Center/Left Winger Cam MacDonald Commits to UNH, 6th New Forward for 2025-26
|
"In the offensive zone Cam showed that he has the ability to spin off of contact as the puck carrier and we liked his quick release...showed a very high IQ and the ability to process defensive situations quickly." Ian Morin, Neutral Zone Game Report, November 10, 2020
 | Cam MacDonald
Center/Left Winger, 6'2", 194 lbs. Shoots Left Hometown: Hammond Plains, Nova Scotia, Canada DOB: May 4, 2003; 22 years old Neutral Zone Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars 2024-25 Team: Acadia University (Canada U Sports) 2023-24 Team: Cape Breton Eagles (Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League) 2021 NHL Draft: Selected in 5th Round (#160 Overall) by Tampa Bay Lightening Committed to UNH in May, 2025 at Age 22 years old. |
UNH has picked up it's 6th commitment from a Canadian Hockey League player, in this case a former CHLer. Cameron "Cam" MacDonald a high-scoring power forward who grew up in Hammond Plains, Nova Scotia played one season in the USHL then four in the QMJHL.
Entering the 2019-20 season with the USHL's Sioux Falls Stampede the 16-year-old MacDonald was considered one of the top 2003-born prospects in North America. He was recruited by top NCAA programs such as North Dakota and Boston College. The Saint John Sea Dogs selected him (3rd Round, #51) in the June 2019 QMJHL Draft.
MacDonald committed to BC in mid-September, 2019 just prior to the USHL season. He went on to score 6 goals, 14 assists for Sioux Falls in the COVID shortened 44-game season.
In June, 2020, MacDonald withdrew his commitment to Boston College and signed with the Saint John Sea Dogs. After his first season with the Sea Dogs he was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightening (5th Round #160 Overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft.
As a 4-season star for the Saint John Sea Dogs, Gatineau Olympiques and Cape Breton Eagles, MacDonald posted 73 goals, 82 assists in 218 regular season games, plus 18 goals, 11 assists in 29 playoff games. One highlight was winning the 2022 Memorial Cup/CHL Championship with Saint John.
At the end of the 2023-24 season MacDonald's eligibility to play junior hockey ended and he hadn't signed a pro contract. That was before the NCAA's November, 2024 decision to allow CHL players. With limited playing options available he chose to enroll as a freshman at Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia and play in Canada's U Sports Hockey League. This season MacDonald was the second leading scorer for the Acadia Axemen with 13 goals, 14 assists in 29 games and was named to the U Sports All-Rookie Team.
October 2022 Highlight Reel
2022-23 was Cam MacDonald's most productive in his 4 QMJHL seasons. In 58 regular season games he scored 29 goals and 27 assists. His first 27 games were with the Saint John Sea Dogs. Following a trade with the Gatineau Olympiques he played 31 more regular season games plus 13 playoff matchups.
Overall, MacDonald tallied 3 QMJHL hat tricks. These highlights are from the 6-5 Saint John win over the Gatineau Olympiques on October 27, 2022 and include MacDonald's game-winner:
Neutral Zone Scouting Report by Ian Moran
QMJHL Game Report, November 10, 2020
"In all honesty, Cam played like an NHL center/power forward today. He was on the ice for important defensive zone draws and he was winning them. He was very responsible defensively and it looked like defending from the net out is something that he does very naturally. He was powerful along the walls pinching off the cycle quickly and his hand strength was obvious on 50/50 pucks.
In the offensive zone Cam showed that he has the ability to spin off of contact as the puck carrier and we liked his quick release. He might have fired a few from awkward angles, but to me he was shooting with the purpose of creating chaos and rebounds. I liked his game. On a team that can really run and gun, Cam showed a very high IQ and the ability to process defensives situations quickly."
Junior & University Hockey Statistics
| Player | Season | Team | League | GP | Goals | Asst | Pts | PIM | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cam MacDonald (C/LW) | 2024-25 | Acadia Axemen | U Sports | 29 | 13 | 14 | 27 | 46 | -3 |
| 2023-24 | Cape Breton Eagles | QMJHL | 63 | 19 | 29 | 48 | 24 | +12 | |
| Playoffs | 13 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 7 | +10 | |||
| 2022-23 | Saint John Sea Dogs | QMJHL | 27 | 16 | 13 | 29 | 28 | -7 | |
| Gatineau Olympiques | QMJHL | 31 | 13 | 14 | 27 | 10 | +18 | ||
| Playoffs | 13 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 8 | +10 | |||
| 2021-22 | Saint John Sea Dogs | QMJHL | 67 | 15 | 19 | 34 | 59 | +6 | |
| Playoffs | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 7 | +3 | |||
| 2020-21 | Saint John Sea Dogs | QMJHL | 30 | 10 | 7 | 17 | 30 | -7 | |
| Playoffs | 6 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 15 | 0 | |||
| 2019-20 | Sioux Falls Stampede | USHL | 44 | 6 | 14 | 20 | 18 | -4 |
As of today, the following 6 forwards from the 2024-25 roster will leave the team due to graduation (Gr), no remaining years of eligibility (NE), signing a professional contract (Pro), entering the transfer portal (TP), and/or returning to junior hockey (Jr):
FORWARDS (6)
Robert Cronin (Gr, NE, Signed Pro w/Maine Mariners)
Liam Devlin (Gr, NE, Signed Pro w/Orlando Solar Bears)
Conor Lovett (Gr, NE)
Connor Sweeney (Gr, NE, Signed Pro w/Black Wings Linz)
Ryan Conmy (Transfer to Boston College)
Connor MacPherson (Jr, Return to BCHL Nanaimo Clippers)
Implications for Incoming Freshmen and Transfers
Over the last 5 seasons UNH had 15 (2024-25), 16 (2022-23, 2020-21) and 17 (2023-24, 2021-22) forwards on the roster. The projected openings for forwards on the 2025-26 roster is 6.
Four of the forwards currently committed to UNH were born in 2004 so have no years of junior eligibility remaining. Barring unforeseen circumstances these 4 will be freshmen on the 2025-26 UNH roster:
Connor DeTurris (Nanaimo Clippers, BCHL)
Félix Gagnon (Chicoutimi Saguenéens, QMJHL)
Jacob Newcombe (Cape Breton Eagles, QMJHL)
Sam Oliver (Drummondville Voltigeurs, QMJHL)
To date two forwards have committed to UNH either through the NCAA transfer portal or transfer from Canada U Sports:
Jack Cronin (Princeton University, Eastern College Athletic Conference)
was injured during his senior year and will utilize his final year of NCAA eligibity on the 2025-26 UNH roster. He fills the 5th of the 6 projected openings for forwards.
Cam MacDonald (Acadia University, Canada U Sports)
will transfer to UNH as a sophomore. He fills the 6th and final projected opening for forwards on the 2025-26 roster.
posted by Mike Lowry at 12:00 PM
0 comments
Share
