Following the 2013-2014 season, Steve MacIntyre retired; well that was until Ducks GM Bob Murray contacted him and asked him to sign an AHL Standard Players Contract with their affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals. MacIntyre at 34-years of age was preaching effort and intensity to his son’s football team, the two things he didn’t have in his game anymore. Apparently he has found those two things again in Norfolk.
“When I coaching those kids all I wanted was effort and intensity and if you’re going to do something do it the best you can and the hardest you can. I got to thinking about it. I’m preaching this to my young guy and realized I had to get that back and play with a little bit more edge to my game. I’m so excited to be part of this organization. We have a really good mix here. I’m taking it one day at a time and one shift at a time. If this is going to be my last year, I want to leave an impression and give it all I’ve got,” noted MacIntyre on his new found drive to play again.
MacIntyre was a staple in Edmonton for parts of three seasons. Oddly enough it was his favorite team growing up. The 6’5” left-handed shot talked about his first time in Edmonton with enthusiasm saying, “I remember it like it was yesterday. Greg MacTavish and Steve Tambellini were in Philly and I just happened to fight Riley Cote who was an old teammate of mine and right after they told me to find a place. It never really hit me until I was on the plane and once I was headed back home. I wasn’t relaxed, but I remember thinking I can’t believe this is happening. I’ve been dreaming about this since I was a little kid.”
In addition to Edmonton, “Mac” is noted for his tenure in the Pittsburgh Penguins organization. He recalled his first practice with Pittsburgh, “My very first day I’ll never forget it. I get out there and when I signed it hit me that I’ll get a chance to play with ‘Sid’ (Sidney Crosby), ‘Geno’(Evgeni Malkin) and some of the best players in the world. The very first day I was fumbling passes and tripping because it was such a cool experience for me and I kind of got caught up in it.”
With having so many duels to his credit, MacIntyre looked back on his most memorable fight in the NHL against former Admiral Jim Vandermeer. MacIntyre spoke of the fight saying, “My very first game played in Edmonton, we were playing the Calgary Flames and it was the Battle of Alberta so I was absolutely on fire. Jimmy and I had a little bit of history before. He speed bagged me in juniors and in the back of my mind it was ten-years previous and I always wanted to get him back for that one. I remember looking down and seeing the Oilers crest on my jersey and fighting in the Saddledome and it being a purposeful fight and sticking up for my teammates. You couldn’t ask for a tougher guy. Then the next year Jimmy and I became teammates in Edmonton.”
At 34 MacIntyre is the oldest player on the Admirals roster and puts a bug in his younger teammates ear about how the
rookies put a little pep in his step saying, “I love hanging out with the young guys. It rejuvenates me being that I’m an older guy. It’s fun. I take it in stride.”
MacIntyre also tells his teammates,” It just seems like yesterday I started and I was in your shoes. Hockey is such a privilege, it’s not a right. You earn your chances and you earn your opportunities.”
While MacIntyre may not be called upon to score goals, he will be called upon to keep morale up in the locker room and provide on ice security for the younger players. MacIntyre is a true professional.
