The Adirondack Thunder organization is saddened to learn about the passing of Barry Melrose.
Melrose’s name is hard to miss throughout Adirondack hockey history. After five seasons in the NHL with Winnipeg and Toronto, Melrose began the 1983-84 season in Detroit before making his Adirondack debut on January 7, 1984 against the Sherbrooke Jets. He spent parts of four seasons on the blue line with Adirondack, playing over 200 games for the Wings. He was on the Calder Cup-winning roster in 1986, though he missed the playoffs due to a late season injury.
After retiring as a player in 1987, Melrose began coaching. His debut campaign in the WHL was a success, coaching the Medicine Hat Tigers to a Memorial Cup championship in 1988. In July 1989, Melrose was brought back home to Glens Falls, being named head coach of the Adirondack Red Wings under the guidance of Bill Dineen. In his third season behind the bench, Melrose guided the Wings to the final once again and secured the franchise’s fourth Calder Cup in 1992. It remains one of the only seven-game series in professional sports to have the road team win every game.
“Barry was a larger-than-life personality with a presence to match," said Thunder Head Coach Sylvain Cloutier. "Between his incredible stories, his unmatched passion for hockey and his devotion to the Adirondack community, he was truly one of a kind. Playing for Barry with the Adirondack Frostbite was an incredible honor, and as an owner, the way he cared for his players and our families meant so much to all of us. He left an incredible mark on this community and on everyone fortunate enough to know him. He will be deeply missed.”
Melrose went on to coach the Los Angeles Kings in the NHL, making the Stanley Cup final in his first year. In 1995, Melrose became a full-time broadcaster with ESPN doing color commentary and studio analysis for the remainder of his career. In 2004, Melrose was part of a joint venture to purchase the Adirondack IceHawks of the UHL. He, along with Steve Levy and other investors, purchased the team and rebranded them into the Adirondack Frostbite. They played two seasons in Glens Falls before ceasing operations in 2006.
From playing to coaching, then owning and managing down the road, Melrose’s effect couldn’t be missed in Adirondack. Our thoughts are with his teammates, players, friends, and the Melrose family during this time.
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