Flame for Thought
Fansided

Calgary Flames Prospect Mason McDonald Named To Hockey Canada Program of Excellence

By Ken MacMillan

facebooktwitterreddit

Calgary Flames prospect Mason McDonald  has been invited to Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence goaltending camp. There were 34 goaltenders in total invited to the camp, though just nine are in the Under-20 group that McDonald will be taking part in.

McDonald was the first goaltender taken in the 2014 NHL Draft when the Flames picked him with the 34th overall selection in the second round. The three day camp is a series of on and off ice events that are led by former NHL goaltenders Fred Brathwaite who is the goaltending consultant for Hockey Canada, as well as Dwayne Roloson and Rick Wamsley among a number of other Canadian Hockey League goaltending coaches from across the country.

This basically puts McDonald on the short list to be named to Team Canada that will play in the World Junior Hockey Championships next season.

More from Calgary Flames News

McDonald has played the past three seasons in the QMJHL, and suited up last year for the Charlottetown Islanders. He posted a 28-22-4 record with a 3.06 goals against average and a .906 save percentage. Those numbers may not seem jaw dropping, but are solid stats for the high scoring QMJHL, McDonald’s .906 SV% was second best in the league.

Though he has already proven to be one of the best goaltenders in the QMJHL, McDonald will play one more year with the Islanders before turning pro. On a deep Charlottetown team and with a chance to join Team Canada at the World Junior tournament, the Halifax, Nova Scotia native has a chance for a memorable last season of Junior before taking a crack at the Flames crease.

With fellow netminder Jon Gillies set to turn pro this season after a tremendous College career at Providence, Calgary seems to be set for many years in the crease with a tandem of Gillies and McDonald.

More from Flame for Thought

Home/Calgary Flames News