Colin McDonald (ice hockey)

Last updated

Colin McDonald
Colin McDonald 2019.jpg
McDonald with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in 2019
Born (1984-09-30) September 30, 1984 (age 40)
Wethersfield, Connecticut, U.S.
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 210 lb (95 kg; 15 st 0 lb)
Position Right wing
Shot Right
Played for Edmonton Oilers
Pittsburgh Penguins
New York Islanders
Philadelphia Flyers
National teamFlag of the United States.svg  United States
NHL draft 51st overall, 2003
Edmonton Oilers
Playing career 20072021

Colin J. McDonald (born September 30, 1984) is an American former professional ice hockey player. He last played for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the American Hockey League (AHL). He was selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the second round, 51st overall, of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. He played only two games with the team before signing with the Pittsburgh Penguins for the 2011–12 season. His time with the Penguins was also short-lived, as he proceeded to sign with the Islanders the following season. He is the son of Gerry McDonald, a former NHL player, who played for the Hartford Whalers. On February 28, 2021, McDonald announced his retirement from playing hockey at the age of 36.

Contents

Playing career

Amateur career

McDonald began his career playing for the New England Junior Coyotes of the Eastern Junior Hockey League (EJHL) during the 2002–03 season, where he led the league in scoring with 58 points (28 goals, 30 assists) and was named "Junior Coyote of the Year", and received the "EJHL Offensive Player of the Year Award" and League MVP. He was selected MVP of the Top Prospects Tournament in 2002, as well as "Hockey Night In Boston Junior Player of the Year". He was also chosen to the U.S. National Junior Team Evaluation Camp in August 2003.

After being selected 51st overall in the National Hockey League's (NHL) 2003 draft by the Edmonton Oilers, McDonald spent four seasons with Providence College. During his freshman year (2003–04), McDonald led Providence Friar freshmen with 10 goals. His performance earned him Providence's "Most Valuable Freshman" Award as well as a selection to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team. As a sophomore, McDonald missed time due to injury but still managed to match his point total from freshman year as he tallied up 11 goals and added 5 assists. As a junior, he served as an alternate captain and reached career highs in points (28) and assists (19), finishing fourth on his team in scoring. He was then named co-captain for the 2006-07 season at the end of the year. In his senior year he had a career high of 13 goals, along with 4 assists, totaling 17 points.

Professional career

McDonald during the 2010-11 season with the Oklahoma City Barons Colin McDonald.jpg
McDonald during the 2010–11 season with the Oklahoma City Barons

McDonald joined the Edmonton Oilers organization in 2007 and was assigned to their minor league affiliate, the American Hockey League's (AHL) Springfield Falcons. He played 73 games in his first season, scoring 12 goals and 11 assists for 23 points. The following season, McDonald played 77 games, scoring 10 goals and 12 assists for 22 points and also played 3 games in the ECHL for the Stockton Thunder. He was first called up to the Oilers on November 26, 2009. He played in his first career NHL game the next night against the San Jose Sharks. His first NHL goal came in his second game on November 28, 2009 against Roberto Luongo of the Vancouver Canucks. [1]

McDonald with the Pittsburgh Penguins in January 2012 Colin McDonald 2012-01-06.JPG
McDonald with the Pittsburgh Penguins in January 2012

On July 1, 2011, McDonald was signed by the Pittsburgh Penguins to a one-year, $525,000 contract. [2] In the 2011–12 season, he was primarily assigned to the Penguins' AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, but was recalled to play in five games with the Penguins.

On July 2, 2012, McDonald signed as a free agent to a one-year, two-way contract with the New York Islanders. [3] During the season, on March 15, 2013, he agreed to a two-year, one-way contract extension. He played most of the season on a line with Matt Martin and Casey Cizikas. In the 2013 playoffs against his former Penguins team, he played on a line with Michael Grabner and Keith Aucoin, scoring two goals and one assist as the Islanders were defeated in six games.

Early on in the 2014–15 season, on October 22, 2014, McDonald was placed on waivers; upon clearing he was assigned to the Islanders' AHL affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, where he was named captain. [4]

On July 3, 2015, having left the Islanders as a free agent, McDonald signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Philadelphia Flyers. [5]

On June 19, 2018, McDonald signed a one-year AHL contract to remain with the Flyers AHL affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. [6]

McDonald with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in 2014. Colin McDonald Bridgeport.jpg
McDonald with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in 2014.

As a free agent from the Phantoms, McDonald opted to return to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, signing a one-year AHL contract with the team on August 29, 2019. [7]

On February 28, 2021, McDonald announced his retirement from playing hockey on his Instagram and currently works with Recorded Future in cybersecurity. [8]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
2001–02New England Jr. Coyotes EJHL 3916203650
2002–03New England Jr. CoyotesEJHL4428406859
2003–04 Providence College HE 371061647
2004–05 Providence CollegeHE261151614
2005–06 Providence CollegeHE369192829
2006–07 Providence CollegeHE361341730
2007–08 Springfield Falcons AHL 7312112346
2008–09 Springfield FalconsAHL7710122265
2008–09 Stockton Thunder ECHL 30220
2009–10 Springfield FalconsAHL7612112338
2009–10 Edmonton Oilers NHL 21010
2010–11 Oklahoma City Barons AHL804216586361126
2011–12 Wilkes–Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL66133548411267132
2011–12 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL50000
2012–13 Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL356212732
2012–13 New York Islanders NHL45710173262132
2013–14 New York IslandersNHL708101834
2014–15 New York IslandersNHL18268020002
2014–15 Bridgeport Sound TigersAHL4014213528
2015–16 Lehigh Valley Phantoms AHL5114183230
2015–16 Philadelphia Flyers NHL5101730000
2016–17 Lehigh Valley PhantomsAHL722519442752130
2016–17 Philadelphia FlyersNHL31010
2017–18 Lehigh Valley PhantomsAHL568172521131564
2018–19 Lehigh Valley PhantomsAHL6913152814
2019–20 Bridgeport Sound TigersAHL605152016
AHL totals7571752113864213610142412
NHL totals14820264673112134

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2014 United States WC 6th71010
Senior totals71010

Awards and honors

AwardYear
EJHL
Top Prospects Tournament MVP2002
Offensive player of the year2003
MVP2003
Hockey Night in Boston Player of the Year2003
College
All-Hockey East Rookie Team 2004
All-Tournament Team 2005
AHL
All-Star Game 2011
All-Star Team2011
Willie Marshall Award 2011

References

  1. "Canucks rout Oilers 7-3". Yahoo! Sports . November 28, 2009. Retrieved July 28, 2010.
  2. "McDonald signs with Penguins". American Hockey League . July 1, 2011. Retrieved July 1, 2011.
  3. "DeFazio & McDonald agree to terms". National Hockey League . July 2, 2012. Retrieved July 2, 2012.
  4. Marcus, Steven (January 30, 2015). "Colin McDonald hopes to show Islanders he should stay with them". Newsday . Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  5. "Flyers sign RW Colin McDonald". Philadelphia Flyers. July 3, 2015. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  6. "Phantoms Sign F Colin McDonald and D David Drake to AHL Deals". Lehigh Valley Phantoms. June 19, 2018. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  7. "Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Twitter: TRANSACTION: Colin McDonald (F) has agreed to terms on an #AHL contract for the 2019-20 season. #SoundTigers". Twitter . August 29, 2019. Archived from the original on January 25, 2021. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  8. "Colin McDonald (@colinmcdonald_13) posted on Instagram • Feb 28, 2021 at 2:07pm UTC". Instagram. Retrieved March 31, 2021.