MacLean, 41, returns for his second season as an assistant coach with the Crunch in 2024-25 after helping the team to a 39-24-4- 5 record in 2023-24. Responsible for forwards and the power play, MacLean’s unit finished with a 19.4% success rate with the man advantage, the team’s best since 2020-21. 

He spent the previous eight seasons with the Toronto Marlies as an assistant coach. In his eight seasons with the Marlies, the team captured three North Division championships (2015-16, 2017-18 and 2022-23) and won 2018 Calder Cup. They twice finished the regular season with the AHL’s best record (2015-16 and 2017-18). MacLean served 12 games as co-head coach of the Marlies, guiding the team to a 7-5-0-0 record. 

The Antigonish, Nova Scotia native previously spent two seasons as an assistant coach with the OHL’s Soo Greyhounds as the team won back-to-back division titles. 

As a player, MacLean played just shy of 500 pro games in the IHL, ECHL, CHL, UHL and EIHL from 2004 to 2013. North American stops included Quad City, Dayton, Oklahoma City, Pensicola and Arizona. He finished his playing career with three seasons in Scotland with the Dundee Stars; he served as team captain and as a player/assistant coach in 2011-12 and 2012-13 before he retired. 

MacLean is the son of former NHL Head Coach Paul MacLean. His brother, David, is a pro scout for the Minnesota Wild.