Cail MacLean announces retirement
Posted 09:57 a.m., May 29, 2008
South Carolina Stingrays captain Cail MacLean will announce his retirement from professional hockey later today.
Now, I’d like to tell you that I heard about this from some “anonymous” source or from “someone inside the organization” but truth be told, Cail told me this a while ago. Back in late February I was talking to him about what he was going to do this summer and the subject of his retirement came up.
He said it took a lot of energy just to play this season and he didn’t see himself back on the ice next year.
After losing to Cincinnati in Game 5, Cail confirmed that he was going to hang up his skates. He wanted me to wait until he’d had a chance to sit down and talk with Stingrays coach Jared Bednar and team President Darren Abbott before putting anything out there officially.
Just a quick recap of his pro career, which started back in 1997 with the Jacksonville Lizard Kings in the ECHL. Cail played in 169 games for the Rays with 63 goals and 74 assists for 137 points in three seasons. If I’ve done my math correctly (And I’m sure some of you knuckleheads out there will correct me if I’m wrong) his 169 games with the Rays were most he spent with any one team during his 11-year career. In 474 games in the ECHL, Cail had 224 goals, which ranks 16th all-time in goal scoring in league history, 215 assists for 439 points. (To put that into perspective, Cail has more goals in the ECHL than Dave Seitz did with 217).
He played in 273 games in the IHL and AHL. He had 42 goals and 43 assists at that level. In 747 professional games, Cail had 266 goals and 258 assists for 524 points. His leadership skills were second to none as he was captain of three different teams – the Rays, Trenton and Reading.
I’m not going to go into what I think about Cail right now. I think most of you know my opinion of Cail, but suffice is to say that if there were more Cail MacLeans out there, the world, not just the hockey world, would be a better place.
He will definitely be missed by the Rays organization, the members of the media and mostly, by his teammates.
See you at the Rink,
APM
Comments
Posted by lou9 on May 29 at 10:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think you summed it up really well Andrew. Cail was an inspiration in both his play and leadership. The fact that he was captain on three differnt teams speaks volumes. I would hope that the Stingrays organization could find a place for him and continue to benefit from his leadership.
Thanks, Cail, it's been great having you as part of the team. You are definitely a hall of famer in my book.
Posted by RaysFan34 on May 29 at 11:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't think there is a nicer guy in hockey than Cail MacLean and what a great addition he has been for our community. He has spent countless hours during the off season working with our local youth hockey players both on and off the ice to help them improve their game, and the hours of community service he has donated in his few short years here is noteworthy. I am glad that I have had a chance to meet this young man and to get to know him (and yes, in my world, he is young!). It is not often you meet such a nice person, and whether he remains here in Charleston or not, the Charleston community is a better place because he is/was here.
Thanks for the great memories Cail ... and thank you for being such a valued part of our team and our community.
Posted by Hockeyfan2629 on May 29 at 12:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks Cail best of luck with what ever you deceide to do next! I hope they can find him something to stay involve with the team. Best Wishes!
Posted by stingrays01 on May 29 at 4:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks for everything you did on and off the ice for the Stingrays Cail.
Looking at last seasons roster and trying to think of who could take over as Captain if someone from last seasons team was to take over... I'm thinking Nate Kiser is the likely choice.
Posted by RaysRsharp on May 30 at 7:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Personally, I'd rather see just about anyone (besides Nate) be our captain. He has talents, but having mettings with refs isn't one of them. Besides...... he's already getting too civilized IMO.
Posted by aubietiger on May 30 at 10:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
IMO Nate is a fantastic leader. He has been displaying his leadership skills all season. He would be the perfect choice to replace Cail.
Posted by skeeter17 on May 30 at 11:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
First, let me say thanks to Cail for the wonderful leadership you provided on & off the ice. I think he would make a great assistant coach behind the bench in preperation of Jared moving up one day. Second, the logical replacement for captain would be Nate but the only problem I have with that is he has moments of complete outrage which I think would hinder his relationships with the referee. I don't think guys with smart mouths or maniac explosive tendencies should be the captain. Leave him as assistant captain.
Posted by RaysFan34 on May 30 at 11:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with RRS. Not because I don't think Nate is a good leader, because I am sure he can be, but to be the Captain, you have to be able to have calm discussions with the officials, and I prefer to see Nate fired up and ticked off when warranted (such as when we were in Cincinnati and he drug a linesman halfway across the ice to help out a teammate). Kinda hard to have civilized discussions with an official when you have just drug one 20 feet down the ice. I would prefer the hot tempered, not gonna put up with any BS Nate Kiser every day and I am concerned we would lose that if we hung a "C" on him.
Posted by hattrik on May 30 at 4:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wearing the "C' is one of the highest honors a player can receive. I think we are not giving Nate enough credit to think that he could not change his outward "persona" when dealing with on-ice officials. The decision will be made by Coach Bednar who will take all facets of a player's personality into consideration. We should also remember that age and experience aren't the only traits to consider. I can't wait to see whom he selects.
Posted by meducare33 on May 30 at 6:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Doesn't the "A" signify "Alternate" Captain instead of Assistant?
Posted by RaysFan34 on May 30 at 7:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You are correct Meducare33.
Posted by RaysRsharp on May 30 at 7:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I've always preferred a captain who has a calm demeanor.
No doubt Nate could tone his personality down..... but
if he did, it would lessen his value to the team IMO.
I didn't like it when Trevor Johnson put on the "C", and
I'd hate to see Nate wearing one.
Posted by stingrays01 on May 30 at 7:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I can totally understand the thoughts against Kiser being Captain. I was just thinking who could be captain from this past seasons team. When you take away the NHL/AHL contract players and the goalies, there’s not a whole lot to choose from.
D - Rory Rawlyk
D - Nate Kiser
D - Scott Romfo
F - Chris Chaput
F - Todd Griffith
F - Pierre-Luc O'Brien
F - Matt Scherer
F - Paul McIlveen
F - Trent Campbell
Who knows, Bedsy may have a certain veteran player that didn’t play with us last season that he wants to bring in to be our captain. Perhaps Ed “I may be old and slow, but I can still score” Courtenay…LOL
Posted by RaysFan34 on May 30 at 7:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Amen RRS. Not to say Marietti or Johnson couldn't get fired up, but when they did, most times they would gather their wits about them before they got into too much trouble. Nate on the other hand well, I would say the odds are 60/40 that Nate drops the gloves on the referee if he gets mad enough ... and that 60 ain't working in the referee's favor. LOL
I think Nate is a terrific person, but if we try to tame the beast, we will lose the beast and our skill guys get the worst end of that deal, for sure. There's a lotta work and effort that goes into that "persona" (and a lot of tattoo ink) ... let's not waste it.
Wonder what Nate thinks about being the Captain?
Posted by stingrays01 on May 31 at 10:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
A fan from the UK is reporting that Davis Parley will be signing with the Nottingham Panthers.
Posted by RaysRsharp on May 31 at 11:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Due to the ECHL's cumulative age rule, we gotta dump all the guys over 24 if we wanna sign Ed. LOL
Posted by hattrik on June 2 at 2:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
One of the nicest tributes to Cail MacLean was given by John Walton, the Hershey Bear's veteran radio announcer, in his May 28th blog "Walton, Wired and Unwired" which can be seen on the Bear's website. Check it out!
Posted by stingrays01 on June 2 at 5:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Not Rays related or even hockey related, but it is something that touched all of us in the tri-county area.
I'm talking about the Sofa Superstore Fire that killed nine brave, heroic and courageous firefighters. ESPN did a real touching piece on Captain Louis Mulkey who was also an assistant basketball and football coach for Summerville.
Summerville Remembers Fallen Coach
http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/vide...
I just thought some may want to see it.
Posted by hattrik on June 3 at 12:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks very much, stingrays01! I missed the Mulkey piece on ESPN and am very glad you published the link.
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