Mezue ahịrịokwu na-esonụ: Mgbe a họpụtara 51st n'ozuzu na National Hockey League (NHL)
2003 draft site na Edmonton Oilers, McDonald nọrọ oge anọ na Providence College. N'oge afọ mbụ ya (2003<unk>04), McDonald duziri Providence Friar freshmen na ihe mgbaru ọsọ 10. Egwuregwu ya mere ka o nweta ihe nrite "Most Valuable Freshman" nke Providence nakwa nhọrọ maka Hockey East All-Rookie Team. Dịka nwa akwụkwọ nke abụọ, McDonald enweghị oge n'ihi mmerụ ahụ mana ọ ka jisiri ike dakọtara akara ya site na afọ mbụ ka ọ gbakwunyere ihe mgbaru ọsọ 11 ma gbakwunye 5 enyere aka. Mgbe ọ dị obere, ọ rụrụ ọrụ dịka onye isi ndị ọzọ ma rute ọkwa kachasị elu na isi ihe (28) na inye aka (19), na-emecha nke anọ na otu ya na-eme ihe. A họpụtara ya onye isi ndị isi maka oge 2006-07 na njedebe nke afọ. N'afọ ikpeazụ ya, o nwere ihe mgbaru ọsọ 13 kachasị elu, yana enyemaka 4, na-agbakọta isi 17.