Aidan McDonough explained

Aidan McDonough
Birth Date:6 November 1999
Birth Place:Milton, Massachusetts, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:2
Weight Lb:201
Position:Left wing
Shoots:Left
League:AHL
Team:Charlotte Checkers
Former Teams:Vancouver Canucks
Draft:195th overall
Draft Year:2019
Draft Team:Vancouver Canucks
Career Start:2023

Aidan McDonough (born November 6, 1999) is an American professional ice hockey left wing for the Charlotte Checkers in the American Hockey League (AHL). McDonough was drafted 195th overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

McDonough began his collegiate career for the Northeastern Huskies during the 2019–20 season, where he recorded 11 goals and 16 assists in 31 games. In eight games in February, McDonough led Hockey East in scoring with seven goals and 11 points. His five power-play goals were the most in the nation and his six power-play points led the league. He was subsequently named the Hockey East Co-Player of the Month for February.[1]

During the 2020–21 season, he recorded ten goals and ten assists in 21 games, in a season that was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He posted seven goals and four assists in February and recorded his first career hat-trick on February 12, 2021.[2] He was subsequently named the Hockey East Co-Player of the Month for February.[3] Following the season he was awarded the Hockey East Three-Stars Award.[4]

On June 10, 2021, he was named an assistant captain for the 2021–22 season.[5] During his junior year he recorded 25 goals and 14 assists in 38 games. He led the Huskies in goals and ranked second in the NCAA, while his .66 goals per game ranked third in the NCAA. Following an outstanding season he was named to the All-Hockey East First Team and named an AHCA East First Team All-American.[6] [7]

On March 28, 2022, McDonough announced he would return to Northeastern for his senior year.[8] In the 2022–23 season, McDonough was selected as team captain of the Huskies and completed his fourth season in leading led the team with 20 goals and 38 points through 34 games.

Having concluded his collegiate career, McDonough was promptly signed to a two-year, entry-level contract with the Vancouver Canucks on March 13, 2023.[9]

At the conclusion of his entry-level contract, McDonough was not tendered a qualifiying offer by the Canucks and was released as a free agent. On July 5, 2024, McDonough was signed to a one-year AHL contract with the Charlotte Checkers, the primary affiliate to the Florida Panthers, for the 2024–25 season.[10]

Career statistics

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
2014–15Thayer AcademyUSHS24448
2015–16Thayer AcademyUSHS31251944
2016–17Thayer AcademyUSHS30222749
2017–18Thayer AcademyUSHS29253459
2018–19Cedar Rapids RoughRidersUSHL5021214249
2019–20Northeastern UniversityHE3111162710
2020–21Northeastern UniversityHE211010204
2021–22Northeastern UniversityHE3825143944
2022–23Northeastern UniversityHE3420183814
2022–23Vancouver CanucksNHL61012
2023–24Abbotsford CanucksAHL58118191020000
NHL totals61012

Awards and honors

AwardYear
College
All-Hockey East First Team2022, 2023[11]
AHCA East First Team All-American2022, 2023[12]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Crookshank, McDonough Named Army ROTC Co-Players of the Month . hockeyeastonline.com . March 2, 2020 . April 9, 2022.
  2. Web site: McDonough's Hat Trick Leads Huskies to 6-2 Win over UNH . hockeyeastonline.com . February 12, 2021 . April 9, 2022.
  3. Web site: McDonough Named Army ROTC Co-Player of the Month . nuhuskies.com . March 2, 2021 . April 9, 2022.
  4. Web site: McDonough Earns PNC Bank Three Stars Award . nuhuskies.com . March 11, 2021 . April 9, 2022.
  5. Web site: Kislin, McDonough and Hughes Named Assistant Captains . nuhuskies.com . June 10, 2021 . April 9, 2022.
  6. Web site: Levi, Harris, McDonough Named First Team All-Star . nuhuskies.com . March 11, 2022 . April 9, 2022.
  7. Web site: Devon Levi, Aidan McDonough, Jordan Harris Named CCM/AHCA All-Americans . nuhuskies.com . April 8, 2022 . April 9, 2022.
  8. Web site: Canucks prospect McDonough explains why he's not signing right now . . Rob . Williams . March 28, 2022 . April 9, 2022.
  9. Web site: Canucks sign Aidan McDonough to two-year, entry-level contract . . March 13, 2023 . March 13, 2023.
  10. Web site: Aidan McDonough inks one-year AHL deal with Charlotte . . July 5, 2024 . July 5, 2024 .
  11. Web site: Hockey East Names 2021-22 Men's All-Star Teams . hockeyeastonline.com . March 11, 2022 . April 9, 2022.
  12. News: Four players return to 2021-22 Division I men's All-American teams, led by three-time pick Dryden McKay . USCHO.com . April 8, 2022 . April 9, 2022.