly Cup championship.

The Middleton, Nova Scotia native also has prior ties to the Calgary Flames organization, with two seasons spent as an assistant coach with the AHL’s Abbotsford Heat from 2011-13. As a member of Troy Ward’s staff, MacLean helped guide the Heat to a 76-58-18 record, including participation in the second round of the 2012 Calder Cup Playoffs. Under MacLean’s tutelage, the Heat ranked sixth in goals against in both 2011-12 and 2012-13.

Prior to his five years of experience behind the bench, MacLean skated in 747 professional games as a player, spent between the AHL (207), ECHL (474) and IHL (66). After a four-year career with the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs, where MacLean ranks 11th all-time with 244 games played, an undrafted MacLean made his professional debut in 1997 with the Jacksonville Lizard Kings of the ECHL, where he spent two seasons tallying 122 points (59g-63a). MacLean played on 14 additional teams during his 11-season professional career, including the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks, Lowell Lock Monsters, Philadelphia Phantoms, Providence Bruins, Hartford Wolf Pack, Hershey Bears and Bridgeport Sound Tigers at the AHL level. MacLean also represented the Trenton Titans, Reading Royals and South Carolina Stingrays in the ECHL and the Cleveland Lumberjacks, Indianapolis Ice, Michigan K-Wings and Grand Rapids Griffins in the IHL. Over his career, MacLean captained three teams, led his team in goals on three occasions (Jacksonville 1997-98, 98-99 and Trenton, 1999-00) and scoring once (Jacksonville, 1997-98). The winger finished his playing career with 44 AHL points (21g-23a), 439 ECHL points (224g-215a) and 22 IHL points (15g-7a).