Brett MacLean

Did You Know?

• On July 2, 2012, MacLean suffered a cardiac emergency while playing hockey with friends in Owen Sound, Ontario.
• He was revived using cardiopulmonary resuscitation and a defibrillator.
• He subsequently had a defibrillator implanted and was forced to retire from hockey.

Playing career

Brett MacLean started playing minor hockey in his hometown of Port Elgin, Ontario, and later suited up for the Grey-Bruce Highlanders AAA in the OMHA. He helped the Highlanders reach an OHL Cup Semi-Final in 2004, which led to him being taken 11th overall in the first round of that year’s OHL Draft by the Erie Otters. In the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, the Phoenix Coyotes selected him 32nd overall in the second round; he came out of the OHL, where he had played for both the Erie Otters and the Oshawa Generals. On April 28, 2008, MacLean signed a two-way contract with the Coyotes and their AHL affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage. He got his first NHL call-up on December 29, 2010, and scored a goal in his first period of NHL action, beating Los Angeles Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick. The Coyotes placed MacLean on waivers on October 5, 2011, and the Winnipeg Jets claimed him. Later that month, on October 28, 2011, he was waived again and reclaimed by the Coyotes, who then assigned him to their new AHL affiliate, the Portland Pirates.