Men's Ice Hockey 4/15/2026 12:29:00 PM Joel Norman

FORMER LANCER MCDONALD MAKES NHL DEBUT

Former Omaha Lancer Hunter McDonald skated in his first NHL game Tuesday night and picked up an assist in the Philadelphia Flyers' 4-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens.

McDonald earned the game's third star by recording an assist on the Flyers' second goal of the night. His teammate and fellow former Lancer, Alex Bump, scored Philadelphia's final goal.

The Fairport, NY, native skated in 69 games for the Lancers from 2020-22. McDonald recorded 15 points (5+10) overall and helped Omaha earn the second seed in the 2021 Clark Cup Playoffs. Perhaps most impressively, McDonald was a +29 as a Lancer. He was eventually traded to Chicago in February 2022 to wrap up his junior career.

McDonald spent two seasons at Northeastern, where he recorded 20 points (2+18) over 58 games. He was named Northeastern's Rookie of the Year in 2022-23 as well as the Hockey East's Best Defensive Defenseman that campaign. McDonald helped Northeastern win the Beanpot in 2023 and led all Northeastern defenseman with 14 points (1+13) as a freshman.

Philadelphia drafted McDonald in the sixth round of the 2022 NHL Draft and he signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Flyers following the 2023-24 season. McDonald skated in 11 games that season with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the AHL and then 133 contests over the last two seasons before joining Philadelphia this week. McDonald finished fourth among Phantoms' defensemen with 18 points last season.

McDonald is the fourth different former Lancer to make his NHL debut this season and the 52nd all-time. For a full list of former Lancers to appear in an NHL game, please visit lancers.com/sports/2022/8/19/nhl-alumni.aspx.

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