Parker MacDonald

Parker MacDonald, a native son of Sydney Nova Scotia, was a journeyman left winger.

His career began with 6 inconspicuous years in the NHL before establishing himself as a full time NHLer. From 1953 through 1955, Parker spent 63 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs organization, scoring 8 goals and 3 assists plus 4 playoff appearances.

In 1956 he was claimed by the New York Rangers in an Intra-League draft and played in 119 games the next 4 years, scoring 15 goals and 18 assists.

Things took a turn for the better for Parker when the Detroit Red Wings acquired him in the Intra League draft of 1960. By 1962 he found himself in Ted Lindsay's old spot, playing left wing on the top line with the legendary Alex Delvecchio and Gordie Howe! MacDonald turned in his best year ever, scoring 33 goals and 61 points. He followed that up with two more solid seasons, scoring 46 points in each of those campaigns.

At the end of the 1965 season Parker was involved in a blockbuster deal that saw him go to Boston. Albert Langlois, Ron Harris and Bob Dillabough accompanied him while Ab McDonald, Bob McCord and Ken Stephenson headed to the Motor City. However Parker's stay in Beantown was short lived. He played in 29 games with the Bruins before he was traded back to Detroit in exchange for Pit Martin. The move came on December 30 1965 - a nice way to ring in the new year for MacDonald.

Parker spent the rest of that season and the next toiling in obscurity with the Wings. In 1967 the NHL doubled in size thanks to expansion, and Parker was picked up by the new Minnesota North Stars. Expansion lengthened MacDonald's career by two years

By the conclusion of MacDonald's second year in Minny (1969), he had decided it was time to hang up the skates. The 39 year old accepted a minor league coaching position with Minnesota's CHL farm team in Iowa. It was the start of a second career in hockey for Parker, as he would go on to coach both Minnesota and Los Angeles, although without much success.

After being fired by the Kings, MacDonald stayed in Los Angeles to manage a soccer team. Wanting to get back into hockey, he moved back to the east coast, specifically New Haven. He set up some hockey schools as well as helped a friend in the construction business, but spent most of his time fishing.