Former SPHL player MacDonald dies in traffic accident

ORLANDO, FL – Former Columbus Cottonmouth, Jacksonville Barracudas and Fayetteville FireAntz forward Connor MacDonald was killed Sunday morning while crossing a busy roadway in Ormond Beach, Florida.
According to the Daytona Beach News Journal, the Florida Highway Patrol reported that MacDonald, 25, was trying to cross U.S. 1 south of Interstate 95 at 7:09 a.m.

when he was hit. He was struck by a Honda Civic driven by Karen Frentz, 48 of Bunnell, FL, who was traveling southbound on U.S. 1 at the time of the accident. FHP added that charges are pending.
MacDonald was living in Ormond Beach while studying motorcycle mechanics but it was not known which school he was attending.
Born and raised in the rural community of Tracadie Cross, Prince Edward Island, MacDonald spent part of his junior hockey career in the Maritime Junior A Hockey League (MJAHL) beginning in 2002 when he joined the Summerside Western Capitals. Between 2003 and 2005, he bounced between Summerside and the Campbellton Tigers in the MJAHL and the Quebec Major Junior PEI Rocket, who were coached by former Montreal Canadians and current Vancouver Canucks coach Alain Vigneault. His best junior season came in 2005-06 when he tallied 16 goals, 19 assists and 231 penalty minutes for the Restigouche Tigers of the MJAHL.
He turned pro in 2006 when he earned a roster spot with the Columbus Cottonmouths. Although he scored just four goals and added two assists that year, Columbus coach and general manager Jerome Bechard said the rookie left quite an impression.
“I had him here as a first year guy. He came in and did whatever I asked him to do – showed up to work and worked hard, fought and just whatever it took to win,” Bechard said.  “He helped us get to first place. He protected his teammates and did whatever needed to get done to win. It’s a shock to hear about his passing.”
He spent the 2007-08 season with the Jacksonville Barracudas where he tallied two goals, 11 assists and 176 penalty minutes in 52 regular season games. He was also a key part of the Barracudas run to the SPHL finals that year, with two goals and an assist in eight post-season games.
After playing for the Wichita Thunder in the CHL in 2008-09, he ended his career following the 2009-10 season in which he suited up for two games in Wichita and four with the SPHL FireAntz.
Taylor Ferrier, a high school classmate of MacDonald’s, told the News-Journal that the community is taking the news hard.
“Everyone’s devastated,” Ferrier said. “He was an incredible athlete and so humble.”
Funeral arrangements are pending.
Contact the author at don.money@prohockeynews.com