Boston College has lost another recruit to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), it was confirmed Thursday morning. Center Cameron MacDonald, an ’03, has signed with the Saint John Sea Dogs, the player tweeted. The Hammonds Plains, Nova Scotia, native played this past season as a tender in the United States Hockey League with...
Boston College has lost another recruit to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), it was confirmed Thursday morning.
Center Cameron MacDonald, an ’03, has signed with the Saint John Sea Dogs, the player tweeted. The Hammonds Plains, Nova Scotia, native played this past season as a tender in the United States Hockey League with the Sioux Falls Stampede.
MacDonald had six goals and 14 assists for 20 points in 44 games as one of the youngest players in the USHL during the 2019-20 season. In 2018-19, MacDonald played for South Kent Selects Academy, putting up huge numbers with the school’s 15-Only team. In 52 games, he had 72 goal and 54 assists.
MacDonald committed to the Eagles last September, but he’s now a former BC recruit as the NCAA prohibits players who have signed and competed in any of three Canadian major junior leagues.
MacDonald is the second elite ’03 Canadian recruit that BC has lost in the past month. In May, Peter Reynolds announced his decision to join the QMJHL’s Sea Dogs after a stellar season with the BCHL’s Chilliwack Chiefs.
It’s obviously disappointing for college hockey any time it loses a future player to major junior. However, this isn’t a new phenomenon. While BC will have to replace two players who would have been key parts of its top six in 2021-22 and beyond, the Eagles have had to deal with this before.
It’s the nature of the beast for top programs such as BC. By recruiting elite players, programs run the risk of losing them to major junior or having them sign early to play professionally.
BC still has one top recruit nationally and three key local recruits in its ’03 class. The gem of the class is now rising NTDP U-18 defenseman Aidan Hreschuk. Avon Old Farms left wing Paul Davey, St. Sebastian’s center Tim Delay and Cushing center Billy Norcross are the local ’03s committed to the Eagles.
