The younger brother of Drew, Jock Callander replaced a small NHL career with an historic one in the IHL. Never drafted, he had brief stops with St. Louis, Pittsburgh, and Tampa, but with the Muskegon/Cleveland Lumberjacks he was sensational, breaking the all-time points mark during the 1999-2000 season when he regsitered his 1,383rd career point.
Callander started slowly in junior with Regina, but in his last two seasons he produced staggering totals of 146 goals and 343 points, leading the league in 1981-82. Nonetheless, he was never drafted by an NHL team, signing with St. Louis as a free agent, though never playing for the Blues. Instead, he had to settle for a start in the CHL and IHL, where he spent the first five pro years of his career. He signed with Pittsburgh, and over the next three years split his time between the Penguins and the IHL.
The highlight of his NHL time came in 1991-92. After playing the whole year with Muskegon, he came up to the Penguins for the playoffs, appearing in a dozen games en route to the Stanley Cup. Over the summer, though, he became a free agent and Pittsburgh didn't sign him--he went to Tampa Bay. Callander played eight games with the Lightning and most of the next eight years back in the IHL with Cleveland.
For much of his time in the IHL he was paired with best friend Dave Michayluk, another journeyman NHLer who became the IHLs all-time leading scorer, in large measure thanks to the passing of Callander. They lived near each other on Avon Lake, Ohio, their wives are best friends, and they played together for almost their entire IHL careers.
Jock Callander retired from hockey following the 99-2000 season and became an assistant coach for Cleveland in 2000-01 before joining the Houston Aeros the following year.
