March 16, 2008

MacDonald Nominated for Masterton

The following article featuring former Harvard standout Craig MacDonald appeared in the March 16 issue of the Tampa Tribune.

TAMPA -- Throughout Craig MacDonald's professional career, he has traveled on his fair share of planes, trains and automobiles playing in three different levels hockey.

And just when he started to earn some regular shifts at the NHL level in his 10th season, a puck to the face nearly derailed what has been an otherwise solid campaign for the 30-year-old in his first year with the Lightning.

For his seeing his hard work pay off in a regular shift this season, MacDonald has been nominated for the Bill Masterton Trophy by the Tampa Bay chapter of the Professional Hockey Writer's Association. The Masterton is awarded to a player who exemplifies the "qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey." The list of nominees is expected to be released by the league next week with the winner to be announced at the NHL awards show in June.

"To be nominated for an award like that, with the names of the people who are nominated, it's a tremendous honor," MacDonald said. "It's great to be able to put in a full year here and the opportunity they have given me."

Since leaving Harvard, MacDonald has played for seven different organizations and suited up for 12 different teams without playing in more than 35 games for an NHL team - that coming in 2002-03 with Carolina. This year with Tampa Bay, he has played in a career-high 55 and only missed one game after a puck hit him in the mouth, knocking out nine teeth which required four root canal surgeries.

"What I liked about him after that situation was that no matter what they did to him in the dentist chair, he wanted to play right away," Lightning coach John Tortorella said. "He's earned the respect of the coaching staff. ... He has certainly made the most of the time that he has been given to make a case to bring him back here next year."