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Matt Donovan (ice hockey)

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Matt Donovan
Donovan with the New York Islanders in 2015
Born (1990-05-09) May 9, 1990 (age 34)
Edmond, Oklahoma, U.S.
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position Defense
Shot Left
Played for New York Islanders
Frölunda HC
Nashville Predators
HV71
Adler Mannheim
National team  United States
NHL draft 96th overall, 2008
New York Islanders
Playing career 2011–2024

Matt Donovan (born May 9, 1990) is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman who played in the National Hockey League (NHL). Donovan was selected by the New York Islanders in the fourth round (96th overall) of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

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Donovan at the 2013 AHL All-Star Skills Competition

Donovan grew up playing in Oklahoma City's youth hockey program where he initially attended Edmond North High School until the age of 15 before moving to John F. Kennedy High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.[1] While in Iowa, Donovan played for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders of the United States Hockey League (USHL). As a RoughRider, he was named to the USHL All-Rookie Team in his first season (2007–08), and the league's First All-Star Team in the following season.

Donovan made his University of Denver debut on October 9, 2009, and completed his first season as a Pioneer with seven goals and 14 assists for a total of 21 points in 36 games to lead all Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) defenseman in goals.[2] For his efforts he was rewarded by being named to the Inside College Hockey Freshman All-American team, All-College Hockey News Rookie Team, and All-WCHA Rookie Team.[3]

Donovan was drafted 96th overall in the fourth round of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 2008 draft by the New York Islanders. Upon completing his sophomore season at the University of Denver, he was quickly signed to a professional contract by the Islanders, who assigned him to play for their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.[4] Donovan scored a goal and four assists during the final six games of 2010–11 AHL season.[5] For the 2012–13 season, Donovan tied Justin Schultz for the most points among AHL defensemen with 48.[1]

Donovan made his NHL debut on April 3, 2012, against the New Jersey Devils, making him the first Oklahoman born, raised, and trained in the state to play in the NHL. Donovan wore uniform number 46 in honor of Oklahoma being the 46th state.[6] After making the Islanders' roster to start the 2013–14 season,[1] he scored his first NHL goal on October 8, 2013, against Mike Smith of the Phoenix Coyotes.[7]

With the Islanders declining to give Donovan a qualifying offer, on July 1, 2015, the Buffalo Sabres signed Donovan as a free agent to a one-year contract.[8]

After spending the 2015–16 season exclusively within the Sabres' AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans, Donovan left the NHL as a free agent to sign a one-year contract abroad with Swedish club, Frölunda HC of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), on July 21, 2016.[9]

Donovan enjoyed two productive seasons in Sweden, before opting to return to North America for the 2018–19 season, securing a one-year AHL contract with the Milwaukee Admirals on June 7, 2018.[10] Donovan instantly made an impact with the Admirals, leading the club in scoring with 12 points through his first 13 games before he was signed by NHL affiliate, the Nashville Predators, on a two-year, two-way contract on November 4, 2018.[11]

Nearing the conclusion of his contract with the Predators, Donovan opted to continue his tenure with the Milwaukee Admirals by signing a two-year AHL contract extension on March 23, 2020.[12]

With the Admirals opting out of playing in the pandemic delayed 2020–21 season, Donovan made a return to Sweden and the SHL, belatedly signing for the remainder of the season with HV71 on January 20, 2021.[13] He posted 2 goals and 7 points in 12 regular season games, unable to help prevent HV71 suffering relegation to the HockeyAllsvenskan (Allsv).

Returning to the Admirals for the following 2021–22 season, Donovan as an alternate captain, contributed with 8 goals and 40 points from the blueline in all 76 regular season games.

On June 17, 2022, Donovan again left the AHL and signed a one-year contract with German club, Adler Mannheim of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL).[14] In the 2022–23 season, Donovan as an alternate captain contributed offensively on the blueline with 8 goals and 23 points through 47 regular season games. He also added 8 assists in 12 playoff contests.

As a free agent, Donovan returned to North America after securing a one-year AHL contract with the Chicago Wolves on June 14, 2023.[15] In the 2023–24 season, Donovan continued to produce offensively from the blueline, totalling 43 points through 69 regular season games.

On August 26, 2024, Donovan concluded his 14-year professional career, after he was unveiled as an assistant coach of the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL, affiliate to former club, the Nashville Predators.[16]

International play

[edit]
Medal record
Ice hockey
Representing  United States
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 2010 Canada
World Junior A Challenge
Gold medal – first place 2008 Camrose

Donovan was a member of the United States junior hockey team that captured the gold medal in January 2010 at the 2010 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships with a 6–5 overtime victory against Team Canada.[17] Throughout the seven games Donovan gained three goals and two assists with a plus-6 rating.[18]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2007–08 Cedar Rapids RoughRiders USHL 59 12 18 30 41 3 0 1 1 4
2008–09 Cedar Rapids RoughRiders USHL 57 19 32 51 43 5 0 4 4 2
2009–10 University of Denver WCHA 36 7 14 21 50 — — — — —
2010–11 University of Denver WCHA 42 9 23 32 64 — — — — —
2010–11 Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL 6 1 4 5 10 — — — — —
2011–12 Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL 72 10 34 44 63 3 0 1 1 6
2011–12 New York Islanders NHL 3 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2012–13 Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL 75 14 34 48 112 — — — — —
2013–14 New York Islanders NHL 52 2 14 16 26 — — — — —
2013–14 Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL 27 7 14 21 25 — — — — —
2014–15 New York Islanders NHL 12 0 3 3 0 2 0 0 0 10
2015–16 Rochester Americans AHL 73 8 23 31 61 — — — — —
2016–17 Frölunda HC SHL 50 1 14 15 74 14 0 1 1 8
2017–18 Frölunda HC SHL 52 7 20 27 69 6 0 0 0 0
2018–19 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 64 11 24 35 66 5 0 2 2 8
2018–19 Nashville Predators NHL 2 0 1 1 2 — — — — —
2019–20 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 62 5 27 32 58 — — — — —
2020–21 HV71 SHL 12 2 5 7 2 — — — — —
2021–22 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 76 8 32 40 57 9 1 2 3 6
2022–23 Adler Mannheim DEL 47 8 15 23 33 12 0 8 8 8
2023–24 Chicago Wolves AHL 69 4 39 43 88 — — — — —
NHL totals 69 2 18 20 28 2 0 0 0 10

International

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Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2010 United States WJC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 7 3 2 5 4
2014 United States WC 6th 7 2 0 2 2
Junior totals 7 3 2 5 4
Senior totals 7 2 0 2 2

Awards and honors

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Award Year
USHL
All-Rookie Team 2008 [19]
First All-Star Team 2009 [20]
College
WCHA All-Rookie Team 2010 [21]
WCHA Second All-Star Team 2011 [22]
WCHA All-Tournament Team 2011 [23]
AHL
All-Rookie Team 2012 [24]
All-Star Game 2013
CHL
Champion 2017 [25]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Baldwin, Michael (October 3, 2013). "How the New York Islanders' Matt Donovan became the first Oklahoma product in the NHL". The Oklahoman.
  2. ^ "Matt Donovan". Denver Pioneers. June 29, 2009. Archived from the original on March 26, 2012. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  3. ^ "Cheverie and Gwozdecky Take Top WCHA Honors". Denver Pioneers. March 18, 2010. Archived from the original on March 26, 2012. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  4. ^ LeBourdais, Dyan (March 30, 2011). "Matt Donovan inks entry level contract". National Hockey League. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  5. ^ "'Miracle on Ice' defenseman impressed by Matt Donovan". The Oklahoman. April 22, 2011. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  6. ^ Rosen, Dan (April 3, 2012). "Oklahoma native Donovan set to make NHL history". National Hockey League. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  7. ^ Compton, Brian (October 8, 2013). "Tavares scores twice, Islanders rout Coyotes". National Hockey League. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  8. ^ Hamilton, Paul (July 1, 2015). "Sabres sign free agents Cal O'Reilly, Matt Donovan". Retrieved July 1, 2015.[permanent dead link‍]
  9. ^ "The squad complete" (in Swedish). Frölunda HC. July 21, 2016. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  10. ^ "Admirals sign Matt Donovan". Milwaukee Admirals. June 7, 2018. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  11. ^ "Nashville Signs Defenseman Matt Donovan to Two-Year Deal". NHL.com. November 4, 2018. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
  12. ^ "Donovan signs two-year extension". Milwaukee Admirals. March 23, 2020. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  13. ^ "Matt Donovan signs with HV71" (in Swedish). HV71. January 20, 2021. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  14. ^ "Matt Donovan completes the defense" (in German). Adler Mannheim. June 17, 2022. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  15. ^ "Wolves add 3 players for 2023-24 season". Chicago Wolves. June 14, 2023. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  16. ^ "Predators hire Matt Donovan as assistant coach for AHL's Milwaukee Admirals". Nashville Predators. August 26, 2024. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  17. ^ "U.S. wins gold; Sweden wins bronze". January 6, 2010. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  18. ^ "Edmond's Matt Donovan wins gold medal". The Oklahoman. January 7, 2010. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  19. ^ "USHL All-Rookie Team Rosters". Elite Prospects. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  20. ^ "USHL First All-Star Team Rosters". Elite Prospects. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  21. ^ "NCAA (WCHA) All-Rookie Team Rosters". Elite Prospects. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  22. ^ "NCAA (WCHA) Second All-Star Team Rosters". Elite Prospects. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  23. ^ "WCHA Tourney History". Western Collegiate Hockey Association. Archived from the original on July 2, 2014. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  24. ^ "2011-12 AHL All-Rookie Team announced". American Hockey League. April 4, 2012. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  25. ^ Gustav Orbring (February 7, 2017). "Frölunda win CHL for second year running" (in Swedish). SVTSport.se. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
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