Lanny McDonald
Encyclopedia
Lanny King McDonald is a Canadian
former professional ice hockey
player for the Toronto Maple Leafs
, Colorado Rockies
and Calgary Flames
of the National Hockey League
(NHL). He played over 1,100 games during a 16-year NHL career in which he scored 500 goals and over 1,000 points. His total of 66 goals in 1982–83 remains the Flames' franchise record.
McDonald was selected by the Maple Leafs as the fourth overall pick in the 1973 NHL Amateur Draft
and established himself as an offensive forward with three consecutive 40-goal seasons in Toronto in the mid 1970s. His trade to the Rockies in 1979 resulted in Toronto fans protesting against the deal in front of Maple Leaf Gardens
. He played parts of three seasons in Denver before he was sent to Calgary in 1981 where he played the remainder of his career. He won the Stanley Cup
in 1989, captaining
the Flames to the championship in his final season.
He was among the most popular players in Flames history and was well known throughout the league for his bushy red moustache and support of the Special Olympics
. McDonald won the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy
for dedication and sportsmanship in 1983 and in 1988 was named the inaugural winner of the King Clancy Memorial Trophy
for his leadership and humanitarian presence. He represented Team Canada on two occasions, winning inaugural Canada Cup
in 1976
. McDonald was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame
in 1992 and the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame in 1993. The Calgary Flames retired his number 9 following his retirement.
. He is the youngest of four children after brother Lynn and sisters Donna and Dixie. His father, Lorne, tended the family farm near the hamlet of Craigmyle
, 35 kilometres (21.7 mi) outside Hanna. The young Lanny viewed his father as his hero, often following Lorne around helping with whatever chores he could. Lanny credits his father for teaching him the value of honesty and hard work. His mother, Phyllis, was a full-time teacher who was frequently involved with community events.
Learning to skate at the age of five, McDonald immediately developed a passion for hockey. He served as a stick boy for his father's community team and grew up listening to radio broadcasts of Hockey Night in Canada
. McDonald shared his father's passion for the Toronto Maple Leafs
; he was given his middle name, King, after Maple Leafs' star King Clancy
. He began playing organized hockey at the age of six, following his brother. Despite both having full time commitments, their parents drove them both to Hanna for their practices and games. McDonald recounted that half of his time in youth hockey was spent in Hanna, and the other half in the car. He completed his high school diploma while playing in Lethbridge, choosing to remain with his junior A team in 1970–71 rather than join the Medicine Hat Tigers
of the Western Canada Hockey League
so that he could complete his diploma.
(AJHL). He appeared in 34 games for the Sugar Kings as a 16-year-old, scoring two goals. The following season, 1970–71, he emerged as a leading scorer, recording 37 goals and 82 points in 45 games. He was named to the AJHL's Second All-Star team, and voted its most valuable player. Additionally, McDonald appeared in six Western Canada Hockey League
(WCHL) games with the Calgary Centennials
.
The Medicine Hat Tigers acquired McDonald's rights in a trade during the 1970–71 WCHL season. He joined the team the following year, finishing eighth in league scoring with 114 points, including 50 goals. He improved to 62 goals and 139 points in 1972–73 to finish third overall in league scoring. He was named to the WCHL All-Star Team at forward
. McDonald added an additional 37 points in the playoffs as the Tigers won the league championship.
At the 1973 NHL Amateur Draft
, McDonald was considered to be among the top junior prospects. The Vancouver Canucks
had the third overall selection and were interested in drafting him, but opted against it when McDonald made it clear he would likely go to the World Hockey Association
(WHA) rather than Vancouver. Instead, he went to the Toronto Maple Leafs
with the fourth overall pick. Additionally, he was taken 10th overall by the Cleveland Crusaders
in the 1973 WHA Amateur Draft
. McDonald chose to play in the NHL, signing a contract with the Maple Leafs that was considered to be among the richest in the league, worth between $175,000 and $200,000 per season. The deal came as a result of the battle the NHL and WHA were waging over young talent, and McDonald found that some of the older players in Toronto resented him for the contract he signed.
. He assisted on two goals in the game, but also suffered a concussion and required several stitches after landing on his head following a check by Rick Martin
. Following the custom of most NHL players at the time, he played the game without wearing a helmet. It was the only time in his career he did so, as he felt that his injury contributed to his early struggles in the NHL. McDonald scored his first NHL goal on October 17 against Michel Larocque of the Montreal Canadiens
, but finished the season with only 14 pgoals and 30 ppoints in 1973–74. His continued inability to score early in the 1974–75 season nearly resulted in a trade. Atlanta Flames
general manager Cliff Fletcher
sought to take advantage of the Maple Leafs' early disappointment in McDonald and agreed in principle to a trade for the young forward in exchange for Curt Bennett
. However, McDonald scored three goals in his following two games leading Toronto to back out of the deal. McDonald finished the season with a modest improvement over his rookie campaign: 17 pgoals and 44 ppoints.
The patience the Maple Leafs had shown McDonald in his first two seasons was rewarded in 1975–76 when he broke out with 37 goals and 56 assists. Following the season, he earned an invite to the Canadian national team's summer camp in advance of the 1976 Canada Cup
. McDonald was named to the roster, appearing in five of Team Canada's seven games. He recorded two assists in the tournament, one of which came on Darryl Sittler
's overtime goal that clinched the inaugural Canada Cup
championship.
A 43-goal season in 1976–77 earned McDonald several accolades. He was named to the Wales Conference team at the 1977 All-Star Game
where he scored two goals in a 4–3 victory over the Campbell Conference. He was also named a Second Team All-Star
at right wing following the season. It was the first of three consecutive 40-goal seasons for McDonald, and he finished in the top ten in NHL scoring in both 1977–78 and 1978–79. He appeared in his second All-Star Game
in 1978 and played for the NHL All-Stars in the 1979 Challenge Cup
against the Soviet national team.
The highlight of McDonald's career in Toronto came in the 1978 Stanley Cup playoffs against the New York Islanders
. The Maple Leafs were considered underdogs
in the series against an Islanders team that was considered among the best in the league. Toronto overcame a 2–0 series deficit to force a seventh and deciding game. Playing with both a broken wrist and broken nose suffered during the series, McDonald scored the overtime winning goal that eliminated the Islanders and allowed the Maple Leafs to advance to the league semi-finals for the first time in 11 years.
was named the general manager in Toronto prior to the 1979–80 season and immediately clashed with team captain Darryl Sittler. Imlach wanted to move Sittler to another team, but the player refused to waive his no trade clause
. Imlach responded by trading teammates friendly to Sittler instead. On December 28, 1979, Imlach dealt McDonald to the Colorado Rockies
, along with Joel Quenneville
, in exchange for Wilf Paiement
and Pat Hickey
. The deal came as a surprise even to Toronto's head coach.
McDonald was devastated by the trade, particularly because he and his wife were expecting their second child and had just purchased a new house. In his 1987 autobiography, he argued that Imlach made the trade out of spite. McDonald had also come into conflict with Imlach while serving as the team's representative of the National Hockey League Players Association (NHLPA) when Imlach refused to honour an increase in the per diem paid to each player. The trade outraged fans in Toronto, where McDonald was among the team's most popular players. While fans picketed outside Maple Leaf Gardens
in protest, McDonald told the media that he felt fortunate to have been traded away from the unsettled situation the Leafs were in and blamed Imlach for the team's failures on the ice. Sittler resigned as the team's captain following the trade.
Arriving in Colorado, McDonald found himself at the centre of another power struggle. Sympathetic to the fact that his wife was less than two weeks away from giving birth, head coach Don Cherry
gave McDonald permission to leave the team freely on off-days to return to his wife in Toronto. But he did so without gaining the approval of general manager Ray Miron
. The two disagreed frequently and Cherry was fired following the season. On the ice, McDonald scored 35 goals with the Rockies and finished with a total of 40 between the two teams that season.
Rumours circulated following the season that Maple Leafs owner Harold Ballard
had told the media that he was attempting to reacquire McDonald. The Rockies disputed that any such negotiations had taken place and Ballard quickly apologized for the news story after Colorado threatened to file tampering charges against the Maple Leafs' owner. McDonald served as the Rockies' captain, and scored 35 goals and 81 points in 1980–81, his only full season with the team.
, along with a draft pick, in exchange for Bob MacMillan
and Don Lever
on November 25, 1981. The deal occurred one day after the Rockies lost to the Flames by a 9–2 score. Once the team's plane landed in Winnipeg, McDonald was informed of the trade and told to return to Calgary. Angered at first, he viewed the deal as an insult, that the worst team in the NHL had rejected him.
McDonald also felt the pressure of having to replace two popular ex-Flames in MacMillan and Lever while also working to overcome a separated shoulder he suffered earlier in the year with the Rockies. He made his debut with the Flames the following night, a 7–1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings
, after which McDonald remarked that he hadn't had so much fun playing the game in a long time. He was given a loud ovation by the fans who immediately embraced him as a home-town hero, even though it took him seven games before he scored his first goal as a member of the Flames. He finished the season with 34 goals as a member of the Flames, and combined with the 6 scored in Colorado, finished with his fifth 40-goal campaign in six years.
The 1982–83 season was dominated by McDonald's battle with Wayne Gretzky
of the Edmonton Oilers
for the league goal scoring title. Amidst the best offensive season of his career, McDonald scored a hat trick
against Pittsburgh to give him 47 goals at the mid-season break for the 1983 All-Star Game
, a total that tied his career high. He was named to the starting lineup for the All-Star Game and was the league's leading goal scorer at that point, two ahead of Gretzky. Gretzky won the scoring race with 71 goals, while McDonald finished with 66. At that time, only Gretzky, Mike Bossy
and Phil Esposito
had ever scored more goals in one season. McDonald was named to the Second All-Star Team for the second time in his career and was voted the winner of the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy
, given to the player who "best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey".
Following the trade of Phil Russell in the summer of 1983, the Flames named McDonald and Doug Risebrough
co-captains for the 1983–84 season, they would be joined by Jim Peplinski
, the following season. McDonald missed 15 games due to injuries which reduced his scoring to 33 goals and 66 points, but he played in his fourth All-Star Game
. He scored the first Flames goal in the Olympic Saddledome, on the building's opening night of October 15, 1983.
McDonald was the 21st player in NHL history to score 400 career goals, reaching the mark in a 7–4 loss in Los Angeles on December 21, 1983. It was thought he had scored the milestone goal in his previous game, against the Winnipeg Jets
, but after reviewing a replay of the goal himself, McDonald asked the league to credit it to teammate Eddy Beers
who had deflected his shot. McDonald's injury problems worsened in 1984–85 as he missed the start of the season with pulled muscles and was limited to just 43 games.
As the 1985–86 season approached, McDonald was met with questions on whehter he was reaching the point where age and injuries meant he could no longer be an effective NHL player. Hoping to prove himself, he set a goal of playing all 80 games for the Flames. He achieved his goal, scoring 28 goals and 71 points in the process. And he did so despite dislocating his thumb in the pre-season and suffering minor knee and hip injuries during the course of the year. He later said it was a matter of pride to him not to miss a game. In the playoffs, McDonald was witness to one of the most infamous moments in NHL history. Tied at two in the seventh game of the Smythe Division final against Edmonton, McDonald chased Oilers' rookie Steve Smith
around the Edmonton net. Smith attempted to pass the puck forward, but inadvertently hit the back of goaltender Grant Fuhr
's skate, deflecting the puck into his own net.
It turned out to be the winning goal for Calgary who eliminated Edmonton to clinch the Smythe Division championship. The victory over their provincial rivals
also touched off a wild celebration amongst the fans, of which over 20,000 greeted McDonald and the Flames with wild cheering when their plane landed at Calgary International Airport
. After eliminating the St. Louis Blues
, McDonald reached the Stanley Cup Final for the first time. The series ended in disappointment: He watched from the bench as a furious attempt at tying the final game fell short and the Canadiens defeated the Flames in five games to win the Stanley Cup.
Two separate knee injuries limited McDonald in 1986–87. His total of 14 goals in 58 games was his fewest since his rookie season. He reached a milestone in the Flames' final game of the season, appearing in the 1,000th game of his career. He reached two additional major milestones late in the 1988–89 season. On March 7, 1989, McDonald scored the 1,000th point of his career in a 9–5 victory against the Winnipeg Jets. Two weeks later, on March 21, he scored the 500th goal of his career on a wraparound from behind the net against Mark Fitzpatrick
of the of the New York Islanders
.
In the 1989 Stanley Cup playoffs
, the Flames defeated the Vancouver Canucks, Los Angeles Kings and Chicago Blackhawks to set up a Stanley Cup final rematch with the Montreal Canadiens. McDonald was scratched from the Flames' lineup for the third, fourth and fifth games, but with Calgary leading the series three wins to two, head coach Terry Crisp felt that if the Flames were to win the championship, McDonald deserved to be in the game. Crisp's decision paid dividends, as midway through the sixth game, McDonald stepped out of the penalty box to join Håkan Loob
and Joe Nieuwendyk
in a three-on-one rush toward the Montreal goal. Loob passed the puck up to Nieuwendyk, who saw a streaking McDonald coming up the right side of the ice. McDonald received the pass then shot the puck over Montreal goaltender Patrick Roy
's glove to give the Flames a 2–1 lead. Doug Gilmour
added two goals, and the Flames won the game 4–2 to win the franchise's first Stanley Cup championship.
McDonald was part of the committee tasked with hiring a new general manager in June 2000, and speculation within the media was that after several years in corporate, he hoped to land a role as a vice president within hockey operations. He received no such role, and two months after the hiring of Craig Button
as executive vice president and general manager of the Flames, McDonald announced he was leaving the organization. While team sources claimed he was upset at not gaining a new role when Button was hired, McDonald denied the claims. He stated that after "nineteen great years here in one organization", he felt it was the right time to retire. He retained a small role in the organization, serving as a board member of the Saddledome Foundation.
He returned to the Flames a year later as the team's new president, Ken King, named him an executive adviser to hockey operations. Prior to his return, McDonald served as the general manager of Team Canada for the 2001 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships
. He returned to the World Championship team again in 2002 as general manager, and in 2004 as as director of player personnel.
was considered to be effective, and his scoring exploits in junior earned him the nickname "Machine-Gun Lanny". Red Kelly
, McDonald's coach in his first NHL seasons, recalled that he was impressed with his young player's skill handling the puck and defended McDonald against critics who wanted him moved out of Toronto due to his early struggles. In his NHL career, McDonald led his team in goal scoring six times: 1976–77
, 1977–78
and 1978–79
with Toronto, 1980–81 with Colorado, and 1981–82
and 1982–83
in Calgary. He was also a physical player, willing to play a hard-hitting style in the corners.
As age and injuries took their toll, McDonald's role with the Flames changed. His playing time decreased in his later years as he was no longer counted on to be the team's prime offensive threat. He was often a healthy scratch in his final season, expected to provide a boost to the team when he drew into the lineup. He was counted on to provide a veteran presence and to act as a mentor for the team's younger players.
, then Flames assistant general manager, stated that the team had an identity crisis as a result. It was in this atmosphere that General Manager Cliff Fletcher made the trade for McDonald on November 25, 1981, claiming that McDonald added two characteristics the Flames lacked: character and leadership.
McDonald's arrival in Calgary was considered a turning point for the organization, one where his personality, demeanor and on-ice play came to define the Flames in the 1980s. Poile argued that it signaled the true beginning of the team in its new market: "The trade for Lanny McDonald was the start of the Calgary Flames franchise. It gave us that Calgary identity, that Western Canadian flavor." Columnist and co-author of McDonald's autobiography, Steve Simmons
, agreed. He added that the personal and professional disappointments McDonald endured in Toronto and Colorado resulted in his gaining a greater appreciation of both the game and himself. McDonald was extremely popular with his teammates and the fans wherever he played, as well as with the media – he was named Colorado's athlete of the year in 1980 by the state's sportswriters.
Renowned for his leadership ability, McDonald cultivated the respect of the the team's younger players. He came into the NHL at a time when the battle with the rival WHA for talent led to rookies signing for far more money than the previous generation of players commanded. Consequently, McDonald faced the resentment of several of Toronto's veteran players and resolved to show greater respect to those that followed him. His efforts left a lasting impression on his teammates, among them was Tiger Williams
who called McDonald "a great ambassador" for the NHL.
The Flames made McDonald the first player in franchise history to have his jersey retired when they raised his number 9 to the rafters of the Olympic Saddledome in a ceremony on March 17, 1990. Two years later, McDonald became the first former Flame to gain induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame
, as part of its 1992 class. One year later he was inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame. His image endured well into retirement; in 2008, he was the only athlete named in a list of Alberta's ten greatest citizens complied by the Calgary Herald
.
, where the family has invested in restaurants and a craft brewery
in the community of Lakeside
. Co-owned by Andra, the brewery considers McDonald its inspiration, and produces "Old 'Stache Porter" in his honour.
His giant, walrus style moustache is McDonald's most defining characteristic and helped him become an iconic figure in the sport. He developed it in 1974, spending the summer seeing what kind of beard he could grow. Knowing that the Maple Leafs did not allow players to maintain beards at the time, he settled on what he described as a "normal moustache" once he returned to Toronto. Some time later, he was inspired by baseball player Sparky Lyle
's moustache and chose to grow one in a similar style. It became a symbol for the Flames as some fans took to wearing fake red moustaches during playoff runs. Razor manufacturers offered endorsements if he would shave it, which he refused.
Among his charitable and humanitarian efforts, McDonald is best known for his participation with the Special Olympics
. He first became involved with the organization in 1974 when the Maple Leafs asked him to represent the team at the Special Olympics Summer Games. The event began a decades long association for McDonald. He was the honourary coach of the 1986 Special Olympics Summer Games in Calgary, and served as a head coach for the Canadian Special Olympics floor hockey team. In 1988, McDonald's contributions to the Special Olympics as a coach and co-chairman of the organization's fundraising efforts, as well as his work with the Alberta Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, were recognized by the NHL as he was named the inaugural recipient of the King Clancy Memorial Trophy
. The award is given to the hockey player who best exemplifies leadership on the ice with humanitarian contributions off of it. McDonald was previously honoured by the Flames as the first winner of the Ralph T. Scurfield Humanitarian Award in 1987, an award he won again in 1989.
McDonald's autobiography, Lanny, co-written by Steve Simmons
, was published in 1987. A Canadian best-seller, it was an unexpected success for publisher McGraw-Hill
. The book sold 10,000 copies in its first couple months of publication, for which the publisher made a donation of $10,000 to Special Olympics. In 2008, he was given an honourary doctorate from the University of Calgary
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
former professional ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player for the Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
, Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies (NHL)
The Colorado Rockies were an American professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League that played in Denver, Colorado, from 1976 to 1982. They were a relocation of the Kansas City Scouts, a 1974 expansion team. The franchise moved to East Rutherford, New Jersey, in 1982 and was...
and Calgary Flames
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
(NHL). He played over 1,100 games during a 16-year NHL career in which he scored 500 goals and over 1,000 points. His total of 66 goals in 1982–83 remains the Flames' franchise record.
McDonald was selected by the Maple Leafs as the fourth overall pick in the 1973 NHL Amateur Draft
1973 NHL Amateur Draft
The 1973 NHL Amateur Draft, the 11th National Hockey League draft was the first to be held on a separate day from other league activities on May 15, 1973, at the Mount Royal Hotel in Montreal, Quebec so it would not overshadow the rest of the league meetings. Previously, the league had held the...
and established himself as an offensive forward with three consecutive 40-goal seasons in Toronto in the mid 1970s. His trade to the Rockies in 1979 resulted in Toronto fans protesting against the deal in front of Maple Leaf Gardens
Maple Leaf Gardens
Maple Leaf Gardens is an indoor arena that was converted into a Loblawssupermarket and Ryerson University athletic centre in Toronto, on the northwest corner of Carlton Street and Church Street in Toronto's Garden District.One of the temples of hockey, it was home to the Toronto Maple Leafs of the...
. He played parts of three seasons in Denver before he was sent to Calgary in 1981 where he played the remainder of his career. He won the Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
in 1989, captaining
Captain (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, each team can designate an official captain for each game. The player serving as captain during the game wears a "C" on his or her jersey...
the Flames to the championship in his final season.
He was among the most popular players in Flames history and was well known throughout the league for his bushy red moustache and support of the Special Olympics
Special Olympics
Special Olympics is the world's largest sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, providing year-round training and competitions to more than 3.1 million athletes in 175 countries....
. McDonald won the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy
The Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey. The winner is selected by a poll of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association after each team nominates one...
for dedication and sportsmanship in 1983 and in 1988 was named the inaugural winner of the King Clancy Memorial Trophy
King Clancy Memorial Trophy
The King Clancy Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and who has made a significant humanitarian contribution to his community. Since the award was established in 1988, no player has won it more than...
for his leadership and humanitarian presence. He represented Team Canada on two occasions, winning inaugural Canada Cup
Canada Cup
The Canada Cup refers to several types of professional sporting events held in Canada: It is also the previous name of the World Cup of Golf and the World Cup of Hockey.* Canada Cup for men's professional ice hockey* Canada Cup...
in 1976
1976 Canada Cup
The 1976 Canada Cup was an international ice hockey tournament held September 2–15, 1976, in Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, Winnipeg and Quebec, Canada as well as in Philadelphia, United States. It was the first of five Canada Cup tournaments held between 1976 and 1991...
. McDonald was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame
Hockey Hall of Fame
The Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
in 1992 and the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame in 1993. The Calgary Flames retired his number 9 following his retirement.
Early life
McDonald was born February 16, 1953, in Hanna, AlbertaHanna, Alberta
Hanna is a town in east-central Alberta, Canada.The town's main industries are agriculture, oil production, tourism, and coal mining. It is the centre of a large trading area called Short Grass County and is the home of approximately 200 businesses...
. He is the youngest of four children after brother Lynn and sisters Donna and Dixie. His father, Lorne, tended the family farm near the hamlet of Craigmyle
Craigmyle, Alberta
Craigmyle is a hamlet in Alberta, Canada within Starland County. It is located between the towns of Delia and Hanna.- References :...
, 35 kilometres (21.7 mi) outside Hanna. The young Lanny viewed his father as his hero, often following Lorne around helping with whatever chores he could. Lanny credits his father for teaching him the value of honesty and hard work. His mother, Phyllis, was a full-time teacher who was frequently involved with community events.
Learning to skate at the age of five, McDonald immediately developed a passion for hockey. He served as a stick boy for his father's community team and grew up listening to radio broadcasts of Hockey Night in Canada
Hockey Night in Canada
Hockey Night in Canada is the branding used for CBC Sports' presentations of the National Hockey League...
. McDonald shared his father's passion for the Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
; he was given his middle name, King, after Maple Leafs' star King Clancy
King Clancy
Francis Michael "King" Clancy was a Canadian professional ice hockey player, referee, coach and executive. Clancy played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs. He was a member of three Stanley Cup championship teams and won All-Star honours...
. He began playing organized hockey at the age of six, following his brother. Despite both having full time commitments, their parents drove them both to Hanna for their practices and games. McDonald recounted that half of his time in youth hockey was spent in Hanna, and the other half in the car. He completed his high school diploma while playing in Lethbridge, choosing to remain with his junior A team in 1970–71 rather than join the Medicine Hat Tigers
Medicine Hat Tigers
The Medicine Hat Tigers are a junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League who play out of Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada. Established in 1970, the team has won two national Memorial Cups, five WHL League Championships and seven Division Titles. The Tigers play at the Medicine Hat Arena....
of the Western Canada Hockey League
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
so that he could complete his diploma.
Junior
McDonald began his junior career in 1969 with the Lethbridge Sugar Kings of the Alberta Junior Hockey LeagueAlberta Junior Hockey League
The Alberta Junior Hockey League is an Alberta-based Junior A hockey league that belongs to the Canadian Junior Hockey League . It was formed as a five-team league in 1964. There are currently 16 teams in the league. The regular season league champions receive the Dave Duchak Trophy...
(AJHL). He appeared in 34 games for the Sugar Kings as a 16-year-old, scoring two goals. The following season, 1970–71, he emerged as a leading scorer, recording 37 goals and 82 points in 45 games. He was named to the AJHL's Second All-Star team, and voted its most valuable player. Additionally, McDonald appeared in six Western Canada Hockey League
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
(WCHL) games with the Calgary Centennials
Calgary Centennials
Calgary Buffaloes redirects here. For the former Alberta Junior Hockey League team of the same name, see Calgary Buffaloes The Calgary Centennials were a junior ice hockey team that played in the Western Canada Hockey League from 1966–1977...
.
The Medicine Hat Tigers acquired McDonald's rights in a trade during the 1970–71 WCHL season. He joined the team the following year, finishing eighth in league scoring with 114 points, including 50 goals. He improved to 62 goals and 139 points in 1972–73 to finish third overall in league scoring. He was named to the WCHL All-Star Team at forward
Forward (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, a forward is a player position on the ice whose primary responsibility is to score goals. Generally, the forwards try to stay in three different lanes, also known as thirds, of the ice going from goal to goal. It is not mandatory however, to stay in a lane. Staying in a lane aids in...
. McDonald added an additional 37 points in the playoffs as the Tigers won the league championship.
At the 1973 NHL Amateur Draft
1973 NHL Amateur Draft
The 1973 NHL Amateur Draft, the 11th National Hockey League draft was the first to be held on a separate day from other league activities on May 15, 1973, at the Mount Royal Hotel in Montreal, Quebec so it would not overshadow the rest of the league meetings. Previously, the league had held the...
, McDonald was considered to be among the top junior prospects. The Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
had the third overall selection and were interested in drafting him, but opted against it when McDonald made it clear he would likely go to the World Hockey Association
World Hockey Association
The World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926...
(WHA) rather than Vancouver. Instead, he went to the Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
with the fourth overall pick. Additionally, he was taken 10th overall by the Cleveland Crusaders
Cleveland Crusaders
The Cleveland Crusaders were a professional ice hockey team from Cleveland, Ohio. The Crusaders were founded by Nick Mileti, and played in the World Hockey Association from 1972 to 1976...
in the 1973 WHA Amateur Draft
1973 WHA Amateur Draft
-Selections by round:Below are listed the selections in the 1973 WHA Amateur Draft.-Round 1:1. Bob Neely - Chicago Cougars2. Glenn Goldup - New England Whalers3. Andre Savard - Quebec Nordiques4. Paulin Bordeleau - Toronto Toros...
. McDonald chose to play in the NHL, signing a contract with the Maple Leafs that was considered to be among the richest in the league, worth between $175,000 and $200,000 per season. The deal came as a result of the battle the NHL and WHA were waging over young talent, and McDonald found that some of the older players in Toronto resented him for the contract he signed.
Toronto Maple Leafs
McDonald made his NHL debut with the Leafs on October 10, 1973, against the Buffalo SabresBuffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
. He assisted on two goals in the game, but also suffered a concussion and required several stitches after landing on his head following a check by Rick Martin
Rick Martin
Richard Lionel Martin was a Canadian professional ice hockey winger who played in the NHL with the Buffalo Sabres and Los Angeles Kings for 11 seasons between 1971 and 1982...
. Following the custom of most NHL players at the time, he played the game without wearing a helmet. It was the only time in his career he did so, as he felt that his injury contributed to his early struggles in the NHL. McDonald scored his first NHL goal on October 17 against Michel Larocque of the Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
, but finished the season with only 14 pgoals and 30 ppoints in 1973–74. His continued inability to score early in the 1974–75 season nearly resulted in a trade. Atlanta Flames
Atlanta Flames
The Atlanta Flames were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta, Georgia, USA from 1972 to 1980. The team, a member of the National Hockey League , was relocated to Calgary, Alberta, Canada for the start of the 1980–81 NHL season and were re-named the Calgary Flames. The NHL returned to the...
general manager Cliff Fletcher
Cliff Fletcher
George Clifford Fletcher is a National Hockey League executive and is a former general manager of the Atlanta Flames/Calgary Flames, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Phoenix Coyotes . He is currently a Senior Advisor to the Toronto Maple Leafs...
sought to take advantage of the Maple Leafs' early disappointment in McDonald and agreed in principle to a trade for the young forward in exchange for Curt Bennett
Curt Bennett
Curt Alexander Bennett is a former American ice hockey forward, who played in the National Hockey League as well as for the United States national ice hockey team in the 1970s....
. However, McDonald scored three goals in his following two games leading Toronto to back out of the deal. McDonald finished the season with a modest improvement over his rookie campaign: 17 pgoals and 44 ppoints.
The patience the Maple Leafs had shown McDonald in his first two seasons was rewarded in 1975–76 when he broke out with 37 goals and 56 assists. Following the season, he earned an invite to the Canadian national team's summer camp in advance of the 1976 Canada Cup
1976 Canada Cup
The 1976 Canada Cup was an international ice hockey tournament held September 2–15, 1976, in Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, Winnipeg and Quebec, Canada as well as in Philadelphia, United States. It was the first of five Canada Cup tournaments held between 1976 and 1991...
. McDonald was named to the roster, appearing in five of Team Canada's seven games. He recorded two assists in the tournament, one of which came on Darryl Sittler
Darryl Sittler
Darryl Glen Sittler is a retired professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League from 1970 until 1985 for the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Philadelphia Flyers and the Detroit Red Wings. He was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1989.On February 7, 1976, Sittler set an NHL...
's overtime goal that clinched the inaugural Canada Cup
Canada Cup
The Canada Cup refers to several types of professional sporting events held in Canada: It is also the previous name of the World Cup of Golf and the World Cup of Hockey.* Canada Cup for men's professional ice hockey* Canada Cup...
championship.
A 43-goal season in 1976–77 earned McDonald several accolades. He was named to the Wales Conference team at the 1977 All-Star Game
30th National Hockey League All-Star Game
The Wales Conference All-Star team defeated the Campbell Conference for the third consecutive year. Rick Martin scored two goals in the third period including the game winning goal with under two minutes to play, and was voted most valuable player....
where he scored two goals in a 4–3 victory over the Campbell Conference. He was also named a Second Team All-Star
NHL All-Star Team
The NHL All-Star Teams were first named at the end of the 1930–31 NHL season, to honor the best performers over the season at each position.Representatives of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association vote for the All-Star Team at the end of the regular season.The career leaders in citations are...
at right wing following the season. It was the first of three consecutive 40-goal seasons for McDonald, and he finished in the top ten in NHL scoring in both 1977–78 and 1978–79. He appeared in his second All-Star Game
30th National Hockey League All-Star Game
The Wales Conference All-Star team defeated the Campbell Conference for the third consecutive year. Rick Martin scored two goals in the third period including the game winning goal with under two minutes to play, and was voted most valuable player....
in 1978 and played for the NHL All-Stars in the 1979 Challenge Cup
1979 Challenge Cup
The 1979 Challenge Cup was an international ice hockey series of games between the Soviet national ice hockey team and a team of all-stars from the National Hockey League, held in New York City. It replaced the NHL's all-star festivities for the 1978–79 NHL season.The Challenge Cup, unlike its...
against the Soviet national team.
The highlight of McDonald's career in Toronto came in the 1978 Stanley Cup playoffs against the New York Islanders
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
. The Maple Leafs were considered underdogs
Underdog (competition)
An underdog is a person or group in a competition, frequently in electoral politics, sports and creative works, who is popularly expected to lose. The party, team or individual expected to win is called the favorite or top dog. In the rare case where an underdog wins, the outcome is an upset. These...
in the series against an Islanders team that was considered among the best in the league. Toronto overcame a 2–0 series deficit to force a seventh and deciding game. Playing with both a broken wrist and broken nose suffered during the series, McDonald scored the overtime winning goal that eliminated the Islanders and allowed the Maple Leafs to advance to the league semi-finals for the first time in 11 years.
Colorado Rockies
Punch ImlachPunch Imlach
George "Punch" Imlach , was an NHL coach and general manager. He is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame.-Early career:...
was named the general manager in Toronto prior to the 1979–80 season and immediately clashed with team captain Darryl Sittler. Imlach wanted to move Sittler to another team, but the player refused to waive his no trade clause
Trade (sports)
In professional sports, a trade is a sports league transaction involving an exchange of players' contracts or draft picks between teams. Cash is another commodity that may be packaged together with contracts or draft picks to complete a trade...
. Imlach responded by trading teammates friendly to Sittler instead. On December 28, 1979, Imlach dealt McDonald to the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies (NHL)
The Colorado Rockies were an American professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League that played in Denver, Colorado, from 1976 to 1982. They were a relocation of the Kansas City Scouts, a 1974 expansion team. The franchise moved to East Rutherford, New Jersey, in 1982 and was...
, along with Joel Quenneville
Joel Quenneville
Joel Norman Quenneville is the head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks professional ice hockey team. He is a former ice hockey defenseman and former head coach of the Colorado Avalanche and St. Louis Blues...
, in exchange for Wilf Paiement
Wilf Paiement
Wilfred Paiement, Jr. is a former professional ice hockey right winger in the NHL from 1974 through 1988, for six different NHL teams.-Playing career:...
and Pat Hickey
Pat Hickey
Patrick Joseph Hickey is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who played 10 seasons in the NHL for the New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Quebec Nordiques and St. Louis Blues.-Playing career:...
. The deal came as a surprise even to Toronto's head coach.
McDonald was devastated by the trade, particularly because he and his wife were expecting their second child and had just purchased a new house. In his 1987 autobiography, he argued that Imlach made the trade out of spite. McDonald had also come into conflict with Imlach while serving as the team's representative of the National Hockey League Players Association (NHLPA) when Imlach refused to honour an increase in the per diem paid to each player. The trade outraged fans in Toronto, where McDonald was among the team's most popular players. While fans picketed outside Maple Leaf Gardens
Maple Leaf Gardens
Maple Leaf Gardens is an indoor arena that was converted into a Loblawssupermarket and Ryerson University athletic centre in Toronto, on the northwest corner of Carlton Street and Church Street in Toronto's Garden District.One of the temples of hockey, it was home to the Toronto Maple Leafs of the...
in protest, McDonald told the media that he felt fortunate to have been traded away from the unsettled situation the Leafs were in and blamed Imlach for the team's failures on the ice. Sittler resigned as the team's captain following the trade.
Arriving in Colorado, McDonald found himself at the centre of another power struggle. Sympathetic to the fact that his wife was less than two weeks away from giving birth, head coach Don Cherry
Don Cherry
Don Cherry may refer to:* Don Cherry hockey player, coach, and commentator* Don Cherry , trumpeter* Don Cherry...
gave McDonald permission to leave the team freely on off-days to return to his wife in Toronto. But he did so without gaining the approval of general manager Ray Miron
Ray Miron
Ray Miron is the former owner of the new Central Hockey League, founded in 1992 by Miron and William "Bill" Levins, as well as a former National Hockey League executive, serving in the Toronto Maple Leafs organization and as General Manager of the Colorado Rockies . They founded the league under...
. The two disagreed frequently and Cherry was fired following the season. On the ice, McDonald scored 35 goals with the Rockies and finished with a total of 40 between the two teams that season.
Rumours circulated following the season that Maple Leafs owner Harold Ballard
Harold Ballard
Harold E. Ballard was an owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League as well as their home arena, Maple Leaf Gardens. A member of the Leafs organization from 1940 and a senior executive from 1957, he became part-owner of the team in 1961 and was majority owner from February...
had told the media that he was attempting to reacquire McDonald. The Rockies disputed that any such negotiations had taken place and Ballard quickly apologized for the news story after Colorado threatened to file tampering charges against the Maple Leafs' owner. McDonald served as the Rockies' captain, and scored 35 goals and 81 points in 1980–81, his only full season with the team.
Calgary Flames
Stating that his team needed to add character and leadership, Cliff Fletcher finally completed a trade for McDonald seven years after his first attempt. McDonald was acquired by the Calgary FlamesCalgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
, along with a draft pick, in exchange for Bob MacMillan
Bob MacMillan
Robert Lea MacMillan is a former professional ice hockey forward who played in the NHL for 11 seasons from 1974–75 until 1984–85.MacMillan was drafted 15th overall by the New York Rangers in the 1972 NHL Amateur Draft....
and Don Lever
Don Lever
Donald Richard "Cleaver" Lever is the head coach of the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League and a retired Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who played 15 seasons in the National Hockey League from 1972–73 until 1986–87.-Playing career:Lever was drafted 3rd overall by the...
on November 25, 1981. The deal occurred one day after the Rockies lost to the Flames by a 9–2 score. Once the team's plane landed in Winnipeg, McDonald was informed of the trade and told to return to Calgary. Angered at first, he viewed the deal as an insult, that the worst team in the NHL had rejected him.
McDonald also felt the pressure of having to replace two popular ex-Flames in MacMillan and Lever while also working to overcome a separated shoulder he suffered earlier in the year with the Rockies. He made his debut with the Flames the following night, a 7–1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
, after which McDonald remarked that he hadn't had so much fun playing the game in a long time. He was given a loud ovation by the fans who immediately embraced him as a home-town hero, even though it took him seven games before he scored his first goal as a member of the Flames. He finished the season with 34 goals as a member of the Flames, and combined with the 6 scored in Colorado, finished with his fifth 40-goal campaign in six years.
The 1982–83 season was dominated by McDonald's battle with Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Douglas Gretzky, CC is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. Nicknamed "The Great One", he is generally regarded as the best player in the history of the National Hockey League , and has been called "the greatest hockey player ever" by many sportswriters,...
of the Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
for the league goal scoring title. Amidst the best offensive season of his career, McDonald scored a hat trick
Hat Trick
Hat trick, hat-trick or hattrick may refer to:* hat-trick — in various sports, achieving three goals, wickets, etc. in a single match* Hattrick — online football management game** Hattrick Limited — producers of this game...
against Pittsburgh to give him 47 goals at the mid-season break for the 1983 All-Star Game
35th National Hockey League All-Star Game
The 35th National Hockey League All-Star Game was held on February 8, 1983, at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York, home to the New York Islanders. In the game, Edmonton Oilers' centre Wayne Gretzky set an All-Star Game record by scoring all of his four goals in the third...
, a total that tied his career high. He was named to the starting lineup for the All-Star Game and was the league's leading goal scorer at that point, two ahead of Gretzky. Gretzky won the scoring race with 71 goals, while McDonald finished with 66. At that time, only Gretzky, Mike Bossy
Mike Bossy
Michael Dean Bossy is a former Canadian ice hockey player who played for the New York Islanders for his entire career and was part of their four-year reign as Stanley Cup champions in the early 1980s...
and Phil Esposito
Phil Esposito
Philip Anthony Esposito, OC is a former Canadian professional ice hockey centre who played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Chicago Black Hawks, Boston Bruins and New York Rangers. He is an Honoured Member of the Hockey Hall of Fame and is considered to be one of the best to have...
had ever scored more goals in one season. McDonald was named to the Second All-Star Team for the second time in his career and was voted the winner of the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy
The Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey. The winner is selected by a poll of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association after each team nominates one...
, given to the player who "best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey".
Following the trade of Phil Russell in the summer of 1983, the Flames named McDonald and Doug Risebrough
Doug Risebrough
Douglas John Risebrough is a former player, coach, and general manager in the National Hockey League. In his 31 years in the NHL, he has been involved with the Stanley Cup Playoffs 25 times...
co-captains for the 1983–84 season, they would be joined by Jim Peplinski
Jim Peplinski
James Desmond Peplinski is a retired Canadian National Hockey League player.He played junior hockey for the Toronto Marlboroughs of the OHL and was drafted in 1978 NHL Amateur Draft by the Atlanta Flames. Peplinski was one of five active NHL players who played on Canada's 1988 Olympic ice hockey...
, the following season. McDonald missed 15 games due to injuries which reduced his scoring to 33 goals and 66 points, but he played in his fourth All-Star Game
36th National Hockey League All-Star Game
The 36th NHL All-Star Game was held in Brendan Byrne Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey, home to the New Jersey Devils, on January 31, 1984.- Wales Conference All-Stars :| valign=top width=50% align=left |- Campbell Conference All-Stars :...
. He scored the first Flames goal in the Olympic Saddledome, on the building's opening night of October 15, 1983.
McDonald was the 21st player in NHL history to score 400 career goals, reaching the mark in a 7–4 loss in Los Angeles on December 21, 1983. It was thought he had scored the milestone goal in his previous game, against the Winnipeg Jets
Winnipeg Jets
The Winnipeg Jets were a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. They began play in the World Hockey Association in 1972, moving to the National Hockey League in 1979 following the collapse of the WHA...
, but after reviewing a replay of the goal himself, McDonald asked the league to credit it to teammate Eddy Beers
Ed Beers
Edward Joseph "Eddy" Beers is a retired professional ice hockey forward who played 250 games in the National Hockey League. He was nearly a point per game player in his time in the NHL, but his NHL career was cut short by injury....
who had deflected his shot. McDonald's injury problems worsened in 1984–85 as he missed the start of the season with pulled muscles and was limited to just 43 games.
As the 1985–86 season approached, McDonald was met with questions on whehter he was reaching the point where age and injuries meant he could no longer be an effective NHL player. Hoping to prove himself, he set a goal of playing all 80 games for the Flames. He achieved his goal, scoring 28 goals and 71 points in the process. And he did so despite dislocating his thumb in the pre-season and suffering minor knee and hip injuries during the course of the year. He later said it was a matter of pride to him not to miss a game. In the playoffs, McDonald was witness to one of the most infamous moments in NHL history. Tied at two in the seventh game of the Smythe Division final against Edmonton, McDonald chased Oilers' rookie Steve Smith
James Stephen Smith
James Stephen Smith , better known as Steve Smith, is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman and current assistant coach of the Edmonton Oilers. He played in the National Hockey League from 1984–85 to 2000–01...
around the Edmonton net. Smith attempted to pass the puck forward, but inadvertently hit the back of goaltender Grant Fuhr
Grant Fuhr
Grant Scott Fuhr is a Canadian former ice hockey goaltender in the National Hockey League and currently the goaltending coach for the Phoenix Coyotes. In 2003, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame...
's skate, deflecting the puck into his own net.
It turned out to be the winning goal for Calgary who eliminated Edmonton to clinch the Smythe Division championship. The victory over their provincial rivals
Battle of Alberta
The Battle of Alberta is a term applied to the intense rivalry between the Canadian cities of Edmonton, the capital of the province of Alberta, and Calgary, the province's largest city...
also touched off a wild celebration amongst the fans, of which over 20,000 greeted McDonald and the Flames with wild cheering when their plane landed at Calgary International Airport
Calgary International Airport
Calgary International Airport, , is the international airport that serves Calgary, Alberta, Canada and the surrounding region; it is situated approximately northeast of downtown Calgary...
. After eliminating the St. Louis Blues
St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team is named after the famous W. C. Handy song "St. Louis Blues", and plays in the 19,150-seat Scottrade...
, McDonald reached the Stanley Cup Final for the first time. The series ended in disappointment: He watched from the bench as a furious attempt at tying the final game fell short and the Canadiens defeated the Flames in five games to win the Stanley Cup.
Two separate knee injuries limited McDonald in 1986–87. His total of 14 goals in 58 games was his fewest since his rookie season. He reached a milestone in the Flames' final game of the season, appearing in the 1,000th game of his career. He reached two additional major milestones late in the 1988–89 season. On March 7, 1989, McDonald scored the 1,000th point of his career in a 9–5 victory against the Winnipeg Jets. Two weeks later, on March 21, he scored the 500th goal of his career on a wraparound from behind the net against Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. He moved to Kitimat, British Columbia, where he started minor hockey, when he was ten years old...
of the of the New York Islanders
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
.
In the 1989 Stanley Cup playoffs
1989 Stanley Cup playoffs
The 1989 Stanley Cup playoffs, the championship of the National Hockey League began on April 5, after the conclusion of the 1988–89 NHL season...
, the Flames defeated the Vancouver Canucks, Los Angeles Kings and Chicago Blackhawks to set up a Stanley Cup final rematch with the Montreal Canadiens. McDonald was scratched from the Flames' lineup for the third, fourth and fifth games, but with Calgary leading the series three wins to two, head coach Terry Crisp felt that if the Flames were to win the championship, McDonald deserved to be in the game. Crisp's decision paid dividends, as midway through the sixth game, McDonald stepped out of the penalty box to join Håkan Loob
Håkan Loob
Per Håkan Loob is a retired Swedish professional ice hockey player who is currently the president of hockey operations of Färjestads BK in the Swedish Elitserien, for whom he played much of his playing career....
and Joe Nieuwendyk
Joe Nieuwendyk
Joseph Nieuwendyk is the general manager of the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League and a retired Canadian ice hockey player...
in a three-on-one rush toward the Montreal goal. Loob passed the puck up to Nieuwendyk, who saw a streaking McDonald coming up the right side of the ice. McDonald received the pass then shot the puck over Montreal goaltender Patrick Roy
Patrick Roy
Patrick Edward Armand Roy is a former Canadian ice hockey goaltender. Nicknamed "Saint Patrick," Roy split his professional career between the Montreal Canadiens, whom he played with for 10 years, and the Colorado Avalanche, whom he played with for 8 years, both of the National Hockey League...
's glove to give the Flames a 2–1 lead. Doug Gilmour
Doug Gilmour
Douglas Robert Gilmour is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player who is the current general manager of the Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League . During his National Hockey League career, Gilmour played for 7 NHL clubs: the St...
added two goals, and the Flames won the game 4–2 to win the franchise's first Stanley Cup championship.
Management career
McDonald announced his retirement as a player on August 28, 1989, stating in a press conference that he made the determination before the 1988–89 season began that it would be his last. He also revealed that he had received an offer from another, unnamed, team to play in 1989–90 but felt that it was the right time to end his career. The Flames made McDonald their Vice President in Charge of Corporate and Community Affairs. He chose the corporate role partly due to a fascination with the business world, and partly to remain close to his family as a role in hockey operations would have necessitated greater travel. His interest in business grew following his trade to Calgary as he was featured in numerous commercials and endorsements throughout southern Alberta. He had also previously served as a vice president of the NHLPA.McDonald was part of the committee tasked with hiring a new general manager in June 2000, and speculation within the media was that after several years in corporate, he hoped to land a role as a vice president within hockey operations. He received no such role, and two months after the hiring of Craig Button
Craig Button
Craig J. Button is currently an ice hockey broadcast analyst and former National Hockey League executive.- Early life and hockey family :Born in Rochester, New York, Button entered the world of hockey at birth...
as executive vice president and general manager of the Flames, McDonald announced he was leaving the organization. While team sources claimed he was upset at not gaining a new role when Button was hired, McDonald denied the claims. He stated that after "nineteen great years here in one organization", he felt it was the right time to retire. He retained a small role in the organization, serving as a board member of the Saddledome Foundation.
He returned to the Flames a year later as the team's new president, Ken King, named him an executive adviser to hockey operations. Prior to his return, McDonald served as the general manager of Team Canada for the 2001 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships
2001 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships
-Championship:Final standings# # # # # # # # # # # # # # — relegated to Division I for 2002# — relegated to Division I for 2002# - Group A :Group A was played in Grenoble, France between April 16 and April 22, 2001...
. He returned to the World Championship team again in 2002 as general manager, and in 2004 as as director of player personnel.
Playing style
McDonald was known primarily as an offensive player with a hard shot. His wrist shotWrist shot
A wrist shot is a type of ice hockey shot that involves using arm muscles to propel a puck forward from the concave side of the blade of a hockey stick. Generally, when the puck is shot in a similar manner using the convex side of the blade, it is referred to as a backhand shot...
was considered to be effective, and his scoring exploits in junior earned him the nickname "Machine-Gun Lanny". Red Kelly
Red Kelly
Leonard Patrick "Red" Kelly, CM is a retired Canadian ice hockey player in the NHL. He played on more Stanley Cup winning teams than any player who never played for the Montreal Canadiens, and is the only player to be part of two of the nine dynasties recognized by the NHL in its history...
, McDonald's coach in his first NHL seasons, recalled that he was impressed with his young player's skill handling the puck and defended McDonald against critics who wanted him moved out of Toronto due to his early struggles. In his NHL career, McDonald led his team in goal scoring six times: 1976–77
1976–77 Toronto Maple Leafs season
The 1976–77 Toronto Maple Leafs season was the franchise's sixtieth season, fiftieth as the Maple Leafs. The Leafs finished in third place in the Adams Division with a record of 33 wins, 32 losses and 15 ties for 81 points...
, 1977–78
1977–78 Toronto Maple Leafs season
The 1977–78 Toronto Maple Leafs season was the sixty-first season of the franchise, fifty-first as the Maple Leafs. The Leafs made the playoffs and won two series before losing the semi-finals to the Montreal Canadiens.-NHL Draft:-Game log:...
and 1978–79
1978–79 Toronto Maple Leafs season
The 1978–79 Toronto Maple Leafs season was the sixty-second season of the Toronto NHL franchise, fifty-second as the Maple Leafs. The Leafs placed third in the Adams Division to make the playoffs where the Leafs won their first round series against the Atlanta Flames, only to lose in the second...
with Toronto, 1980–81 with Colorado, and 1981–82
1981–82 Calgary Flames season
The 1981–82 Calgary Flames season was the second season in Calgary and tenth for the Flames franchise in the National Hockey League. The follow-up to the Flames' first season in Calgary proved to be disappointing on the ice. 29 wins represented the Flames lowest total since the franchise's...
and 1982–83
1982–83 Calgary Flames season
The 1982–83 Calgary Flames season was the third season in Calgary and 11th for the Flames franchise in the National Hockey League. Despite finishing the season below .500, the Flames had their best ever finish in the division standings, placing second in the Smythe Division...
in Calgary. He was also a physical player, willing to play a hard-hitting style in the corners.
As age and injuries took their toll, McDonald's role with the Flames changed. His playing time decreased in his later years as he was no longer counted on to be the team's prime offensive threat. He was often a healthy scratch in his final season, expected to provide a boost to the team when he drew into the lineup. He was counted on to provide a veteran presence and to act as a mentor for the team's younger players.
Legacy
The arrival of the Flames in Calgary for the 1980–81 NHL season found a team in transition. Many players, used to the warm weather and relaxed atmosphere of Atlanta, were unable or unwilling to adapt to the higher expectations fans in Calgary placed on them. David PoileDavid Poile
David Poile is the Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations and General Manager of the NHL's Nashville Predators....
, then Flames assistant general manager, stated that the team had an identity crisis as a result. It was in this atmosphere that General Manager Cliff Fletcher made the trade for McDonald on November 25, 1981, claiming that McDonald added two characteristics the Flames lacked: character and leadership.
McDonald's arrival in Calgary was considered a turning point for the organization, one where his personality, demeanor and on-ice play came to define the Flames in the 1980s. Poile argued that it signaled the true beginning of the team in its new market: "The trade for Lanny McDonald was the start of the Calgary Flames franchise. It gave us that Calgary identity, that Western Canadian flavor." Columnist and co-author of McDonald's autobiography, Steve Simmons
Steve Simmons
Steve Simmons is a journalist with the Toronto Sun and nationally syndicated throughout Sun Media. He has previously worked as a sports columnist for the Calgary Herald, Calgary Sun, London Free Press, Globe and Mail and The Hockey News....
, agreed. He added that the personal and professional disappointments McDonald endured in Toronto and Colorado resulted in his gaining a greater appreciation of both the game and himself. McDonald was extremely popular with his teammates and the fans wherever he played, as well as with the media – he was named Colorado's athlete of the year in 1980 by the state's sportswriters.
Renowned for his leadership ability, McDonald cultivated the respect of the the team's younger players. He came into the NHL at a time when the battle with the rival WHA for talent led to rookies signing for far more money than the previous generation of players commanded. Consequently, McDonald faced the resentment of several of Toronto's veteran players and resolved to show greater respect to those that followed him. His efforts left a lasting impression on his teammates, among them was Tiger Williams
Tiger Williams
David James "Tiger" Williams is a former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League from 1974–75 to 1987–88. He is the NHL's career leader in penalty minutes.-NHL career:...
who called McDonald "a great ambassador" for the NHL.
The Flames made McDonald the first player in franchise history to have his jersey retired when they raised his number 9 to the rafters of the Olympic Saddledome in a ceremony on March 17, 1990. Two years later, McDonald became the first former Flame to gain induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame
Hockey Hall of Fame
The Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
, as part of its 1992 class. One year later he was inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame. His image endured well into retirement; in 2008, he was the only athlete named in a list of Alberta's ten greatest citizens complied by the Calgary Herald
Calgary Herald
The Calgary Herald is a daily newspaper published in the Canadian city of Calgary, Alberta.- History :The paper was first published on August 31, 1883 by Andrew Armour and Thomas Braden as The Calgary Herald, Mining and Ranche Advocate and General Advertiser. It started as a weekly paper with only...
.
Personal life
McDonald met his wife Ardell while playing junior hockey for the Medicine Hat Tigers. They were married in 1975, and have four children: daughters Andra and Leah, and sons Barrett and Graham. The family settled in Calgary after McDonald's trade to the Flames. They also maintain a summer home in MontanaMontana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
, where the family has invested in restaurants and a craft brewery
Microbrewery
A microbrewery or craft brewer is a brewery which produces a limited amount of beer, and is associated by consumers with innovation and uniqueness....
in the community of Lakeside
Lakeside, Montana
Lakeside is a census-designated place in Flathead County, Montana, United States. The population was 1,679 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Lakeside is located at ....
. Co-owned by Andra, the brewery considers McDonald its inspiration, and produces "Old 'Stache Porter" in his honour.
His giant, walrus style moustache is McDonald's most defining characteristic and helped him become an iconic figure in the sport. He developed it in 1974, spending the summer seeing what kind of beard he could grow. Knowing that the Maple Leafs did not allow players to maintain beards at the time, he settled on what he described as a "normal moustache" once he returned to Toronto. Some time later, he was inspired by baseball player Sparky Lyle
Sparky Lyle
Albert Walter "Sparky" Lyle is an American former left-handed relief pitcher who spent sixteen seasons in Major League Baseball . He was a closer from 1969 to 1977, first for the Boston Red Sox and then the New York Yankees. A three-time All-Star, he won the American League Cy Young Award in 1977...
's moustache and chose to grow one in a similar style. It became a symbol for the Flames as some fans took to wearing fake red moustaches during playoff runs. Razor manufacturers offered endorsements if he would shave it, which he refused.
Among his charitable and humanitarian efforts, McDonald is best known for his participation with the Special Olympics
Special Olympics
Special Olympics is the world's largest sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, providing year-round training and competitions to more than 3.1 million athletes in 175 countries....
. He first became involved with the organization in 1974 when the Maple Leafs asked him to represent the team at the Special Olympics Summer Games. The event began a decades long association for McDonald. He was the honourary coach of the 1986 Special Olympics Summer Games in Calgary, and served as a head coach for the Canadian Special Olympics floor hockey team. In 1988, McDonald's contributions to the Special Olympics as a coach and co-chairman of the organization's fundraising efforts, as well as his work with the Alberta Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, were recognized by the NHL as he was named the inaugural recipient of the King Clancy Memorial Trophy
King Clancy Memorial Trophy
The King Clancy Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and who has made a significant humanitarian contribution to his community. Since the award was established in 1988, no player has won it more than...
. The award is given to the hockey player who best exemplifies leadership on the ice with humanitarian contributions off of it. McDonald was previously honoured by the Flames as the first winner of the Ralph T. Scurfield Humanitarian Award in 1987, an award he won again in 1989.
McDonald's autobiography, Lanny, co-written by Steve Simmons
Steve Simmons
Steve Simmons is a journalist with the Toronto Sun and nationally syndicated throughout Sun Media. He has previously worked as a sports columnist for the Calgary Herald, Calgary Sun, London Free Press, Globe and Mail and The Hockey News....
, was published in 1987. A Canadian best-seller, it was an unexpected success for publisher McGraw-Hill
McGraw-Hill
The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., is a publicly traded corporation headquartered in Rockefeller Center in New York City. Its primary areas of business are financial, education, publishing, broadcasting, and business services...
. The book sold 10,000 copies in its first couple months of publication, for which the publisher made a donation of $10,000 to Special Olympics. In 2008, he was given an honourary doctorate from the University of Calgary
University of Calgary
The University of Calgary is a public research university located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1966 the U of C is composed of 14 faculties and more than 85 research institutes and centres.More than 25,000 undergraduate and 5,500 graduate students are currently...
.
Regular season and playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... |
A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... |
Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one... |
PIM Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1969–70 | Lethbridge Sugar Kings | AJHL Alberta Junior Hockey League The Alberta Junior Hockey League is an Alberta-based Junior A hockey league that belongs to the Canadian Junior Hockey League . It was formed as a five-team league in 1964. There are currently 16 teams in the league. The regular season league champions receive the Dave Duchak Trophy... |
34 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 19 | |||||||
| 1970–71 | Lethbridge Sugar Kings | AJHL | 45 | 37 | 45 | 82 | 56 | |||||||
| 1970–71 | Calgary Centennials Calgary Centennials Calgary Buffaloes redirects here. For the former Alberta Junior Hockey League team of the same name, see Calgary Buffaloes The Calgary Centennials were a junior ice hockey team that played in the Western Canada Hockey League from 1966–1977... |
WCHL Western Hockey League The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada... |
6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1971–72 | Medicine Hat Tigers Medicine Hat Tigers The Medicine Hat Tigers are a junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League who play out of Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada. Established in 1970, the team has won two national Memorial Cups, five WHL League Championships and seven Division Titles. The Tigers play at the Medicine Hat Arena.... |
WCHL | 68 | 50 | 64 | 114 | 54 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1972–73 | Medicine Hat Tigers | WCHL | 68 | 62 | 77 | 139 | 84 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1973–74 | Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL National Hockey League The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States... |
70 | 14 | 16 | 30 | 43 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1974–75 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 64 | 17 | 27 | 44 | 86 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 1975–76 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 75 | 37 | 56 | 93 | 70 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 4 | ||
| 1976–77 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 80 | 46 | 44 | 90 | 77 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 17 | 6 | ||
| 1977–78 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 74 | 47 | 40 | 87 | 54 | 13 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 10 | ||
| 1978–79 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 79 | 43 | 42 | 85 | 32 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 | ||
| 1979–80 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 35 | 15 | 15 | 30 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1979–80 | Colorado Rockies Colorado Rockies (NHL) The Colorado Rockies were an American professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League that played in Denver, Colorado, from 1976 to 1982. They were a relocation of the Kansas City Scouts, a 1974 expansion team. The franchise moved to East Rutherford, New Jersey, in 1982 and was... |
NHL | 46 | 25 | 20 | 45 | 43 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1980–81 | Colorado Rockies | NHL | 80 | 35 | 46 | 81 | 56 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1981–82 | Colorado Rockies | NHL | 16 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1981–82 | Calgary Flames Calgary Flames The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the... |
NHL | 55 | 34 | 33 | 67 | 37 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | ||
| 1982–83 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 80 | 66 | 32 | 98 | 90 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 19 | ||
| 1983–84 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 65 | 33 | 33 | 66 | 64 | 11 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 6 | ||
| 1984–85 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 43 | 19 | 18 | 37 | 36 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1985–86 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 80 | 28 | 43 | 71 | 44 | 22 | 11 | 7 | 18 | 30 | ||
| 1986–87 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 58 | 14 | 12 | 26 | 54 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 1987–88 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 60 | 10 | 13 | 23 | 57 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 6 | ||
| 1988–89 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 51 | 11 | 7 | 18 | 26 | 14 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 29 | ||
| NHL totals | 1111 | 500 | 506 | 1006 | 899 | 117 | 44 | 40 | 84 | 120 | ||||
International play
| Year | Team | Event | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | Team result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 1976 Canada Cup The 1976 Canada Cup was an international ice hockey tournament held September 2–15, 1976, in Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, Winnipeg and Quebec, Canada as well as in Philadelphia, United States. It was the first of five Canada Cup tournaments held between 1976 and 1991... |
Canada | CC Canada Cup The Canada Cup refers to several types of professional sporting events held in Canada: It is also the previous name of the World Cup of Golf and the World Cup of Hockey.* Canada Cup for men's professional ice hockey* Canada Cup... |
5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | Champions |
| 1979 1979 Challenge Cup The 1979 Challenge Cup was an international ice hockey series of games between the Soviet national ice hockey team and a team of all-stars from the National Hockey League, held in New York City. It replaced the NHL's all-star festivities for the 1978–79 NHL season.The Challenge Cup, unlike its... |
NHL All-Stars | Exhib | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | Lost series |
| 1981 1981 World Ice Hockey Championships The 1981 Ice Hockey World Championships took place at the Scandinavium arena in Gothenburg, Sweden from 12 April to the 26 April. Eight teams took part, firstly splitting into two groups of two, with the best two from each group advancing to the final group. These teams then play each other in the... |
Canada | WC Ice Hockey World Championships The Ice Hockey World Championships are an annual ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation . First officially held at the 1920 Summer Olympics, it is the sport's highest profile annual international tournament. The IIHF was created in 1908 while the European... |
8 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 4 | Fourth place |
| Totals | 16 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 6 | |||
Awards and honours
| Award | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Junior | ||
| AJHL Alberta Junior Hockey League The Alberta Junior Hockey League is an Alberta-based Junior A hockey league that belongs to the Canadian Junior Hockey League . It was formed as a five-team league in 1964. There are currently 16 teams in the league. The regular season league champions receive the Dave Duchak Trophy... Most Valuable Player |
1970–71 | |
| AJHL Second All-Star Team | 1970–71 | |
| WCHL Western Hockey League The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada... First All-Star Team |
1972–73 | |
| National Hockey League National Hockey League The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States... |
||
| Second Team All-Star NHL All-Star Team The NHL All-Star Teams were first named at the end of the 1930–31 NHL season, to honor the best performers over the season at each position.Representatives of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association vote for the All-Star Team at the end of the regular season.The career leaders in citations are... |
1976–77 1982–83 |
|
| Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy The Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey. The winner is selected by a poll of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association after each team nominates one... |
1982–83 | |
| King Clancy Memorial Trophy King Clancy Memorial Trophy The King Clancy Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and who has made a significant humanitarian contribution to his community. Since the award was established in 1988, no player has won it more than... |
1987–88 | |
| Budweiser NHL Man of the Year Award Budweiser NHL Man of the Year Award The Budweiser NHL Man of the Year Award was sponsored by Anheuser-Busch to award an National Hockey League player based on his sportsmanship and involvement with charitable groups. Every NHL team nominates a player and the winner would be chosen by a panel of judges at the start of the Stanley Cup... |
1988–89 | |
| Colorado Rockies | ||
| Colorado State Athlete of the Year | 1980 | |
| Calgary Flames team awards | ||
| Molson Cup Molson Cup The Molson Cup is an award presented to a distinguished player on Canadian ice hockey teams. After each game, the "three game stars" are selected, usually by a member of the media. At the end of the season, the player with the most three-star honours is presented with the Molson Cup... |
1982–83 | |
| Ralph T. Scurfield Humanitarian Award | 1986–87 1986–87 Calgary Flames season The 1986–87 Calgary Flames season was the seventh National Hockey League season in Calgary and 15th for the Flames franchise. The Flames posted their best record in franchise history to that time, as Calgary's 95 points was the third best total in the league... 1988–89 1988–89 Calgary Flames season The 1988–89 Calgary Flames season was the 9th season for the Calgary Flames and 16th for the Flames franchise in the National Hockey League . They won their second consecutive Presidents' Trophy as the NHL's top regular season club and went on to win the first Stanley Cup championship in franchise... |
|