Hunter McDonald reflects on wild journey from Fairport, N.Y., to the NHL

Hunter McDonald participated in Flyers development camp this summer. (Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

All of the 225 players selected in the National Hockey League Draft this year took different paths to hearing their names called in Montreal.

When it comes to journeys, though, the one taken by Hunter McDonald is tough to top.

A native of Fairport, N.Y., McDonald thought about his unusual sojourn after being selected by the Philadelphia Flyers in the sixth round (pick No. 165) on June 25 at Bell Centre.

Recalling that journey — and the sacrifices involved — caused McDonald’s father to nearly cry.

“His journey was a little different,” said Tom McDonald, his voice cracking. “Oh, yeah.”

For so long, Hunter McDonald wasn’t on the radar of college recruiters and NHL scouts. But the 6-foot-3, 207-pound defenseman never stopped dreaming of landing a Division 1 scholarship and being selected by an NHL team.

Fairport is equal distance to two major New York cities, Syracuse and Buffalo. McDonald knows the routes to those cities by heart. He made the 84-mile drive to Syracuse four times a week during the winter for three seasons as a member of the Syracuse Nationals.

A two-hour practice meant a 168-mile round trip journey. With no traffic, that’s almost three hours spent in a car.

McDonald then joined the Junior Sabres for one season. That resulted in more 168-mile trips at least three times a week, just in a different direction.

“It was just a different path. He just stuck it out,” Tom McDonald said. “Two hours on ice, maybe a workout, then 84 miles home. My wife got really good at the crockpot. It was homework in the car. It was dinner in the car.”

Through it all, through all those snowy drives home, Hunter never lost his zest for hockey.

When he heard his name called by the Flyers, the hugs he shared with his father, his mother, Joy, his sister, Kellyn, and his girlfriend were extra meaningful.

“When I got picked, seeing myself on the big screen, hugging my family, and then walking down to the floor, I took it all in. It was a cool experience. I do remember everything. I wanted to take it all in and remember it forever,” he said.

There was much to reflect on as he pulled a Flyers jersey over his head. All the miles put on the family’s minivan shuttling to and from practices and games, although a Syracuse assistant coach and other parents significantly helped the McDonalds get their son to and from Syracuse and Buffalo.

All the times he arrived home late at night following a game or practice, his body craving a chance to get some needed sleep.

“It was a long road,” said Tom McDonald, a high school hockey and junior coach while Hunter was growing up.

A major influence on his son’s career, he won a Division 3 national championship in 1992 as a defenseman at the State University of New York at Canton.

During the 2018-19 season, Hunter McDonald split his time between the Rochester Coalition and Fairport High. McDonald put up 12-12-24 numbers in 17 games as a junior at Fairport High. He was putting up impressive numbers playing for his school. But was anyone watching?

“His buddies were going to prep schools. His buddies were going away. Are people going to see him? It was just a different path. Not a lot of people are scoping out Section 5 hockey in western New York,” his father said.

McDonald took a step up in competition the following season, skating for Rochester of the National Collegiate Development Conference and playing seven games for Corpus Christi of the North American Hockey League.

But his career took off when he joined Omaha of the United States Hockey League for the 2020-21 campaign. This past season he compiled a 3-7-10 line in 33 games for Omaha — then received surprising news. He had been traded to Chicago.

“It was crazy. I made the drive to Chicago in eight hours. Chicago made it easy. I knew it was going to be a great spot. I had friends in Omaha. Being traded was pretty beneficial,” McDonald said.

He tried to play the same style in Chicago, where he netted a goal and three assists in 21 games. He prides himself in being a physical defenseman who takes care of his own end.

“This year I started to have the ability to make plays and stuff, but I didn’t want to get away from what made me successful,” he said.

In 90 USHL games he registered six goals and 13 assists, while compiling 183 penalty minutes. He was well aware that this would be his last chance to get drafted.

“I like being physical. I’m not afraid to drop the gloves if I have to. But not in college. I think you can change the game with physical play,” he said.

Originally committed to RPI, McDonald made the difficult decision to decommit. He visited three Hockey East schools — Northeastern, Boston University and Providence — before selecting Northeastern, where he’ll be a freshman this fall.

“I’m super pumped. I have buddies who are in Hockey East. It’s going to be an adjustment. It’s going to be real fun. Northeastern is going to be a good place for me,” he said.

McDonald began his hockey career as a defenseman and never wanted to play another position.

“You can see it all. You’re the last man back if something happens. You’ve got to be dependable and reliable,” he said.

McDonald’s path to being taken by the Flyers was not always a smooth one. He was eligible for the 2020 draft. He wasn’t taken. He was eligible for the 2021 draft. Again, he went undrafted.

So when he made the 5 1/2-hour drive to Montreal and was later joined by his family, he tried to remain positive.

“Obviously anything can happen,” he said. “I went in there confident. I tried not to think too much about it. I was obviously nervous but excited. You’re just kind of waiting. But you’ve got to stay calm. It’s a relief when you’re picked.”

When he was selected, he was thrilled and surprised. Several teams expressed interest. The Flyers weren’t one of them.

The day after the draft, he checked out of his hotel room and drove home. He barely had time to collect his thoughts. Within hours, he boarded a flight in Rochester bound for Philadelphia. He then drove to Voorhees, N.J., site of Philadelphia’s development camp.

“I thought it went really good,” he said. “I met a bunch of other prospects. I belonged there. Being a little older, you’re more mature and you can see how your path is going to sort out.”

A lifelong fan of the Boston Bruins, McDonald found himself getting Flyers hats and shirts for his family.

Being in Montreal for the first time was a fantastic experience with his family. Hearing his name called by the Flyers was a dream come true.

“When you’re a little kid … you’re in the driveway and you’re dreaming of getting drafted in the NHL. I always had it as a goal and how special it would be,” he said.

He had plenty of time sitting in his family’s minivan, and other vehicles, to think of what that moment would be like when he was shuttling back and forth to rinks, especially those in Syracuse and Buffalo, the miles on Interstate 90 whizzing by like a blistering slap shot and his eyelids drooping with exhaustion.

“At the time those were the best places to play. It was just a huge commitment,” he said, “but it was worth it. Yeah, it definitely was.”