Macdonald named MHL third star for December
Alec Macdonald’s steady presence between the pipes has earned him Gongshow Third Star of the Month honours for December in the Maritime Junior Hockey League.
The 19-year-old from Truro got the start in all four of the Bearcats’ games for the month, posting a 3-0-1-0 record and making at least 32 saves in each start against divisional opponents.
His 1.97 goals against average was second only to Pictou County’s Andrew Macleod, and Macdonald led all MHL netminders with a .949 save percentage in December to help Truro claw its way back into the playoff race in the Eastlink South Division.
On the season, Macdonald finished 2019 with the sixthbest goals against average at 2.61, the third-best save percentage at .919, and is second only to Yarmouth’s Justin Sumarah in minutes played at 1,454 in 24 games.
Macdonald’s first start in December was a 32-save effort in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Crushers on Dec. 7. He made 37 saves in a 5-1 victory over the Yarmouth Mariners at the Rath Eastlink Community
Centre on Dec. 13. Two days later in Berwick, Macdonald made 32 saves in a 4-2 win in Valley. His month finished at home on Dec. 20 against the Amherst Ramblers where he faced 50 shots, as Truro came away with a 5-2 victory.
Pictou County goaltender Macleod was named MHL first star for December, going 6-0 during the month with a 1.80 goals against average. The second star was Fredericton Red Wings netminder Jack Grant, who posted a 5-1-1-0 record to go with a 2.21 goals against average and a .936 save percentage during December.