Overview

Emmanuel Hall Roberts McLean, widely known as "Motto" McLean, was a Scottish-born Canadian professional ice hockey player whose career spanned several clubs and leagues in North America. Born on December 26, 1925, he became part of the mid-20th-century hockey community that bridged Canadian and American professional circuits.

Playing career

McLean played for a number of teams at the professional and senior levels. His career included time with clubs in both the United States and Canada, competing against many of the era's notable minor-league organizations. Records identify him with teams that were important stepping stones in the development of professional hockey outside the National Hockey League.

Teams and leagues

  • Omaha Knights
  • Fort Worth Rangers
  • St. Louis Flyers (American Hockey League)
  • New Westminster Royals
  • Vancouver Canucks (pre-NHL era)

These clubs were part of leagues such as the American Hockey League and the western professional circuits that supplied talent and sustained fan interest in North America before and during the expansion of the NHL.

Recognition and contributions

Decades after his playing days, McLean received the Wm. Thayer Tutt Award from USA Hockey in 2002. The award honors individuals who have made lasting contributions to the growth and development of the sport, particularly through service, leadership, or volunteer efforts. Receiving this award indicates McLean's involvement in hockey extended beyond his time on the ice.

Personal life and death

McLean was born in Dalmeny, Scotland, and is identified in historical records as a Scottish-born Canadian athlete. His life encompassed relocation and a career spent largely in North America. He died in Omaha, Nebraska, on July 10, 2019, at the age of 93; his passing was noted by communities connected to the teams he represented and the hockey organizations he served.

Legacy and notable facts

Motto McLean represents a generation of players whose careers helped sustain professional hockey outside the NHL and who later contributed to the sport's organization and promotion. His receipt of the Wm. Thayer Tutt Award highlights a legacy of service as well as competition. For further context on teams and leagues of his era, see the St. Louis Flyers and related minor-league histories, and local histories of Dalmeny and Omaha where he was born and later died: Dalmeny, Omaha.