The Truro Bearcats have announced that goaltender Alec MacDonald has committed to Dalhousie University for the 2020-21 season.
The 21-year-old from Truro was a Territorial Draft selection by the Bearcats in the 2016 MHL Entry Draft. MacDonald split his time between Truro and the QMJHL’s Moncton Wildcats in 2017-18, logging twelve games between the pipes in Truro where he went 8-3-0-0 with a 2.13 goals against average, a .916 save percentage, and two shutouts. He stayed with the club in 2018-19 with an 8-7-1-1 record in 20 games, a 2.82 goals against average, a .915 save percentage, and one shutout.
Taking over as the starter in 2019-20, MacDonald was a workhorse in goal. He played in 44 of 52 games with a 23-13-3-4 record. His win total was third-highest in the MHL, while his 2.93 goals against average was sixth-best and .911 save percentage was fifth best. MacDonald also logged the most minutes of any goaltender that season at 2,658 and had one shutout. He was named the Gongshow Third Star of the Month in December 2019.
In 2020-21, MacDonald played in 25 of the team’s 32 games. He had a 17-6-1-0 record, with his win total again being second-most in the MHL. MacDonald’s 2.79 goals against average was tied for fourth-best, while his .909 save percentage placed him third. He played the second-most minutes at 1,485 and had one shutout. He started three of the team’s five games during the Canadian Tire Cup Eastlink South Playoff Round-Robin, with a 1-2-1 record, 4.71 goals against average and .857 save percentage. MacDonald was the Gongshow Top Goaltender in March/April and a Player of the Week twice. He also passed a milestone this season with his 100th game played.