Craig MacDonald
MacDonald with the Norfolk Admirals in 2006
Born (1977-04-07) April 7, 1977
Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 201 lb (91 kg; 14 st 5 lb)
Position Left wing
Shot Left
Played for Carolina Hurricanes
Florida Panthers
Boston Bruins
Calgary Flames
Chicago Blackhawks
Tampa Bay Lightning
Columbus Blue Jackets
DEG Metro Stars
Adler Mannheim
NHL Draft 88th overall, 1996
Hartford Whalers
Playing career 19982013

James Craig MacDonald (born April 7, 1977) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played parts of eight seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He is from the town of Antigonish in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Playing career

After gaining admission to Harvard University (where he majored in economics) MacDonald played for the Harvard varsity team before being drafted in the 4th round (88th overall) in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft by the Hartford Whalers. His rights were transferred to Carolina when the franchise moved there in 1997. After two years he joined the Canadian Olympic team in 1998, he signed with Carolina the following year, and played his first NHL game on January 7, 1999, against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1998–99 NHL season. On January 20, 2004, MacDonald was claimed off waivers by the Boston Bruins. On August 11, 2005, he signed as a free agent for the Calgary Flames.

While playing for the Florida Panthers, MacDonald was on a line with Marcus Nilson and Byron Ritchie that was named the John Deere line. They got this name due to them working hard every shift. The John Deere line was reunited in Calgary in the 2005–06 NHL season. On July 2, 2007, MacDonald signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning.[1]

On December 20, 2007, during a game versus the Toronto Maple Leafs, MacDonald was hit by a wrist shot from Toronto defenceman Hal Gill that fractured nine of MacDonald's teeth, only three of which were able to be salvaged. He also required 25–30 stitches to close a cut in his tongue and an additional 50 or so to sew together wounds to the inside of his lip and gums, according to team trainer Tom Mulligan. MacDonald also underwent three root canal surgeries the following morning. He wore a full cage on his helmet to protect him from any further injury.

On July 14, 2008, MacDonald signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets.[2] Craig is also one of the few NHL players who have attended Harvard. He left North America on June 30, 2009, and signed for German Deutsche Eishockey Liga team DEG Metro Stars.[3] After one year with DEG Metro Stars signed on April 6, 2010, with fellow DEL team, Adler Mannheim.[4]

In addition to having been a professional hockey player, MacDonald is also an accomplished golfer, having won two consecutive Nova Scotia Junior Golf Championship titles- and considered professional golf as a career before being signed by the Carolina Hurricanes of the NHL.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
1995–96 Harvard University ECAC 34710178
1996–97 Harvard University ECAC 326101620
1997–98 Canadian National Team Intl 6218294738
1998–99 Beast of New Haven AHL 6217314877
1998–99 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 110000 10000
1999–00 Cincinnati Cyclones IHL 7812243676 114158
2000–01 Cincinnati Cyclones IHL 82202848104 50116
2001–02 Lowell Lock Monsters AHL 6419224161
2001–02 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 121120 40002
2002–03 Lowell Lock Monsters AHL 277202738
2002–03 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 3513420
2003–04 Florida Panthers NHL 3403325
2003–04 San Antonio Rampage AHL 20004
2003–04 Boston Bruins NHL 180338 10000
2004–05 Lowell Lock Monsters AHL 71101828104 20000
2005–06 Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights AHL 1313429
2005–06 Calgary Flames NHL 253258 10000
2006–07 Norfolk Admirals AHL 736912
2006–07 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 2532514
2007–08 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 65291116
2007–08 Norfolk Admirals AHL 738118
2008–09 Syracuse Crunch AHL 7015254071
2008–09 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 81120
2009–10 DEG Metro Stars DEL 5619234276 32020
2010–11 Adler Mannheim DEL 5162228123 50224
2011–12 Adler Mannheim DEL 286142012 143586
2012–13 Adler Mannheim DEL 517222968 60114
NHL totals 23311243591 70002

Awards and honors

Award Year
All-ECAC Hockey Rookie Team 1995–96

References

  1. "Former Admirals Captain Craig MacDonald Signs With Tampa Bay". Our Sports Central. 2007-07-02. Archived from the original on 2021-01-22. Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  2. "Columbus Blue Jackets sign free agent Craig MacDonald". bluejackets.nhl.com. 2008-07-14. Archived from the original on 2008-08-08. Retrieved 2009-01-16.
  3. "DEG attacks! Craig MacDonald moves to the Rhine" (in German). DEG Metro Stars. 2009-06-30. Retrieved 2009-06-30.
  4. "Changes in the squad of DEG METRO STARS" (in German). DEG Metro Stars. 2010-04-06. Retrieved 2010-04-06.
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