Jacob MacDonald in a game against the San Jose Barracuda at Blue Arena. Courtesy of the Colorado Eagles (Flickr).The Colorado Eagles announced today in a press release that defenseman Jacob MacDonald has earned the Eddie Shore Award, presented to the American Hockey League's most outstanding defenseman.
The Eddie Shore Award, named after defenseman Eddie Shore, a Hockey Hall of Famer in both the NHL and AHL, was first presented in the 1958-59 season to Steve Kraftcheck. Since then, it's been awarded to the most outstanding defenseman of the AHL season.
Jacob MacDonald tallied a total of 31 goals and 24 assists in the regular season. Those 31 goals are the most by a defenseman in the history of the league, breaking the previous record of 30, held by John Slaney of the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins in the 1999-2000 season.
MacDonald's 31 goals ranked 7th league-wide, leading all defenseman and making him the only defenseman in the top-10 in goals in the AHL. His 55 points also led all defensemen in the league during the regular season.