Donovan signs with Wisconsin men’s hockey
February 20, 2019 | Men's Hockey
Duluth East High School forward ranked among top 50 North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting
MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin men's hockey head coach Tony Granato announced the signing of forward Ryder Donovan to a National Letter of Intent on Wednesday. Donovan is expected to join the Badgers for the 2019-20 school year.
"We are very excited to add him to our program." Granato said. "He's an elite talent and a hard-working kid. [He has] lots of great potential to be a big impact player similar to the other players we're are bringing in. They'll complement each other well.
"It is a big addition as far as his versatility as a center and a wing – his size, his speed, his offensive ability is elite."
In five seasons with Duluth East, the 6-3, 184-pound skater has notched 41 goals and 142 points through 135 games. A top-line center for the Hounds this season, Donovan leads the team in scoring with 12 goals and 37 points in 23 contests, averaging 1.61 points per game.
In addition to his time with Duluth East, Donovan also skated for Team North of the Upper Midwest High School Elite League, tallying 25 points in 19 games in the 2018 season.
At the national level, Donovan recorded two goals and four points in five games at the Boys Select-17 development camp in 2017. He also joined the U.S. U-18 Select Team for the 2017 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, scoring the game-winning goal in overtime of the Americans' fifth-place match against Finland.
Donovan also enjoyed a five-game stint with the U.S. Under-18 National Team and a four-game campaign with the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the USHL during the 2017-18 season.
Ranked No. 46 in NHL Central Scouting's Midterm Rankings for North American skaters, Donovan gives the Badgers four signed forwards ranked among the top 65 North American skaters (Alex Turcotte – fifth, Cole Caufield – 15th, Owen Lindmark – 65th).
The right-handed shot collected an assist last September skating in the 2018 USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota.
"We are very excited to add him to our program." Granato said. "He's an elite talent and a hard-working kid. [He has] lots of great potential to be a big impact player similar to the other players we're are bringing in. They'll complement each other well.
"It is a big addition as far as his versatility as a center and a wing – his size, his speed, his offensive ability is elite."
In five seasons with Duluth East, the 6-3, 184-pound skater has notched 41 goals and 142 points through 135 games. A top-line center for the Hounds this season, Donovan leads the team in scoring with 12 goals and 37 points in 23 contests, averaging 1.61 points per game.
In addition to his time with Duluth East, Donovan also skated for Team North of the Upper Midwest High School Elite League, tallying 25 points in 19 games in the 2018 season.
At the national level, Donovan recorded two goals and four points in five games at the Boys Select-17 development camp in 2017. He also joined the U.S. U-18 Select Team for the 2017 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, scoring the game-winning goal in overtime of the Americans' fifth-place match against Finland.
Donovan also enjoyed a five-game stint with the U.S. Under-18 National Team and a four-game campaign with the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the USHL during the 2017-18 season.
Ranked No. 46 in NHL Central Scouting's Midterm Rankings for North American skaters, Donovan gives the Badgers four signed forwards ranked among the top 65 North American skaters (Alex Turcotte – fifth, Cole Caufield – 15th, Owen Lindmark – 65th).
The right-handed shot collected an assist last September skating in the 2018 USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota.
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