[1] McDonald served as in the United States Naval Air Corps for four years during World War II.
After the war, he resumed his studies and began attending the University of Michigan, where he joined the ice hockey team for the second half of the 1945–46 season.
In their opening round match Michigan and Boston College battled to a 4–4 tie in regulation which forced a 20-minute overtime.
McDonald bore down and stopped all succeeding shots, allowing his team to climb back and go on a six-goal run to win the first NCAA ice hockey tournament.
[3] McDonald graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering and at the time he was the winningest goaltender in the history of college hockey.