RALEIGH, N.C. — There’s been a lot of talk about Kyle McClain’s local ties, but he might feel more at home here in the Carolinas because his father, John, was a Devils great.
Yes, Kyle MacLean was born in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, and John MacLean spent some time on the Devils’ staff, even though he played his last game for the Devils in 1999, before Kyle was born.
However, Kyle’s 14U AAA team happened to be the Carolina Junior Hurricanes. And one of the coaches he worked with happened to be Rod Brind’Amour.
“He played with [my son] Schuyler,” Brind’Amour said Sunday. “I coached him. He used to train here with Skylar every summer. He’s been doing that for years. We’re definitely good friends in the summer. Not so much now.”
When Kyle McClain was between 12 and 15 years old, John worked on the Hurricanes’ staff. So the goal he scored in Saturday’s first game, which the Islanders ultimately lost 3-1, had an added bonus. It was the second time in a week that he had finished in the building he had access to as a child, the first being the Prudential game. center.
“My dad coached here, so obviously I watched a lot of games here,” Kyle MacLean said. “He has two buildings, which is kind of funny. I watched a lot of games here when he was coaching the Hurricanes.”
With McClain becoming an everyday player and a key part of the midfield for the Islanders, his former coach has also gained attention and McClain will have to strategize around him. .
“I hated seeing how he got us.” [Saturday] It’s night,” Brind’Amour said. “I saw how hard he works. Everything he’s doing now is something he’s earned. It’s fun to watch. Obviously I’ve known him for years. There is a connection.”
Islanders coach Patrick Roy wouldn’t say whether Jean-Gabriel Pageau would be back in action for Monday’s second game, but he sounded optimistic about that possibility.
“It’s still day to day,” Roy said. “It’s certainly a good chance for him to play.” [Monday]”
Even if that wasn’t the case, Roy sounded happy with Simon Holmström playing center on Saturday, even though the Swede won only one of the five faceoffs. .
“He was puck-heavy. I thought he did really well in the centerman position,” Roy said. “It wasn’t easy for him, but I thought he was a very reliable person. Obviously he was playing [Cal Clutterbuck] and [Matt Martin], We have two really solid veterans. But I thought he did a really good job. ”
