Photo by: Rachael Roark
In Oklahoma they have the Thunder of the NBA and the Oklahoma Sooners. They don’t have hockey, so it is surprising to see Pioneer defenseman Matt Donovan, a Sooner state native, finding so much success away from the Great Plains and in the Rocky Mountain region.
Coming from a non-hockey state, nobody thought that Donovan was going to be anything when he played midgets and juniors, but that just gave him the motivation to prove himself and he did.
“I think at first no one really thought this kid from Oklahoma was going to make it,” said Donovan. “They said ‘he plays AA hockey, he is not going to be any good,’ but I developed in midgets. In the USHL [United States Hockey League] no one really knew who I was because I was from Oklahoma, so my name wasn’t out there, but now it is.”
After finishing the 2007-08 season with the Cedar Rapids Rough Riders of the USHL, Donovan became the first player from Oklahoma to be drafted in the National Hockey League. The New York Islanders selected him in the fourth round with the No. 96 overall pick.
Donovan was named to the 2008-09 USHL All-Star team when he tallied 19 goals and 32 assists for 51 points.
Donovan believes that his coaching staff is to thank for his success as a Pioneer.
“I think that juniors really helped my confidence in playing in front of people,” said Donovan. “The coaching staff there, and all of the coaching staffs in juniors are really good, and they helped me prepare for the next level, and it really helped.”
After juniors, Donovan came to DU, where he has not only been a force on defense, but on the offensive end as well with seven goals and 18 assists, leading the Pioneer defensemen.
“I like to see the ice in front of me and playing defense I get to see it,” said Donovan. “[But] I am an offensive defenseman. I always tell my self defense first, but then jump up in the play when I can.”
He contributes his success with the Pioneers to his hard work ethic that his dad instilled in him while growing up.
“Coming from Oklahoma I always had to work real hard to be the best player I could be, my dad taught me that growing up,” said Donovan. “I have been a pretty hard worker and that hasn’t changed.”
Donovan has the Pioneers playing at a high level as they enter the final week of the season before the WCHA playoffs and the NCAA tournament start. The Pioneers are on pace to be one of the top seeds in both tournaments, and that has Donovan excited about what could happen in the next two months.
“[I want to] win a National Championship,” said Donovan. “You see guys my age playing in the NHL, I think to myself I wish I could be there, but it’s not important [to me] now.”
