John Albert McDonald (November 24, 1921 â March 13, 1990) was a professional ice hockey player who played 43 games in the National Hockey League with the New York Rangers during the 1943âÂÂ44 season.
McDonald was born November 24, 1921, in Swan River, Manitoba. A high-scoring left winger, he captained the Portage Terriers during the 1939âÂÂ40 and 1941âÂÂ42 seasons that won the Memorial Cup. The 1942âÂÂ43 season was spent with the Flin Flon Bombers of the Saskatchewan Senior Hockey League.
McDonald joined the New York Rangers for the 1943âÂÂ44 season, one of several wartime additions. Playing in 43 NHL games, McDonald scored 10 goals and 9 assists. Persuaded to play in the Western Hockey League by Alex Shibicky, McDonald played in the west for six years.
After his hockey career, he worked for the Hudson's Bay Company as a bush pilot in Northern Manitoba and Ontario. McDonald also managed hockey rinks all over Canada. His last stop was at the Burnaby Winter Club, where he and Shibicky reunited some 30 years later and coached many players who went on to NHL careers.