Yet, they are studies in contrast due to their age difference.
The 23-year-old Nunn is in mid-climb, hoping his solid season with the always-proficient Alaska Aces propels him next season to the American Hockey League.
The 29-year-old MacDonald is at that point in his pro career when he can do what he wants on his own terms. The BCHL Victoria Salsa (now Grizzlies) graduate is long past worrying about that call from the Boston Bruins that never came. With that comes a rare moment of freedom as he had the latitude to turn down a recent continuing AHL call-up with the Houston Aeros to return to the Reading Royals of the ECHL because he felt happier and more comfortable in a leading role as the Royals continue their Kelly Cup playoff push.
That is one of several Island storylines as the AHL heads down the regular-season stretch to the Calder Cup playoffs, while the ECHL Kelly Cup playdowns continue.
In the ECHL Western Conference, the quicksilver Nunn had two goals and five points as Alaska dispatched the San Francisco Bulls 4-1 in their opening-round series to advance to a second-round date against the Stockton Thunder and last season鈥檚 WHL standout goalie Tyler Bunz.
In the other Western Conference semifinal, the Idaho Steelheads feature James Isaacs of Victoria and Chase Schaber, the latter a thorn in the side of the Victoria Royals last year in junior as captain of the Kamloops Blazers. The captain of the Steelies鈥� opponent, Ontario Reign, is former Salmon Kings forward Derek Couture.
鈥淭wo years ago we won the Kelly Cup and that is our ultimate goal again this year,鈥� said Aces forward Nunn, from Anchorage.
鈥淲e won the league regular-season crown. This is the closest team I鈥檝e ever been on. Everyone lives together and hangs out. There are no cliques.鈥�
With team success, comes personal success as the former WHLer Nunn was second on the team in points with 49 in 65 regular-season games. That could mean a promotion to the AHL next season.
鈥淚 was hoping to get to the AHL this season but, of course the [NHL] lockout made that tough,鈥� said Nunn.
鈥淚 was in the Abbotsford [AHL] camp and obviously hoping to stick but then the [parent] Calgary Flames sent down a bunch of players because of the lockout. Next season, I hope to stick.鈥�
In the ECHL鈥檚 East, MacDonald鈥檚 Royals defeated the Greenville Road Warriors 鈥� with a pair of Victoria products and BCHL grads Lee Baldwin from the Grizzlies and Brandon Wong 鈥� 4-1 in the best-of-seven quarter-finals to advance to the conference semifinals against the Florida Everblades.
Defenceman Taylor Ellington of Victoria, the former Salmon King and second-round Canucks draft pick, was also on the verge of advancing in the Eastern Conference with his Cincinnati Cyclones leading Toledo 3-2 heading into Tuesday鈥檚 Game 6.
MacDonald is content to finish out his pro career going for the Kelly Cup instead of the Calder. Considered a prototype WHL major-junior power forward at six-foot-two and 200 pounds, MacDonald turned down the Saskatoon Blades and went the BCHL route with the hometown Salsa and later RPI of the NCAA, where he played for the Engineers and earned a business degree at the prestigious university.
The Oak Bay High grad knows his time on the ice is now limited. But his future seems set off the ice because of his degree.
Overcoming testicular cancer at 21, as MacDonald did, gives one a sense of perspective.
After three full seasons with the Providence Bruins of the AHL, MacDonald was returned to his previous ECHL team in Reading this season. Reading is where he feels best in what may be his last pro season.
