(above) DU recruit Matt Donovan will bring a linebacker mentality to the Pioneer blueline next seasonCedar Rapids RoughRiders defenseman and DU recruit Matt Donovan has been named to the All-United States Hockey League First Team the USHL announced today.
“Matt is very deserving of this honor,” said RoughRiders Coach and General Manager Mark Carlson. “Not only is he a talented player but he's worked extremely hard during his time with the RoughRiders. This season he has also taken on important leadership roles for us.”
Donovan, 18, led all USHL defensemen in goals (19) and points (51) this season and also set single season records for RoughRider blue liners in both categories. Donovan finished fourth among defensemen in assists (32) and matched the team record for defensemen in that category. In addition, he finished tied for ninth among all players in power play goals (10).
Selection to the all-league team is just the latest in a string of honors for Donovan, who served as one of the Riders’ captains this season. The Edmond, Oklahoma, native skated in February’s USHL All-Star/Prospects Game in Sioux Falls, won a gold medal with the United States team at the World Junior A Challenge in November in Camrose, Alberta and last season was named to the USHL All-Rookie Team after finishing his first junior campaign tied for second among defensemen in goals (12) and tied for seventh in points (30).
Donovan, who will play college hockey at Denver, was selected by the New York Islanders in the fourth round of last May’s National Hockey League Entry Draft with the ninety-sixth overall pick.
Donovan joins Jacob Cepis (2006-07), Al Stalock (2005-06), Derek Peltier (2003-04) and Bobby Goepfert (2001-02) as the fifth Rider in team history to earn First Team All-USHL honors.
Donovan and the rest of the RoughRiders (38-17-5, 81 points) will play the first two games of their opening round best-of-five USHL Clark Cup Playoff series on home ice Friday and Saturday nights at 7:05 against a yet to be determined opponent.
“Matt is very deserving of this honor,” said RoughRiders Coach and General Manager Mark Carlson. “Not only is he a talented player but he's worked extremely hard during his time with the RoughRiders. This season he has also taken on important leadership roles for us.”
Donovan, 18, led all USHL defensemen in goals (19) and points (51) this season and also set single season records for RoughRider blue liners in both categories. Donovan finished fourth among defensemen in assists (32) and matched the team record for defensemen in that category. In addition, he finished tied for ninth among all players in power play goals (10).
Selection to the all-league team is just the latest in a string of honors for Donovan, who served as one of the Riders’ captains this season. The Edmond, Oklahoma, native skated in February’s USHL All-Star/Prospects Game in Sioux Falls, won a gold medal with the United States team at the World Junior A Challenge in November in Camrose, Alberta and last season was named to the USHL All-Rookie Team after finishing his first junior campaign tied for second among defensemen in goals (12) and tied for seventh in points (30).
Donovan, who will play college hockey at Denver, was selected by the New York Islanders in the fourth round of last May’s National Hockey League Entry Draft with the ninety-sixth overall pick.
Donovan joins Jacob Cepis (2006-07), Al Stalock (2005-06), Derek Peltier (2003-04) and Bobby Goepfert (2001-02) as the fifth Rider in team history to earn First Team All-USHL honors.
Donovan and the rest of the RoughRiders (38-17-5, 81 points) will play the first two games of their opening round best-of-five USHL Clark Cup Playoff series on home ice Friday and Saturday nights at 7:05 against a yet to be determined opponent.
10 comments:
It looks like were are going to have a terrific bunch of "blueliners".
Add Wrenn, Donovan & Phillips to Brookwell, Lee, Wiercioch, Nutini & Ryder and all of a sudden Chevy may be pretty bored back in the crease. :-)
Now that would be a good thing!
Looks like the heir apparent to Wiercioch...
Yep, but with a "Nasty Streak."
Will be very interesting to see if these two get any minutes side by side on the power play. Maybe, DU moves Ruegsegger to Bozak's spot on the PP.
Wiercioch is such a fluid skater, with deft puck control, incredible hockey sense going to the net, with the best shot from the point we've seen in a long time.
Just reading up on Donovan, I sense a different type of player. More physical, obviously has a good shot, good skater and maybe more of a prototypical NHL defenseman than Wiercioch.
Think "Good Cop, Bad Cop." :-)
Nice picture! Great to see that the great tradition of cheapshots and "Nasty Streak" low blows will be continued at DU!
Can't wait to see Donovan in a DU uniform.
Does anyone know how does he stacks up against John Moore? I noticed Moore was the USHL defensemen of the year but Donovan had better stats. And Moore made the huge mistake of committing to CC. :D
Moore = DU Reject
Moore looks like a real nice player. Highest rated player in the USHL in the NHL mid-term rankings. Will be interesting to see where he goes this summer in the NHL draft.
Theres hockey fans and pud knockers.... now when are you pud knockers gonna get a life?
Hopefully Mr. Donovan does'nt follow in the shoes one of your famous alums...Geoff Punkobitch..I mean Paukovitch. GOON CITY!
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