About Rob

Rob McClanahan is a former American ice hockey player and a key contributor to the legendary 1980 U.S. Olympic “Miracle on Ice” team. McClanahan played an important role on Herb Brooks’ young amateur squad at the Lake Placid Winter Olympics. His performance helped fuel the United States’ stunning upset of the heavily favored Soviet Union and the team’s eventual gold-medal victory—one of the most iconic moments in sports history.

 

Before the Olympics, McClanahan was a standout forward at the University of Minnesota, where he helped establish himself as one of the nation’s top collegiate players. After the Olympic Games, he was drafted into the NHL and went on to play professionally with the Buffalo Sabres, Hartford Whalers and New York Rangers. 

 

After retiring from hockey, he transitioned into the business world, building a long career in Institutional Equity Sales Trading and executive leadership. McClanahan became known for applying the same discipline, preparation, and team-oriented mindset that defined his hockey career to his work in business, earning respect as a leader and mentor.

 

Alongside his professional career, McClanahan remained closely connected to hockey through coaching youth & high-school programs, where he emphasized accountability, work ethic, and competitive excellence. 

 

He is a popular motivational speaker, frequently drawing parallels between elite sport and business performance while sharing lessons on leadership, resilience, and teamwork inspired by his experiences both on and off the ice.