There are all kinds of moments and memories that stand out from the Owen Sound Attack’s run to an Ontario Hockey League Championship in 2011.
A double shot of nostalgia was triggered last week when Paul MacLean was fired by the Ottawa Senators of the NHL and replaced by assistant coach Dave Cameron.
Obviously, the Cameron connection is to the St Mike’s Majors who opposed the Attack in the Championship series and was a central character in the drama as the series unfolded.
As for MacLean, before joining the coaching ranks, he was a gifted scorer who broke into pro hockey in 1980 with the Salt Lake City Golden Eagles.
Among his teammates on the Golden Eagles was Mark Reeds.
Thirty years later, at a restaurant in suburban Detroit, Reeds who was coaching the Attack contacted his old teammate MacLean who was on the Red Wings staff and following a team dinner between games in the series with Plymouth, Paul MacLean spoke to the Attack players.
Paul MacLean didn’t talk long. He certainly didn’t talk loud. There was no ” rah-rah go-get-’em ” speech.
Instead, in his natural speaking voice, Paul MacLean simply explained to the Attack that the time was now and the opportunity for all of them was right there in front of them.
Dave Cameron played the role of a villain in the 2011 playoffs, almost to perfection.
Among the heroes in the background was the calm direction from Paul MacLean.
I’m Fred Wallace