Former NHL All-Star Lowell MacDonald recently passed away at age 84. MacDonald played professional hockey for nearly two decades with the Detroit Red Wings, LA Kings, and Pittsburgh Penguins. In 1973 while scoring 75 points for the Pittsburgh Penguins he was awarded the Bill Masterton Trophy.

After success as an NHL player, Lowell MacDonald began a career leading hockey at University School of Milwaukee. MacDonald was instrumental in turning USM into a Wisconsin high school hockey powerhouse.

Lowell MacDonald coached at USM from 1980 to 1997, winning two state championships. Coach MacDonald’s son, Lane, played for USM and then became the first player from Wisconsin to win the Hobey Baker Award. Lane won the Hobey Baker Award in 1989 after leading Harvard as team captain to the NCAA Championship.

Lowell MacDonald was also influential in developing coaches. Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame coach, Cal Roadhouse, got his start in coaching because of Lowell MacDonald.

“We lost a pillar of the hockey community. He was the best person. He was a gentleman. He never swore. He was an ambassador of the game. I got started in coaching because of Lowell…He came to me and said the hours are long, the pay is low, and some of the parents are difficult. He was a real salesman! After my first game coaching I was hooked!” Cal Roadhouse, former USM Coach

“It was an honor to play for Lowell. I felt I had an advantage because he was our coach. He taught us how to play the game the right way, and that started with skating, we skated a lot. We all joke about walking by the puck bag on our way to the ice hoping he would bring it with him as he entered the rink. Many times it stayed in the locker room.” Skip McGregor USM Class of 1988

Coach Lowell MacDonald was awarded the 2025 John Mariucci Award given by the American Hockey Coaches Association to a high school coach that exemplifies the spirit, dedication and enthusiasm of John Mariucci.

Lowell MacDonald made an indelible mark on hockey in Wisconsin. Condolences to Lowell MacDonald’s family.

Yours for hockey,

Matt Carey