MCDONALD IMPRESSES ON THE NEXT LEVEL
Former Red Raider Andy McDonald proves he ready for the next level with the NHL Mighty Ducks of Anaheim

September 24, 2000

by Michele Kelley, Athletic Communications Student Assistant 

Every hockey fan in the small, central New York town of Hamilton knows the name Andy McDonald.  Most even know his basic history, playing junior hockey with the Strathroy Rockets and then being spotted by Colgate assistant coach Stan Moore.  The 5’11”, 192 pound center then donned the maroon and gray at Colgate in the fall of 1996.

Many people often overlooked McDonald because of his small size.  But his incredible determination and passion for hockey earned him several honors throughout his career at Colgate.  His freshman year, McDonald, wearing number 10, led his class in scoring, and by his sophomore year, he was the second leading scorer on the Colgate squad.  In his junior campaign, McDonald was selected to the all-ECAC second team and was the leading scorer for the Red Raiders.

McDonald wore the captain’s “C” in 1999-2000, becoming the top scorer for the team and ECAC, finishing with 58 points.  The Strathroy, Ontario native also garnered several postseason awards including first-team All-American, 2000 ECAC Player of the Year, and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award -- college hockey’s most prestigious honor.

After a heartbreaking defeat in the NCAA playoffs that ended his college career, McDonald signed a contract with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim of the National Hockey League on April 3.  Those in the hockey world not familiar with McDonald thought that he would inevitably be assigned to one of Anaheim’s minor league affiliate teams.  But his fans in Hamilton and the Colgate community think differently.

Only a few short weeks before hockey season officially starts, McDonald is showing the NHL the reasons why Colgate hockey fans have so much faith in him.  Wearing number 48 for the Ducks, McDonald has impressed coaches, players and fans with his incredible speed and quick thinking on the ice.

During training camp, he won the most fit rookie award.  The Ducks held an intra-squad scrimmage for local elementary school students, and McDonald led off his team’s scoring with a goal on a penalty shot 2:11 into the first period.  His side went on to win the game, 3-2 in an overtime shootout.  Then on September 20, McDonald got his first NHL point on Anaheim’s first goal of the preseason against the Minnesota Wild expansion team.

On September 19, Anaheim trimmed its roster down to 33 players.  Among the names still remaining on that roster was Andy McDonald.  The Mighty Ducks have high hopes for McDonald and his fellow rookies.  They believe that the added depth of their new players will help vault them into the playoffs this year. 

Colgate fans have no doubt that McDonald will play a critical role for Anaheim in this endeavor.  So, to Andy McDonald, good luck this season in the NHL, and thank you for making Colgate proud!