Prospect Watch: Meet Hayley McDonald

Hayley McDonald, described as "the full package" by her coach, is a top prospect at Balmoral Hall in Canada's Sport School Hockey League.

Sport schools in Canada are rapidly becoming the home to elite hockey prospects. One of those rising prospects who will be closely watched is Balmoral Hall forward Hayley McDonald.

Recent sport school graduates include players like Jade Iginla and Brooke Disher, two key members of Team Canada's U-18 gold medal winning roster, and the youngest member of the Canadian senior national team, Danielle Serdachny.

Where Hayley McDonald stacks up against those players, and the dozens of sport school graduates now playing NCAA division I hockey is yet to be seen, but the 2008 born forward is on an upward trajectory.

This season as a grade 9 on Balmoral Hall's varsity team, McDonald burst onto the scene scoring 42 goals and 76 points in only 52 games. They're rare numbers for a first year student.

According to Balmoral interim director of hockey and women's head coach Regan Boulton, McDonald's speed, and willingness to compete are two of her best traits.

“Speed and tenacity are some of Hayley’s biggest strengths," said Boulton. "She is the first player into the corner and very good at engaging the body of a defender to create separation and space for herself. She almost always comes up with the puck from 50/50 battles." 

Once she has the puck the five-foot-nine, right shot forward from East St. Paul, Manitoba is dangerous.

"She has so much poise with the puck, she rarely forces plays or give unforced turnovers, she is very gifted at readying when to hang onto the puck and when to move it. On top of that, she is a natural goal scorer with a hard and accurate shot. She is the full package."

MacDonald was the only 2008 born player invited to Manitoba's top 40 U-18 development program this summer.

With three more seasons of development before she steps to the NCAA, McDonald will continue to be a prospect to watch.