Bob McNamara was named the Mallards' president in January of 2013. McNamara brings a wealth of hockey and business experience to the Mallards. McNamara spent 15 seasons as general manager of the American Hockey League’s Grand Rapids Griffins before serving as the president and governor of the Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL in 2011-12. With the Bulldogs, McNamara oversaw the execution of the 2012 AHL Outdoor Classic at Ivor Wynne Football Stadium, a game that set a Canadian AHL attendance record of 20,565. During McNamara’s tenure in Grand Rapids, the Griffins enjoyed success both on and off the ice, winning two regular season championships and five division titles and increasing attendance in four of his final five seasons.
Prior to joining the Griffins, McNamara acted as assistant general manager of the International Hockey League’s Cleveland Lumberjacks for five years. His duties with the Lumberjacks ranged from sales to hockey operations to virtually every other area of the organization.
A native of Toronto, McNamara earned a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Notre Dame in 1983 after spending four seasons as the Fighting Irish hockey team’s number one goaltender. Upon graduation, McNamara signed with the National Hockey League's Buffalo Sabres and spent three seasons with the Rochester Americans, the Sabres’ AHL affiliate. In 1986, he moved on to the International Hockey League and the Milwaukee Admirals. McNamara tended goal for the Admirals for two seasons and served as a player/assistant coach in his second campaign with the club.