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USHL Youngstown Phantoms

Phantoms' Captain Donnellan Commits To Western Michigan

January 13, 2010 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - The captain is now a Bronco.

Youngstown Phantoms defenseman David Donnellan has verbally committed to playing hockey for Western Michigan University, beginning this fall. Youngstown's captain becomes the sixth Phantom to accept an offer from an institution of higher learning.

"I had some offers earlier, but I didn't feel they were the right fit," Donnellan said. "I was confident the right one would come along and it did. I'm looking forward to heading to Western Michigan."

Despite being recruited primarily for his defensive ability, Donnellan is fifth on the Phantoms in scoring with 17 points (three goals, 14 assists) and is Youngstown's most offensively prolific blueliner. The second-year USHLer from Eau Claire, Wisc., split 55 games between the Sioux Falls Stampede and the Tri-City Storm last season and has played in all 33 Phantoms' contests thus far.

"David is a solid two-way defenseman with a ton of upside, so it's no surprise he was sought after [by WMU]," said Phantoms Head Coach/GM Bob Mainhardt. "He's a great human being and a great leader, and that obviously makes him attractive to any team."

Western Michigan University, located in Kalamazoo, Mich., has iced an NCAA varsity hockey team since 1975 and competes in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) alongside traditional powers such as Michigan, Michigan State and Miami (Ohio). The Broncos, under head coach and school alumnus Jim Culhane, posted a six-win improvement last season over 2007-08 and have qualified for the NCAA postseason tournament three times in program history.

"I felt their philosophy would be a good fit for me," Donnellan said. "They focus on hard work and improving every day. They're also a program that's on the rise; they just renovated their rink [Lawson Arena] and locker room a couple of years ago."

Donnellan, who is undecided on his course of study at WMU, played high school hockey alongside current Phantoms teammate Jefferson Dahl at Eau Claire Memorial, where he helped lead the Old Abes to the Wisconsin state championship in the spring of 2008. Dahl has committed to the University of Wisconsin for the 2010-2011 academic year.

Visit www.youngstownphantoms.com or call the Phantoms Front Office at 330.747.PUCK(7825) for information on purchasing tickets and details regarding future games and promotions.

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