In mid-March, during a game between the Islanders and the Senators, Kyle MacLean sought out Bob Jones. It had been some time since MacLean had last spoken with his former junior coach—though they had exchanged occasional texts, it hadn’t been much.
After going undrafted while playing for the OHL’s Oshawa Generals, MacLean was now with the Islanders and experiencing some success. This would have been a great opportunity for MacLean to reminisce with Jones, who was an assistant coach with the Senators. Unfortunately, MacLean couldn’t find Jones, who had passed away in August at the age of 54 due to ALS. Although Jones continued to serve on Ottawa’s coaching staff after his diagnosis in December 2022, he had reduced his responsibilities during the final months of last season.
MacLean didn’t have the opportunity to see him that night. “I wish I had kept in touch with him more,” MacLean said in an interview with The Post. “We exchanged a few texts and phone calls now and then. Jonesy was a great coach.” During Thursday night’s game in Ottawa, which was MacLean’s first as an NHL player, memories of the coach who guided him in his junior years came to mind. “I played for him when I was 16 and 17,” MacLean recalled.
That’s a crucial time in your development. He was my coach for my first three years and taught me a lot about improving my game, helping me learn how to play defensively and work on the penalty kill, among other things. “When you’re young, having someone like that is important. I always felt like he was in my corner, looking out for me and supporting my career.”
Although Jones faced some health issues unrelated to ALS that kept him away from the team during parts of MacLean’s third season, the two had a shared experience from 2015 to 2018 in Oshawa. During that time, MacLean progressed from a 16-year-old vying for playing time to becoming one of the team’s assistant captains. Junior hockey can be a challenging environment, often resembling a social experiment that may not go as planned—and there have certainly been times when it has gone awry. Bringing together a group of teenagers to live with billet families while expecting them to function like full-time hockey players presents a unique set of challenges. Jones, who spent the majority of his career in the OHL—mainly with the Soo Greyhounds, Sudbury Wolves, and Windsor Spitfires before joining Oshawa—was well-prepared to help guide his players through those difficulties.
“After a loss or something, he’d come into the theater or video room and start with a joke to help lighten the mood,” MacLean recalled. “He was a tough coach and could definitely be intimidating at times, but it was great to see that lighter side of him, as it really helped keep the team united.” When news of Jones’ diagnosis was made public in January 2023, it sent shockwaves through the hockey community. The Senators honored him by wearing helmet decals, and Jones spoke out about ALS to raise awareness about the disease.
“It happened to me, and it’s an awful disease,” Jones said during a sit-down interview with Sportsnet at that time. “But we’re raising awareness, and I believe we’ll find a cure someday. We just need to stay positive… We must work toward finding a cure.”
MacLean never had the opportunity to celebrate his unexpected arrival in the Islanders lineup, his newly signed NHL contract, or his impressive playoff performance last season alongside Jones. However, he recognizes the connection between his early years in junior hockey and his current success, crediting Jones for helping to shape that path. “He was an excellent coach,” MacLean remarked. “He was instrumental in my development, so I definitely keep him in my thoughts.”
Leave a Reply