Xaverian captain cites sibling’s role in success as goalie
Xaverian Brothers High senior goalie Kyle MacDonald keeps a close watch for opposing skaters during last weekend’s 5-0 win against Westford Academy. (David Kamerman/Globe Staff)
By Justin A. Rice December 31, 2009
After the Xaverian Brothers High hockey team lost in the Super 8 boys’ tournament for the second straight year last March, Kyle MacDonald not only hit the weight room - the Hanover teen also hit a growth spurt. The 6-foot, 165-pound senior goalie grew so much his pads no longer fit.
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Fortunately, his folks were generous enough to buy him new gear in October, which meant Santa didn’t leave much under the tree on Christmas.
“I didn’t expect much,’’ said the Division 1 college prospect, who said he mostly received clothing last Thursday. “Pads cost over a grand, so I was happy.’’
Besides putting on 10 pounds and growing nearly 3 inches, MacDonald, a three-year starter and hockey captain at the Catholic school in Westwood, has also made his presence in the net bigger by improving his technique.
“He’s done that and he’s so quick so that combo makes him tough to beat,’’ said Xaverian coach David Spinale. “He’s the backbone of our team. That’s no secret. We continue to rely on him, and he thrives on it and enjoys shouldering the load.’’
MacDonald, 18, started playing goalie 12 years ago, serving as a target for his older brother, Chris, who helped Hanover High win a state title in 2007 and now plays at Wesleyan University.
The older sibling had been trying to get him in the street hockey net for years, starting when he about age 3, MacDonald said. “My dad was like, ‘Stay away from him, Chris.’ Once I was old enough to put pads on, he was like, ‘Put them on,’ ’’ MacDonald said.
“He used to come in close and shoot his slap shot right in front on my face. One day I came out closer to him, I cut off the angle, and no more,’’ he recalled.
The firing squad during those street hockey games included the elder MacDonald’s friends, and Spinale credits that experience for helping Kyle succeed on the varsity as a sophomore.
“That had a direct impact on him in terms of his confidence level,’’ Spinale said, “not only being able to compete athletically but to socially be confident.’’
MacDonald started the ninth game of his sophomore season and ended up leading the team to its first Super 8 appearance in school history.
“I can’t imagine playing my first varsity game in net; the pressure on the goaltender is enough as it is,’’ said Xaverian teammate Nate Hardiman, a four-year varsity player from Stoughton. “That just shows he belongs there.’’
Xaverian returned to the Super 8 last season and ultimately lost 2-1 in overtime to Burlington.
Hardiman has been motivated to improve defensively this year, having missed his assignment at a key moment in last season’s final game. With only one returning starter at the blue line, Chris Kennedy of Sherborn, the team’s forwards have had to become more defensive minded.
“A lot of kids nowadays worry about ‘I gotta score 100 goals, I gotta look pretty’ ’’ to impress colleges, Hardiman said. “But back-checking and getting back in the defensive zone are things coaches see. Coaches realize, ‘This guy can help us out on defense.’
“If you have guys that are only offensive-minded, you’ll get hurt and lose games that way.’’
The team’s young defenders have held up fine in the season’s early going, with the Hawks starting 2-0, including a 5-0 win against Westford Academy. But there’s no doubt that MacDonald’s presence in the net gives his squad a little more room for error.
“When we made mistakes in the defensive zone he bails us out a lot, especially on penalty kill,’’ Hardiman said of MacDonald. “When they’re ripping shots from the point, he’s guaranteed to make the first save.’’
No matter how much work is ahead of them this year, the five players returning from the last two Super 8 teams know deep down their legacy is secure.
“Looking back on it, I will get to say I was part of that first team that made the Super 8 in school history,’’ Hardiman said. “Yeah, it’s a big thing, but I try not to look back on the past.
“It’s great that we made it but we’re disappointed we lost it,’’ he added.
The teams will play on the rink built for this season’s edition of the NHL Winter Classic, with the Boston Bruins and the Philadelphia Flyers slated to face off at 1 p.m. tomorrow at Fenway.
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