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While winning the title was a great way to end the swan it was the last thingon MacDonald's mind when he began the 2012-13 season in the I‘edetal Hockey League 353 member of Wateflown. N .Y.'s 1000 Island Privateem Citing the (“mutation wasn't the most efficient. MacDonald asked his agent for a move. The wish was granted 31m after the National Htwkey league ended itskxzkoutinlanuaryashehadan n MICHAEL IMYAKAWA mhavakdwafibyrmgxam lustin Macl‘hnald muldn‘l recall playing on a championship team during his youth hockey days. But the 22-year-old funnel StoufivflleSpimerandMarkham Waxers midget and hamam for- ward won't soon forget this past The Newmarket natNe, was part ofya Pemacola Ice Hyers team that stated off with its first-ever South'- cm Hofcssional Hockey lBW'S Pmsidcnt's Cup champimtship. capped off with a 2â€"0 win over the Huntsville Havoc in the and deciding game of their final series in Pensacola. Ha. April 14. Stouffvflle €63 TOYOTA SPORTS Pro hockey title Worth the wait for Spirit grad “The Southern Profession- al lkxkey-‘lmgue is a far better league and when I had a chance to play in New York or on a beach. I definiteiy wmlted to play on the lmch." Macman said. “I was giad to get out of Watermwnfi opponunily to play in Pensacola. But even when landing in Pan- saoola. MacDonald acknowledged there was a bit of unmminty on his pan since‘the conclmion of the NHL lockout saw a domino elfectmrith playets moving from one league to another. “It wasasuassmltmforsulef hesaid.‘l'dhatdwotdofmegoing elsewhem. But fortunately it (fidn‘t panoutanda: theend. [couldn't complain because I won a cham- Inbmingmeloefiyemwhem hewasmesecond-youngestphyer ontheirmster, MacDonaldsenscd gnoddflngminstorehrhim. "You could tell right away the team I'd never been on a teamwhemmeycmnectedso well,whereweallgotabng.1here mom. There was definitely good team chemistry and that's huge. If www.stouffvilletoyota.net 905â€"642-6688 mwmm PEnsacolalcenyers. thins5don'ldickofl'tbeicemey won'tcfickonit.”hesaid. tihS. MacDonald wm quick to give credit to the Ice Hyers' coaching stafl along with team owner and former Philadelphia Flyers' for- wardTimKerrilicmatingacohe sun ICIIS: gnu - III: to - O 0:30 - o | sun: 11 - a 5 1 “BEE”! v WE HAVE T0 SEll EVERYTHING!!! ., At the same time though. Mac- Donald said he learned quite a bit from the older players on the Ht: began his professional career last season when he split time with the FayetteVifle FirPAntz and Mis- sissippi River Kings of the SP! 11. With the Spirit. the latter half of the 2010-11 campaign when they reached the Ontario lunior Hockey league semifinals beftm- losing to the Wellington Dukes. MacDonald had an outstanding postseason whEn he compiled six goals and four as‘S‘Lsts in 12 playoff games. "It definitely started when I played with the Waxers." he said “But coming to Stoufiville from Pickering in 2010-ll'was a great time. The mgafiization was great and they had great fan support. “When you have fans like that come out to see you play you want to play better. We had a great team and coach in (lung Donovan that year. It was a team where everyone put in the s'ame amount of effort. ,“Wcllington just brought their best game to beat us and went on to the RBC Cup." he MacDonald acknowledged he But as he has been part pf a championship club. he hopes it might warrant somt' atwnliun from an NHL club in terms uf «mending an invitation l0 him to attend a flu- agenlcamp. dst not know what the {mun- holds for him at the mumcm. One thing Maclbnald wmfl he denied. though. will be a uth championship ring. NOTES: Dan McWhinm-y couldn't play goal for Huntsville during the playoffs becauSc of an appendectomy. He backstoppod the Spirit to its first benh in the OIHL final in 2006. Now 2,7, he's played sewn years of pm for six “Being on the Ice Myers was a great experience. I wouldn't change it for the wofld.‘ he said. lively young. teams. He was playoff MVP and top goalie. playing for New k‘rw)‘. in the Mew] league a year ago... the Spirit hosts its annual rookie camp May 3 and 4 at the Stoufln'lk‘ Arena. More at stoufh'illcspint. [mintslreaksilemcpm ‘ to mention still