SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — There is little doubt the late Ron Caron would have soaked up the St. Louis Blues’ run to the 2019 Stanley Cup final.
Caron was general manager of the Blues from 1983 to 1994 and Summerside native Doug MacLean spent two years with him as an assistant coach on Jacques Martin’s staff from 1986 to 1988.
There is one thing in particular MacLean learned very quickly about Caron – he was passionate about his team.
“Ron Caron had a temper like I have never seen,” said a laughing MacLean. “People thought I was crazy, but he was crazy.”
Click here for story on Doug MacLean reflecting on his two years with the St. Louis Blues:
MacLean recalled a story one night he was in the press box. Caron sent instructions that if a certain player saw the ice in the third period both MacLean and Martin would be fired after the game.
“Ron used to phone down between periods telling us who to play and we wouldn’t answer the phone,” continued a chuckling MacLean. “The maintenance guy the next day was telling me Ron said his phone wasn’t working up in his suite, so the maintenance guy goes up and the phone is in a thousand pieces on the floor.
“That’s what it was like in St. Louis. We had some great, great times and I have some fond, fond memories of the fan base and the whole group. It was a real fun time.”
Click here for story on former St. Louis Blue player Bobby MacMillan:
MacLean said he was especially happy for original Blue Bobby Plager, who is now a team ambassador. Plager was also an assistant on Martin’s coaching during MacLean tenure in St. Louis.
“We were in Winnipeg one night,” said MacLean, who joined the Blues after coaching UNB. “I was in the press box sitting with Ron and he’s screaming, hollering and yelling that he’s going to fire me after the game and he’s going to hire Bob Gainey because he always talked about the Montreal Canadiens.
“I go down to the dressing room and Bobby and Jacques are in the room and I said, ‘Guys, seriously, I can’t take this guy anymore. I’m going back to coach college hockey.
“Bobby looked at me and said, ‘Have a cigarette.’
“I said, ‘I don’t smoke’ and Bobby says, ‘I didn’t either, until I sat with Ron in the press box.’
“Bobby Plager and I go way back and (his brother) Barclay was with us. Barclay actually died my second year in St. Louis. It was great his wife was there (for the Blues’ series-clinching win in the Western Conference final).”
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