“We judge women very harshly”: Jane Macdougall exposes lasting damage from fake NHL affair rumor with Kirk McLean

A rumor that started nearly 30 years ago in the hockey world still follows one woman today. Many fans of the Vancouver Canucks remember the heartbreaking 1994 Stanley Cup Final loss.

But what happened the next year changed more than just the team’s record. A false story spread around a player’s personal life and it stuck to someone who wasn’t even involved at the time.

Jane Macdougall reveals how a hockey rumour followed her for decades

In 1995, after the Vancouver Canucks were eliminated from playoff contention, fans were looking for someone to blame. A false rumour began spreading that defenseman Jeff Brown had an affair with Kirk McLean’s wife. This was said to be the reason Brown was suddenly traded in the middle of the season.

Jane Macdougall, a Canadian writer and broadcaster, was not even part of McLean’s life during that time. The story, however, somehow attached itself to her years later. She and McLean got married in 1998, after he had already divorced his first wife, Lesley Shaddock.Jane spoke about the experience in 2024 on CBC Radio’s Storylines, explaining how this rumor shaped her life for years. “In some people’s minds, I wasn’t just a homewrecker. I was a franchise wrecker,” she said.

Lesley Shaddock and Jeff Brown both denied the story. Shaddock, who now lives in Ontario, said, “I actually laughed the first time I heard it. It was just so silly.” Jeff Brown also said he barely knew McLean’s wives and believed his trade was because of issues with coach Rick Ley.

Jeff Brown Kirk McLean and Jane Macdougall speak on the lasting harm

After the 1994 Game 7 loss to the New York Rangers, fans expected the Canucks to return stronger in 1995. But when the team struggled, people looked for reasons.

The rumor, which spread through word of mouth and later on internet forums like Reddit, gave fans a story, one that wasn’t true but easy to believe.Macdougall says she hears comments even now. “I had inherited the rumor,” she said. “It’s like a demon. It just needs a host.” Her kids were bullied, strangers whispered, and even co-workers brought it up.Also Read: NHL Trade News: Jeff Petry Signs One-Year Deal With Florida Panthers As Veteran Defenseman Finds New HomeKirk McLean, now a Canucks ambassador, said fans didn’t understand the mental toll of the 1994 loss. “You try to regroup, but it doesn’t mean you get back to the finals,” he said.Jane Macdougall says she’s not a victim but has seen firsthand how harmful stories like this can be. “We judge women very harshly,” she said.