MacDonald in the eye of the Tigers
Truro goaltender primes for AUS hockey with Dalhousie
After redshirting this past season, goaltender Alec MacDonald is even more excited about eventually donning the black and gold as a full-time member of the Dalhousie Tigers university hockey team.
In the meantime, the 22-year-old Truro native is stepping up to the plate as an outfielder with Nova Scotia’s softball entry in the Canada Summer Games this August in the Niagara region of Ontario.
Previously a mainstay with the junior A Truro Bearcats of the Maritime Hockey League, MacDonald immersed himself in Atlantic University Sport life this year while studying kinesiology at Dalhousie. He practised with the Tigers each morning and worked out regularly as part of a goaltending group that included third-year incumbents Reilly Pickard and Connor Hicks.
As an understudy, MacDonald didn’t dress for any AUS games, so he still has all five years of his U Sports playing eligibility remaining.
“I kind of knew that was going to happen, anywhere I went really, so I was fortunate enough to get this opportunity here,” MacDonald said from the Tigers’ home rink, the venerable Halifax Forum. “You kind of go through that (transition) each level you go up. That’s going to happen when you’re the younger guy in a group. I really enjoyed my first year here and I’m excited and looking forward to the next few years to come.”
Known as a low-maintenance, high-character player during his four years with the Bearcats, the even-keeled MacDonald is confident his goaltending career remains on the upswing.
“I’ll just keep showing up and having a good attitude,” he said. “I still feel like I have a lot of hockey I can play and that I can prove myself a lot more.
“I’m just waiting for my opportunity and I’m going to try to make the most of it.”
The six-foot-two, 195pound MacDonald is part of a Dal program that turned a competitive corner this season under Chris Donnelly, the Canadian university coach of the year. Pickard was named the AUS goalie of the year as the Tigers posted an 11-11-1 regular-season record and placed third in an elite seven-team conference that’s renowned in U Sports circles.
If he needs any added inspiration, MacDonald can look to the example of another former junior A goaltender, Yarmouth Mariners graduate Justin Sumarah, making headway in the AUS. During this year’s stretch drive, Sumarah climbed straight from the sidelines to become the starter with the Saint Mary’s Huskies.
“We’ve competed against each other the last couple of years,” MacDonald said of Halifax’s Sumarah. “It’s good to see him having success, and then just thinking that could be me, too.
“He’s got a cool story, for sure. It just shows a lot of perseverance and hard work can pay off. It’s cool to see.”
After moving to Halifax last fall, MacDonald lived just a five-minute walk from the Forum. His roommates included former Bearcats teammate Caleb Hart, who redshirted with the Tigers for the first part of this season. Hart billeted with MacDonald’s family during his three years of playing with Truro.
Former Bearcats goaltender Kevin Resop was also on Dal’s roster until midway through this season. During the COVID-19 shutdown, the exHalifax Moosehead left for the SPHL’s Quad City Storm.
As an MHL rookie in the 2017-18 season, MacDonald was Resop’s backup in Truro. MacDonald, a fifth-round draft choice of the QMJHL’s Chicoutimi Sagueneens in 2016, had stints in the Q with the Moncton Wildcats before becoming a fixture with his hometown Bearcats.
During his junior A career, MacDonald began taking university courses at Dal’s Agricultural College campus. He’s already about halfway through his kinesiology studies, which are a natural fit for one of Truro’s most versatile athletes.
“It seems like an interesting program to be in,” he said. “My sister was in it herself and she said she really enjoyed it.
“I still haven’t really figured out exactly what I would like to do with it. I’m sure I’ll figure something out down the road.”
MacDonald’s sister, Sarah, now is an elementary school teacher at West Colchester.
As he finished his final exams in mid-April, MacDonald was waiting for word on where he might fit in Dal’s plans for the next hockey season.
“I’m not really sure what the situation is going to be moving forward,” he said. “But
I’m grateful to even have this opportunity to be here in the first place. I’ve just got to keep working and I’m sure good things will happen.”
Simply redshirting with the Tigers this winter was a treat for MacDonald. He was happy to be around the rink.
“There’s something about it,” he said. “Just going on the ice, I couldn’t imagine not playing this year. I’m really thankful to be a part of it.”
Softball is always a big part of MacDonald’s summers, especially this year. He provides a veteran presence with Nova Scotia’s 22-and-under team for the Canada Games tournament, set for Aug. 16 to 21 in Grimsby, Ont.
The men’s softball roster representing Nova Scotia is made up of 14 players from Colchester County and East Hants, along with one from Halifax County.
For more on MacDonald and Team Nova Scotia, see upcoming editions of the Colchester Wire.