MacDonald raises expectations
For second half of rookie MHL season
Josh MacDonald admits the first half of the 2017-18 MHL (Maritime Junior Hockey League) season has been an adjustment period.
“It’s been a bigger transition (to junior A from major midget) than it was for bantam to midget,” explained the firstyear forward with the Summerside D. Alex MacDonald Ford Western Capitals. “Now I’m going into corners with big men, and it’s been a big change.”
The 16-year-old MacDonald, who is from Cornwall, played his way onto the Caps’ roster in training camp after playing last year with the Luke Beck-coached Charlottetown Bulk Carriers Pride of the New Brunswick/P.E.I. Major Midget Hockey League. MacDonald, who was taken in the second round, was the Caps’ first selection of the 2017 MHL Entry Draft.
“He’s been in my top six (forwards) most of the year,” said Caps head coach Billy McGuigan in assessing MacDonald’s play.
“It’s been a good first half for him. I’m really impressed and happy with his play.” MacDonald acknowledged the adjustment period to junior A is over, and has challenged himself to improve his production in the second half. He has recorded six goals and six assists for 12 points in 29 regular-season games.
“I think I can produce a little more offensively, and there’s only so much you can blame on the adjustment (to junior),” he said emphatically. “I’m hoping to start kicking things into gear in the second half, because I have a lot of catching up to do.”
Linemates
MacDonald, who played centre earlier in the season, was recently placed on left wing with recently-signed centre Chris Chaddock and sophomore Kallum Muirhead. MacDonald noted he “has lots to learn” from both his linemates. “Josh has come a long way, and I really like his game right now,” offered McGuigan. “We expected he would have some offensive upside to him coming out of midget, and knew he was a hard worker.
“He’s rounded into a very nice 200-foot player. He works both sides of the puck, he plays on the PK (penalty killing) pretty well every night now and still gets some PP (power play) time. I’m really liking his game.” MacDonald said he has enjoyed his first year with the Capitals, who are 16-12-1-0 (won-lost-overtime lossesshootout losses) and are in a three-way race for second place in the Eastlink North Division.
“It’s been great,” said MacDonald. “You are at the rink every day, and there’s never a bad day at the rink.
“You are always looking forward to showing up for practice and it’s been a lot of fun so far. It doesn’t look like it’s slowing down any time soon.”