Max McCormick will begin his coaching career as an assistant coach at Notre Dame de la Baie Academy, where he played high school hockey before moving on to the United States Hockey League and Ohio State University.
The former Coachella Valley Firebirds captain announced his retirement in June after missing the entire 2025-26 season following surgery for hip issues that had affected much of the latter part of his 12-season professional career.
“I need to stay involved in the game of hockey,” McCormick told TheAHL.com, “one way or another.”
A career ended by hip issues
McCormick underwent a bilateral hip scope in 2021 and later used mobility therapy, stretching and regular maintenance as the problems persisted. He said imaging showed structural breakdown that he had played through for years.
His Jan. 11, 2025, appearance against the Chicago Wolves was the final game of his career. McCormick attended training camp before undergoing hip surgery.
“The decision really came down to my body, just not being able to do it anymore physically,” he said. “I pretty much tried everything that I could do to avoid the surgery and continue to play, and it just wasn’t in the cards.”
More than 600 pro games
A sixth-round Ottawa Senators selection in the 2011 NHL Draft, McCormick played more than 600 professional games, including 94 NHL appearances with Ottawa, Carolina and Seattle.
He recorded 337 points — 159 goals and 178 assists — in the AHL with Binghamton, Belleville, Colorado, Chicago, Charlotte and Coachella Valley. He captained the Firebirds to Calder Cup Finals appearances in 2023 and 2024 and scored a career-high 32 goals in 2023-24.
At Notre Dame de la Baie, McCormick said he wants to help players build discipline, work ethic and good habits.
“[My past coaches] made the effort to try to impact and be there for guys off the ice,” he said. “I think that’s something I want to be able to do, especially working with high-school kids.”