KIRK McLEAN
‘Captain Kirk’ is one of the most popular hockey players to ever play with the NHL’s
Vancouver Canucks.
McLean was born June 26, 1966 in Scarborough, Ontario and played for four other National
Hockey League teams during his 17 year professional career: including the New Jersey Devils,
Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers and New York Rangers. McLean played his junior hockey
in the Ontario Hockey League with the Oshawa Generals before being drafted by New Jersey.
Throughout his career, McLean was recognized as a respected player on and off the ice and
helped lead the Vancouver Canucks through the 1994 Stanley Cup playoffs, coming within one
game of winning the Cup. McLean retired at the end of the 2000/2001 season, but returned to
the game a few years later as goalie coach for the Western Hockey League Kamloops Blazers –
followed later by his appointment as goalie coach for the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche. On
November 25, 2010 McLean was honored by the Vancouver Canucks as only the second
inductee in the Canucks’ RING OF HONOUR. Today, McLean lives in Vancouver where he’s
an active member of the Vancouver Canuck Alumni – lending his time to numerous community
events. In September, 2011 his contributions
to the game of hockey were once more recognized by the Vancouver Canucks and their Alumni
organization, when he received the distinguished Jake Milford Award, as recognition for his lifelong service and recognition.