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| Gee-Gee's McDonald Has High Hopes For Final CIS Season |
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By Mike Beasley /
This may be Dan McDonald’s last season of CIS Men’s hockey but he certainly plans on making it a memorable one.
The University of Ottawa Gee-Gees speedy forward will wrap up his college career next spring after four productive seasons skating with the Garnet and Grey in the Nation’s Capital.
The 24-year old General Arts student carries a double major in Business and Commerce and has his sights firmly set on professional hockey after his time in Ottawa wraps up.
“That’s my plan, MacDonald said, prior to the Gee-Gees hitting the ice in preparation for the upcoming university season. “I would like to explore some opportunities and play pro before settling down in the work world.”
MacDonald has been a key contributor for the Gee-Gees the last couple of seasons leading the club in scoring last year with 14-18-32 points in 27 games.
Gee-Gees head coach Dave Leger recruited the talented centre four years ago during McDonald’s final year in Major Junior hockey with the Brampton Battalion. “Danny is a very skilled player that has consistently been in our top five scoring since the beginning,” Leger said. “At the beginning of last season he approached me saying he wanted to be the team’s offensive go-to guy. He didn’t disappoint that’s for sure. I know we’ll be counting on him this season for his on-ice production and veteran leadership.”
This year will be even more special for the New Liskeard, Ont.-native because he will play alongside Brandon McBride, his long-time buddy and transfer student from St. Mary’s University in the Maritimes.
The pair met in Kingston during the 2001/02 season when they began their OHL careers with the Frontenacs. McDonald had been a 2000 draft pick of the Plymouth Whalers but was traded to Kingston about halfway through his first season while McBride was selected by the Frontenacs in the same year.
McDonald and McBride ended up being billeted in the same Kingston house together becoming almost inseparable for close to two complete seasons.
Halfway through their second years in Kingston, McBride was traded to the Oshawa Generals while McDonald stayed put for another two seasons.
Despite playing on different teams, the two remained in contact with each other by emails and chatting briefly after games.
After completing their CHL careers, McDonald and McBride moved on to Canadian university hockey. McDonald chose the University of Ottawa while McBride headed east to play with the Huskies in Halifax, NS.
“We always tried to stay in touch with each other from the day I was traded to Oshawa until I found out I was accepted into Law School in Ottawa. It wasn’t easy but we managed to remain pretty close over the years,” McBride said.
Before being accepted into Ottawa’s Common Law program, the Whitby-native played three seasons for the Huskies, graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce degree last spring.
McBride applied to a couple of Canadian Law Schools last winter but had no clue where he would end up in September.
“I told Dan last February that I applied to Ottawa but didn’t know until the summer that I had been accepted there. When I got the news, I gave him a call right away and he was excited that I was coming to Ottawa to study and play on the team.”
Now that he has hooked up with his good friend and found a permanent spot in the school’s library, it should be an interesting couple of semesters for McBride from now until next April.
Besides the demanding workload of a first year Law student, the 6-2, 210-pound forward will face-off against his brother Bobby who plays for the crosstown rival Carleton Ravens in the opening game of season.
“Bragging rights to the city will definitely be on the line this year,” Brandon said. Besides getting settled into my routine at school, I can’t wait for the first game of the season with Ottawa and Danny, on the ice, against my brother.” |
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