Edmond Outlook Article about Matt Donovan

Here's a look at a recent Edmond Outlook Magazine Article about NY Islanders Prospect & Edmond Native Matt Donovan as he looking to be on the door step of making his NHL Debut later this season. In addition to this article which was written by Nathan Winfrey, they was also a Q&A that Freelance Writer Terry Hull did for the December Issue of the Oklahoma Magazine.

Also in addition, here's what Hockey's Future has to say about Donovan midway through his 1st AHL Season so far.

Donovaon is playing in his 1st full season with Bridgeport. At the end of last season he decided to bypass his final two years with the University of Denver after a stellar sophomore season. In six games last season he set the bar very high for himself after posting five points in those games. In 39 games so far this season he has posted 22 points (4G 18A).

For being an offensive minded defensemen he has great size. He is built like a rock, and has a great shot from the point. Though he weighs 200 pounds, he has never been known as a physical player, but uses his long reach to his advantage. Speed has always been a problem for him, but remains a mobile skater. With more experience in Bridgeport he has the chance to be a very serviceable puck moving defensemen for the Islanders, in a mold similar to Pittsburgh Penguin Paul Martin.

Here's the Edmond Outlook Article by Nathan Winfery

Here's the Link to the Matt Donovan Q&A

It's no surprise to hear of a local sports star going pro. Oklahoma grows tremendous athletes - people who rack up gold medals and win national championships - and Oklahomans love hometown hero's who achieve the international spotlight. However, when Edmond native Matt Donovan was drafted to a professional league in 2008, he made history.

At age 18, Donovan was drafted by the National Hockey League, an extremely rare occurrence for an Oklahoman. Born and raised in a state with a climate disagreeable for skating on frozen ponds, the defensemen  was selected by the New York Islanders in the fourth round.

The list of other Oklahomans in the NHL's history is a short one. Tyler Arnason, who plays for the Chicago Blackhawks in the AHL is the only other player and he was born here. Arnason grew up in Canada.

Donovan is currently assigned to the Islanders top AHL Affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. He explains that the way the drafting system works is not like football, but more like baseball. For a hockey player, being drafted isn't a sure ticket to fay paychecks and lucrative product endorsement's. Hockey Players have to work their way up.

While Donovan's eyes are set on becoming a full time NHL Player, he's more then just biding time with the Sound Tigers. When he joined the team last spring, he had time for just six games with them before the season ended in April. In the off-season he got to know his teammates and when he started the new season in October, after joining the Islanders for three pre-season games, he returned as an even more invested Sound Tiger. "It's awesome knowing all the guys now," he said. "We've got a good group of guys so it's been fun so far."

Donovan hopes to help the Sound Tigers, named after the Long Island Sound, win games and make it to the playoffs. Plus, he hopes to be called up to play at least one game with the Islanders this season. His team members are mostly from the Northern U.S. States, Canada and countries like Russia, Finland & Sweden - places known for perpetual cold weather. "Everyone gets along. It's fun to hear all the different languages," he says.

Apart from being the only Okie, he's also one of the youngest on the team. "We've got a pretty young team," says the now 21 year old. The oldest player is 30 and Donovan values the experience of the guys who have some years on him. Some have been playing pro hockey for a decade. "They're veterans," he says. Donovan grew up with hockey in a way few Oklahomans have had the privilege. Over the years, his dad helped run an ice skating rink in Bethany, Arctic Edge Ice Arena in Edmond and the Blazers Ice Center, which meant much of Donovan's formative years were spent near on the ice. "It was pretty easy getting into hockey," he recalls. "I've loved it ever since I started."

As a freshman at Edmond North High School, Donovan played AA Hockey for the OKC Junior Blazers. When he was 16, he moved to Dallas and played AAA Hockey for the Dallas Stars Elites. He finished his high school career in Iowa, playing for the Cedar Rapids Roughriders in the United States Hockey League (USHL). There, he was named to the USHL All Rookie Team.

His college career consisted of two seasons with the University of Denver Pioneers, after which came his historic NHL Draft. Another career landmark came in January 2010 when Donovan won a Gold Medal at the World Junior Hockey Championships in Canada.

Now living in Connecticut, ice is easier to come by than it was in Oklahoma, but he misses his family and friends in Edmond. "I grew up there and know everything around there," he said. Donovan picks the ocean as the biggest difference between his dry home state and where he has been transplanted, and it will be a while before he's home again for a significant length of time. The Sound Tigers are well into the new season and Donovan is optimistic. "It's going well so far," he says. "It's awesome to be drafted. I hope it proves to kids in Oklahoma playing hockey that they can make it to the NHL."

Comments by Hockeys Future on Southwest NHL Prospects

The great Prospects Website called Hockeys Future are in the process of updating their Top 20 Prospects for every NHL Team and so far, 2 of the 3 NHL Teams that have Southwest Prospects have been featured and the good news is that the news seems to be positive that the Southwest Prospects continue to make their way to the NHL.

Austin Smith & Matt Donovan have already been featured while Chris Brown's assessment with the Phoenix Coyotes will be coming soon. The big thing with Chris Brown is to see if he cracks the top 5 after being ranked #6 back in the spring during the CCHA & NCAA Tournaments.

Also with Collin Jacobs and possibly Jeff Mcminny in the 2011 Draft, plus Seth Jones in the 2012 Draft Year. The Future of big time hockey talent coming from the Southwest looks bright.


Hockeys Future

For Austin Smith, even he dropped 2 spots on the Dallas Stars Top 20 from 10th to 12th. The team still seems to like his progress as he looks ahead to his Junior Year at Colgate University as he will be looking to make a much bigger impact after one of the big offensive linemates in David Mclntyre to help out with the offense.

Here's the Official Hockey's Future Comments on Austin Smith

Ranked #12 with DAL: Another strong season for Austin Smith for Colgate University is certainly enticing to the Stars brass. He led his club in points with 41 points in 36 games. Smith will have a challenge ahead of him in 2011-12 as he will no longer able to rely on older linemate and friend David Mclntyre for offensive support. He will likely have the services of Brian Day but even more of the offensive load is going to fall on the speedy Juniors shoulder.

Smith is a ball of energy and should meet the challenge quite well. He seems passionate for the game and displays an excellent compete level. In terms of translating his skills to the next level, Smith will need to continue to put on some size without sacrificing his speed and agility. Its likely that Colgate will live and die with the talents of Smith for the next two seasons.



Matt Donovan had a stellar year for the University of Denver which included scoring 5 points (2G 3A) at the World Junior Championships in the road to winning a gold medal. Overall the offensive defensemen which is starting to fill out on his physical ability to play and create opportunities for his teammates along the boards.

He moved up 3 spots from 17-to-14 since the last rankings back in the spring and with another strong year while avoiding the sophomore slump, and any remaining doubts about his NHL Chances should start going away.


Here's Matt Donovan's Comments from Hockey's Future

Ranked #14 with NYI: Donovan had a stout freshman season with the University of Denver, leading all WCHA Rookie Defensemen with 7 goals and adding 14 assists for 21 points in 36 games. He also played a key role for the USA at the 2010 World Junior Championships, posting three goals and two assists in five games. The 6'0" 195 LB Oklahoma Native is good all around defensemen with good mobility, strong offensive instincts, and a hard shot from the point.

Despite his size, he isn't afraid to get physical is often willing to get dirty in the corners and along the boards. The upcoming season is important for Donovan as many young players are prone to the dreaded sophomore slump. If he can continue playing at a high level, he should erase any lingering doubts about his NHL Potential.



Chris Brown right now to me is the closest of the Southwest Prospects from making his debut at the Pro Ranks (Esp. the AHL) as he was ranked #6 in the last rankings in the Phoenix Coyotes organization. After a strong freshman year for the Michigan Wolverines that saw him take a huge step up in his hitting ability.

He could bring the perfect match of scoring ability and physical ability to be a high quality NHL Prospect and possibly being the first Southwest Player to reach the pro ranks and possibly the NHL. After my discussion with San Antonio Rampage Head Coach Ray Edwards, some on his staff think he may not be that far off towards at least making his AHL Debut.

He had 28 points (13G 15A) last season, but he had 58 PIM last year and he will need to improve on that part of his game to be in the box less. And he had the same issue during the World Junior Camp earlier this summer in Lake Placid, NY.

Here's Chris Brown's from Hockeys Future.

Ranked #8 with PHX: A team-mate of Summers at the University of Michigan, Brown enjoyed a very successful freshman season in Ann Arbor. Brown was one of the top scoring freshman in the nation posting 13 goals and 28 points in 45 games. Those 28 points were the fourth highest total on the team as Brown became a go-to-guy for head coach Red Berenson as the season progressed.

A rare hockey prospect hailing from the State of Texas, Brown heads into his sophmore season looking to become a top player in the country for the Wolverines who will look to return to national prominence.

Brown is a prototypical power forward on the wing with great size and strength with good speed and an ability to find loose pucks around the goal area. The 19 year old is also unafraid to mix it up was one of the team's most aggresive players on a consistent basis.