Oklahoma has a penchant for producing some of the nation’s top athletes. The Sooner State may be a hotbed of talent for football, baseball and wrestling talent, but when it comes to hockey, it’s a different story.
Matt Donovan is hoping to change that. The Edmond native became the first Oklahoman to drafted in the National Hockey League, when the New York Islanders tabbed the when the 6-foot, 185 defenseman in the fourth round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft last week.
“I was pretty much just shocked the first time I saw that I was drafted, and I am still shocked, but still very honored that I was drafted by the Islanders,” said Donovan, who watched the draft at home in Edmond.
Several NHL clubs expressed interest in Donovan before the draft, but he was not sure if his name would be called. His father, Larry Donovan, who is the head coach of the University of Oklahoma club team, knew Matt had a shot, but remained cautious.
“I knew it was a chance, I just didn’t want him to be disappointed, and he wasn’t,” Matt’s father, Larry Donovan said. “He’s worked very hard to get where he’s at and now that work is paying off.”
The former Edmond North student said it was tough drawing attention in Oklahoma, and hopes he can serve as an inspiration to young players across the state.
“It is such an honor that I’m the first player to ever get drafted out of Oklahoma, it makes me think I give hope to young kids playing in Oklahoma, now they now know it’s possible,” Donovan said.
It was not that long ago that 18-year-old was another young player hoping to get noticed. Donovan grew up playing hockey in Oklahoma, but left for Texas two years ago to play with the Dallas Stars AAA team. That exposure helped him attract attention from the United States Hockey League (USHL), an all-junior circuit that prepares future collegiate and professional players. The Cedar Rapids Roughriders selected Donovan in the first-round of the 2007 draft.
“It’s just like a ladder, you have keep working up to next level,” Donovan said.
“You have to be there where the people are at, and they don’t come to Oklahoma to watch hockey,” Larry Donovan said.
In his first season with the Roughriders, Donovan scored 12 goals and added 18 assists in 59 games.
Donovan will head to New York for a mini-camp in July. He plans to spend the rest of the summer in Oklahoma, before returning to Cedar Rapids for one more year in the USHL and to finish high school. After graduation Donovan will then play hockey at the University of Denver and hope to earn a shot at the pros.
“The Islanders have my draft rights, so when they think I’m ready they’ll offer me a contract,” Donovan said.
Sports
Related Photos
-
Edmond native Matt Donovan, a former club hockey player for Edmond North High School, was selected by the New York Islanders during this year's National Hockey League draft. Drew Harmon
-
Edmond native Matt Donovan, a former club hockey player for Edmond North High School, was selected by the New York Islanders during this year's National Hockey League draft. Donovan currently plays for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders of the United States Hockey League, a junior league, as he finishes high school. Drew Harmon
Discussion
Donovan living unlikely dream
- Sports
-
-
Blake Shelton brings relief concert to Oklahoma City
Blake Shelton has organized and will headline the telethon “Healing in the Heartland: Relief Benefit Concert” on May 29, to take place at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday.
Grammy Award-winning artists Miranda Lambert, Reba and Vince Gill also will perform. Additional guests for the concert will be announced shortly.
The concert will be televised live at 9 p.m. ET/PT on NBC. It also will air on cable networks Style, G4, Bravo, E! and CMT on either a live or delayed basis. -
OCU’s Wright playing for Moore
Drew Wright’s heart will be with her hometown of Moore when her Oklahoma City University softball team competes in the NAIA Championships this week. Edmond Santa Fe graduate Kayley Humann, an OCU outfielder, is one of Wright’s teammates.
Wright and the fourth-ranked Stars (50-13) opened national-tournament play against fifth-ranked Cal State San Marcos Friday at South Commons Softball Complex.
The senior third baseman said it was difficult to leave Oklahoma City on Tuesday after a destructive tornado leveled several city blocks of Moore and south Oklahoma City on Monday.
Fortunately, Wright’s family is safe from the tornado that has been hailed as the most severe to hit the area. -
Bronchos win 2 straight at NCAA Division II World Series
Kaylee Brunson and Kacie Edwards keyed an 11-hit attack that carried Central Oklahoma to a 7-1 romp over Molloy in the second round of the NCAA Division II Championship Finals in Salem, VA. Friday afternoon at the Moyer Sports Complex.
Brunson and Edwards had three hits apiece and both drove in runs during a big five-run, sixth-inning outburst that turned a precarious 2-0 lead into a comfortable 7-0 cushion as UCO coasted into Sunday’s winner’s bracket finals. -
Area camps start May 28
Girls hoop camp kicks off Tuesday
The three head varsity girls basketball coaches (Dandy Peeler, Edmond Memorial; Karlie Free, Edmond North; Paul Bass, Edmond Santa Fe) of Edmond Schools will be hosting a youth basketball camp for girls entering kindergarten-ninth grades at Edmond Memorial High School May 28-31.
The younger kids, entering grades kindergarten-4th, will run from 9 a.m.-noon. The camp will focus on basic fundamentals of the game including shooting, passing, ball handling as well as defensive and offensive skills.
Girls entering grades 5-9 will be in the afternoon camp from 1-4 p.m. The camp will focus on offensive and defensive fundamental skills along with sharpening individual skills through station work and competitive contests.
Cost is $115. Contact Dandy Peeler at 250-4377 for more information. -
Still time to register for UCO's Endeavor Games
Registration is open online for athletes and volunteers for the 2013 University of Central Oklahoma Endeavor Games, June 6-9, the nation’s largest multi-sport event for athletes with physical disabilities.
Athletes of all ages or sporting experience are invited to register for the event. Community members are also encouraged to register to volunteer with more than 300 volunteer opportunities available.
Similar to the summer Paralympic Games, athletes may register for multiple adaptive sports, which include cycling, indoor archery, outdoor archery, powerlifting, sitting volleyball, shooting, table tennis, track and field, wheelchair basketball, and, for the first time at the UCO Endeavor Games, paratriathlon. The paratriathlon will be limited to athletes over the age of 16 with previous paratriathlon experience. -
UCO opens World Series with a victory
Kalynn Schrock dominated in the pitching circle and Kaylee Brunson came through with a tie-breaking triple to lift Central Oklahoma past fourth-ranked Armstrong Atlantic 5-2 in Salem, Va. Thursday in the first round of the NCAA Division II Championship Finals.
It was the sixth straight postseason win for the No. 19-ranked Bronchos, who improved to 48-11 and moved into today’s 3 p.m. semifinal game against either defending national champion Valdosta State or Malloy.
Schrock gave up just two hits and no walks while striking out 15 — including 10 of the final 12 batters she faced — in improving to 31-6 on the season and 6-0 in the postseason. -
Edmond Santa Fe's Taylor heading to Central Florida
Danielle Taylor, fresh off a Central District Youth Rowing Championship victory on the Oklahoma River at the start of the month, followed up the success by signing a letter of intent in rowing with Central Florida at Edmond Santa Fe High School.
Though Santa Fe does not offer rowing as a team sport, Taylor competes for OKC Riversport on the Junior Crew which competes on the Oklahoma River.
Taylor missed her junior season due to an injury, but Coach Brian Ebke knew the Santa Fe athlete would be raring to go her senior season.
“She’s an extremely hard worker,” Ebke lauded. “Her work ethic is impeccable.” -
Bronchos hit final match play spot in first round
Dillon Rust got off to a blazing start and ended up shooting a one-under-par 70 to lead Central Oklahoma in the second round of the NCAA Division II Men’s Golf Championships in Hershey, Pa. Tuesday.
Rust birdied four of his first five holes en route to his under-par round and the Bronchos ended up with a 300 on the day, giving them a 36-hole total of 597. The 300 leaves UCO eighth in the 20-team field heading into final round of stroke play, with the top eight teams advancing to match play that will determine the national champion. -
Area players earn All-State honors on the diamond
Three area baseball players were selected to the All-State Team this week.
Right-handed pitcher Holden Lyons from Edmond North, made the team after posting a perfect 7-0 mark with an ultra-low 1.29 earned run average.
Deer Creek’s Cole Lindley made it as an outfielder and Oklahoma Christian’s Austin Brooks landed on the list in the designated hitter’s spot.
The threesome will compete on the Large West squad on July 30 at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa. -
Tennis camps offered in Edmond
Edmond Raquet Club is offering a pair of tennis camps beginning May 28.
For ages 5-8, a camp is offered from 8:45-9:30 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays and for ages 7-15 a tennis camp is available from 6-6:55 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Both camps run from May 28-June 13 and cost is $99 per camp.
A camp session for ages 8-16 will run on Mondays and Wednesdays from 8:30-9:25 a.m. May 29-June 12 for the identical cost.
For more information concerning these camps and others, call 341-4241. - More Sports Headlines
-
Blake Shelton brings relief concert to Oklahoma City
