Colin McDonald (ice hockey)

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.

Colin McDonald
McDonald with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in 2019
Born (1984-09-30) September 30, 1984 (age 39)
Wethersfield, Connecticut, U.S.
Height6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight210 lb (95 kg; 15 st 0 lb)
PositionRight wing
ShotRight
Played forEdmonton Oilers
Pittsburgh Penguins
New York Islanders
Philadelphia Flyers
National team United States
NHL draft51st overall, 2003
Edmonton Oilers
Playing career2007–2021

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

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

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.

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 seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
2001–02New England Jr. CoyotesEJHL3916203650
2002–03New England Jr. CoyotesEJHL4428406859
2003–04Providence CollegeHE371061647
2004–05Providence CollegeHE261151614
2005–06Providence CollegeHE369192829
2006–07Providence CollegeHE361341730
2007–08Springfield FalconsAHL7312112346
2008–09Springfield FalconsAHL7710122265
2008–09Stockton ThunderECHL30220
2009–10Springfield FalconsAHL7612112338
2009–10Edmonton OilersNHL21010
2010–11Oklahoma City BaronsAHL804216586361126
2011–12Wilkes–Barre/Scranton PenguinsAHL66133548411267132
2011–12Pittsburgh PenguinsNHL50000
2012–13Bridgeport Sound TigersAHL356212732
2012–13New York IslandersNHL45710173262132
2013–14New York IslandersNHL708101834
2014–15New York IslandersNHL18268020002
2014–15Bridgeport Sound TigersAHL4014213528
2015–16Lehigh Valley PhantomsAHL5114183230
2015–16Philadelphia FlyersNHL5101730000
2016–17Lehigh Valley PhantomsAHL722519442752130
2016–17Philadelphia FlyersNHL31010
2017–18Lehigh Valley PhantomsAHL568172521131564
2018–19Lehigh Valley PhantomsAHL6913152814
2019–20Bridgeport Sound TigersAHL605152016
AHL totals7571752113864213610142412
NHL totals14820264673112134

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2014United StatesWC6th71010
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 Team2004
All-Tournament Team2005
AHL
All-Star Game2011
All-Star Team2011
Willie Marshall Award2011

References