Don MacAdam’s adventures in ice hockey and life
Don MacAdam held the roles of president and head coach with the Lewiston MAINEiacs in the LHJMQ after spending four seasons as co-owner and general manager of the Dayton Bombers in the ECHL. He was also the head coach for the first three years, leading the Bombers to the national final in year three. MacAdam came to Dayton in 2004 after four seasons as head coach and general manager of the Charlotte Checkers. In his first full season in 2000-01, the Checkers were 34-26-12 and reached the Kelly Cup Playoffs, the first winning record and the first postseason appearance since 1997-98 as Charlotte set 11 team records and Scott King was named the ECHL Most Valuable Player.
Prior to joining the Checkers, MacAdam served as a consultant for Canada’s World Championship Team. He was head coach of the Nippon Paper Cranes in the Japan Ice Hockey League from 1996-98, and was associate head coach with Milwaukee in the International Hockey League in 1994-95.
MacAdam was head coach of the Ottawa Senators American Hockey League affiliate from 1992-94, and head coach of the Edmonton Oilers AHL affiliate from 1989-92. He began his professional coaching career as a member of the Detroit Red Wings staff from 1986-89. Don has coached over 1300 regular season professional games, along with a combined 10 seasons at the university and major junior levels, coaching at the University of New Brunswick, and in the OHL and LHJMQ.
A native of Morell, Prince Edward Island, MacAdam played four seasons of professional hockey, two in North America and two in Europe. Don earned a Bachelor of Physical Education degree while playing collegiate hockey at the University of New Brunswick. He has won a coach of the year award at the university level, a Stanley Cup ring as a member of the Edmonton Oilers organization, a championship in Japan and was selected as one of the “50 Most Interesting People in Charlotte” by Charlotte Magazine.
MacAdam has a master’s degree in physical education with a concentration in sports administration. In September of 2006, MacAdam was inducted into the Prince Edward Island Sports Hall of Fame.
“Coaching Hockey for Dummies”, the sixth book MacAdam has co-authored, was published in August 2006.
In early December, 2009, a number of former players at the University of New Brunswick established the ‘Don MacAdam Hockey Scholarship’, awarded annually to a player demonstrating dedication to training and leadership.
Today Don continues his adventures in hockey as a player agent and family adviser. He can be reached by email at [email protected]