Matt Donovan (ice hockey)

Matt Donovan (born May 9, 1990) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman for the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Nashville Predators of 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.

Matt Donovan
Donovan in March 2015
Born (1990-05-09) May 9, 1990
Edmond, Oklahoma, U.S.
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position Defense
Shoots Left
NHL team (P)
Cur. team
Former teams		 Nashville Predators
Milwaukee Admirals (AHL)
New York Islanders
Frölunda HC
National team  United States
NHL Draft 96th overall, 2008
New York Islanders
Playing career 2011–present

Playing career
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.[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]

International play
Medal record
Ice hockey
Representing  United States
IIHF World Junior Championship
2010 Canada
World Junior A Challenge
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.[12] Throughout the seven games Donovan gained three goals and two assists with a plus-6 rating.[13]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2007–08Cedar Rapids RoughRidersUSHL591218304130114
2008–09Cedar Rapids RoughRidersUSHL571932514350442
2009–10University of DenverWCHA367142150—————
2010–11University of DenverWCHA429233264—————
2010–11Bridgeport Sound TigersAHL614510—————
2011–12Bridgeport Sound TigersAHL721034446330116
2011–12New York IslandersNHL30000—————
2012–13Bridgeport Sound TigersAHL75143448112—————
2013–14New York IslandersNHL522141626—————
2013–14Bridgeport Sound TigersAHL277142125—————
2014–15New York IslandersNHL120330200010
2015–16Rochester AmericansAHL738233161—————
2016–17Frölunda HCSHL501141574140118
2017–18Frölunda HCSHL52720276960000
2018–19Milwaukee AdmiralsAHL641124356650228
2018–19Nashville PredatorsNHL20112—————
2019–20Milwaukee AdmiralsAHL625273258—————
NHL totals692182028200010

International
Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2010 United States WJC 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
Award Year
USHL
All-Rookie Team 2008 [14]
First All-Star Team 2009 [15]
College
WCHA All-Rookie Team 2010 [16]
WCHA Second All-Star Team 2011 [17]
WCHA All-Tournament Team 2011 [18]
AHL
All-Rookie Team 2012 [19]
All-Star Game 2013
CHL
Champion 2017 [20]

References
  1. 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.
  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. "U.S. wins gold; Sweden wins bronze". January 6, 2010. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  13. "Edmond's Matt Donovan wins gold medal". The Oklahoman. January 7, 2010. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  14. "USHL All-Rookie Team Rosters". Elite Prospects. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  15. "USHL First All-Star Team Rosters". Elite Prospects. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  16. "NCAA (WCHA) All-Rookie Team Rosters". Elite Prospects. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  17. "NCAA (WCHA) Second All-Star Team Rosters". Elite Prospects. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  18. "WCHA Tourney History". Western Collegiate Hockey Association. Archived from the original on July 2, 2014. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  19. "2011-12 AHL All-Rookie Team announced". American Hockey League. April 4, 2012. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  20. Gustav Orbring (February 7, 2017). "Frölunda win CHL for second year running" (in Swedish). SVTSport.se. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
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