Max Neill: Taking the Road Less Traveled to Professional Hockey

By Amy Winter

There’s no one way to break into professional hockey. Many players take different paths to achieve success in the sport. Bison forward Max Neill is no exception. Starting with the Central Plains Capitals, a triple-A team in Canada, to eventually landing a spot on the 2024-2025 Bloomington Bison roster; Neill has had a unique path to this point. 

The 24-year-old forward was born in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba. His father, Mike Neill, played hockey for five professional seasons and was drafted in the third round of the 1983 NHL Draft by the New York Islanders. With many connections to his father, Max broke into the hockey scene at a young age. 

Neill began playing for the Central Plains Capitals in 2014 and would continue his hockey journey with the team until 2018. In the 2018-19 season, Neill moved onto the Manitoba Junior Hockey League. He played for the Steinbach Pistons for two seasons, skating in 106 games within that timeframe. From there, Neill went from Canada to play in the United States in the North American Hockey League. In the 2020-21 season, he played 46 games with the Johnstown Tomahawks. The following season he played 60 games for the Minnesota Wilderness, totaling 49 points (21 goals and 28 assists).

For the 2022-23 season, Neill made the switch from junior to collegiate hockey. He began his collegiate journey in Missouri with Lindenwood University. After playing 19 games for the Lindenwood Lions, Neill transferred to the University of Waterloo for the upcoming season. 

“I transferred from Lindenwood after the season. It just wasn’t a good fit, so I needed to make a decision between going Division 1 or USport,” Neill commented. “It was a lot cheaper to switch over to USport, and the coaches helped a lot. We went to Europe for preseason so that was a big selling point for me. I knew I wanted to play pro as fast as I could, and I thought it would be easier to go to Waterloo.”

While at the University of Waterloo, Neill played 25 games and tallied 19 points. This concluding his collegiate career as Neill made the decision it was time to go pro. Last season, the Utah Grizzlies added Neill to their roster. After being signed by an ECHL team, Neill had his first taste of what professional hockey had to offer.

“When you switch levels, you’re in a different role every time. So, it’s about creating an identity, knowing what you’re good at and knowing what you’re not strong at. It’s a heavier league and there’s older guys, so owning your identity is the most important thing,” Neill said on his transition to professional hockey. 

Neill was a free agent this season until November 1 when the Bison announced they were signing the forward. Neill joined the Bison, and was ready to help bring success to Bloomington. 

“Dan Larmer, our assistant GM, does a lot of our recruiting and deserves almost all the credit when it comes to Max Neill. He had seen him play when he was younger, followed his career and followed the type of player he was,” General Manager and Head Coach Phillip Barski recalled. He was the one that started up that initial conversation. I have a lot of respect for Max. He ended up getting in the car and driving like 16 straight hours to make sure that he showed up ready to go. He’s a special person.”

Neill played 29 games with the Bison as he faced a lower body injury earlier this season. His injury kept him off the ice for 26 games. Despite this, Neill’s off-ice time with his teammates helped acclimate him to Bloomington. On February 2, Neill made his return to the lineup against the Atlanta Gladiators.

“It was difficult at the start. I didn’t really know anyone on the team… it’s pretty eye-opening, but it’s been good. The guys are really good to me, very welcoming, and made me feel at home pretty quickly. They’ve made this transition easier.” Neill stated. 

Neill’s unique hockey career has not gone unnoticed by his coaches. Fans see the passion Neill plays with and those in the Bison organization can’t wait to see how Neill contributes going forward. Last Saturday, Neill tallied his first multipoint game with two goals against the Fort Wayne Komets. 

“You have to look at his stick-to-it-ness. He obviously must love the game and he’s gone the road less traveled to continue to pursue his passion. I think his love for the game and his desire to get better stands out. Perseverance is really what stands out when it comes to Max.” said Barski. 

As the Bison fight for the Central Division’s final playoff spot, coaches and players alike are eager to see how Neill’s passion will translate during this push. Neill has had a long and unique hockey journey so far but it’s only the beginning. Neill’s story is a testament to his dedication to the sport and many are excited to see what the future holds.