Parker MacDonald (1933-2017)

Parker MacDonald, an American Hockey League All-Star winger who later won the league’s coach of the year honors, passed away Thursday.

He was 84.

MacDonald played 349 games in the AHL during his 16-year professional playing career, collecting 151 goals and 152 assists for 304 points. He won two Calder Cup championships — with the Springfield Indians in 1960 and the Pittsburgh Hornets in 1967 — and was voted a Second Team AHL All-Star in 1956 and 1960.

MacDonald moved behind the bench after his retirement and coached the Cleveland Barons in 1970-71 before guiding the New Haven Nighthawks for parts of seven seasons, earning a career record of 267-222-73 (.540).

Under MacDonald, who earned the Louis A.R. Pieri Award as the AHL’s outstanding coach in 1978-79, New Haven won two division titles and reached the Calder Cup Finals twice.

A native of Sydney, N.S., MacDonald also played 676 games in the National Hockey League, and later served as head coach with the Minnesota North Stars and Los Angeles Kings.