McDonald Honored with Team Sportsmanship Award

Danvers High senior Shannon McDonald is being honored with a team sportsmanship award from the Mass. Interscholastic Athletics Association (MIAA) and the Boston Bruins.

The served as one of three captains to lead the Beverly-Danvers Co-op Team through the season and into the this year. McDonald, 17, is “known for demonstrating a positive attitude at practices and games that extends to her teammates from both schools,” reads the official announcement of the award on Thursday.

“Shannon works hard on and off the ice and plays with a passion for the game of hockey. She is the epitome of an athlete who plays the game with respect for her teammates, opponents, officials and coaches,” said Panthers head coach Fiona Rice.

The MIAA and Boston Bruins have teamed up for nine years to honor one student-athlete from each boys’ and girls’ ice hockey league in the state. McDonald is actually being feted for a combination of two – the Cape Ann League and the Northeastern Conference.

The players are selected by representatives of their own leagues for exemplifying the highest standards of fair play and sportsmanship in high school hockey. They also meet a few criteria:

• A record of complying, both in spirit and letter, with all rules and regulations during the season
• Demonstrating a record of respectfully accepting rulings of game officials conduct on and off the ice that honors self, team, school and community
• Commitment to teamwork by recognizing everyone’s talents and giving them an opportunity to contribute, fostering a spirit of camaraderie
• Showing respect for opponents before, during, and after games

McDonald and nine other girls’ hockey players will be honored on March 22 at the TD Garden during the second intermission of the Bruins’ game against the New Jersey Devils.