Dean McAmmond was a celebrated member of the Prince Albert Raiders for four seasons. (submitted photo/Prince Albert Raiders)

By Rob Mahon

McAmmond Returns

Longtime Raider, NHL veteran McAmmond returns to Prince Albert 30 years after junior career

Mar 13, 2023 | 12:00 PM

For 217 games over the course of four seasons, Dean McAmmond was an exemplar of what Raiders hockey meant for the people of Prince Albert. Over the weekend, he returned to the city that jumpstarted his ascension to the NHL.

Already in Saskatchewan for a celebration of the Swift Current Broncos 92-93 championship team (a team he was traded to from the Raiders midway through the season), McAmmond made a point of returning to Prince Albert to see the old rink and visit with the Ring family, who had been his billets.

“It’s pretty cool to be back,” McAmmond said. “It’s been 30 years since I left. The city is changing a little bit here and there, but coming into this old barn, it’s been restored a little bit, but it’s really comforting. I’m proud. I’m proud to be back here.”

McAmmond’s NHL experience ranks among the most extensive of all Raiders alumni. Over 996 games in the regular season and 46 playoff games (including three trips to the Stanley Cup Finals) he gained the kind of wisdom you only get through a long career, and before the game against the Saskatoon Blades on Saturday night, he shared some of it with the Raiders.

“When I was in Calgary, there were some things I learned about how to be a pro, little key things,” said McAmmond. “Darryl Sutter used to say you can’t win every game, but you can go out and expect to win every game. Little things that helped me address situations like when you’re going up against a team like Saskatoon, super deep and talented with lots of drafted players… we adopted win-your-shift. You don’t have to play the whole team at once, just five guys at once.”

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With such an extensive resume under his belt, one might think coaching would suit McAmmond. For his own reasons, however, he’s not dived too deeply into that field.

“Sometimes I think about it,” McAmmond said. “I coached a little Junior B out west in B.C. I didn’t mind it, but I’m not passionate about it. If you’re going to do coaching, you’re going to have to be passionate about it.”

The return to Prince Albert was not just a chance to see the city and how it had changed. It was also a chance to reconnect with the Ring family, who took him in when he came to Prince Albert at 16.

“You guys are still quite special to me because you’re that extension of a family,” McAmmond said to Martin Ring during the broadcast of the game. “Being at the house, I’m 16 and they’re my billet parents. It’s a growing thing and you feel like an extension of the family. So, when I went to Swift Current for their gala, I thought I have to come and see the Rings.”

Ring teased McAmmond a little bit about playing 996 games in the NHL and falling ever so slightly short of the 1,000 game mark. But his impact in the NHL was clearly felt. He was invited back to a ceremony in Edmonton with the Oilers for the last games at their old arena, and then invited back to Calgary for Jarome Iginla’s retirement.

“Iggy’s retirement, being able to be on the ice for that was quite, quite special,” McAmmond said. “For him to say he wanted me to come down and be on the ice, I was super pumped. And of course, being in Edmonton for six years, watching them lowering the banners after the last game.”

McAmmond last played in the NHL in 2009-10 as a member of the New Jersey Devils.

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rob.mahon@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RobMahonPxP