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USHL Youngstown Phantoms

Donnellan Hopes To Lead Phantoms' Defense

September 3, 2009 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (September 3, 2009) - On first glance, Youngstown Phantoms defenseman David Donnellan doesn't appear to fit in with his blue line brethren.

He stands at an even six feet tall, above average for an American male but practically Lilliputian compared to the rest of the Phantoms' defense corps, which features twin 6-6 towers in Andrej Sustr and J.D. Carrabino and no one else under 6-2.

Secondly, while Donnellan played 55 USHL games last season, split between the Sioux Falls Stampede (17 games) and the Tri-City Storm (38), none of the other defensemen have competed at the Tier I level. Contrast that with the forward group, where there are no fewer than seven league veterans.

But despite his unique qualities, don't mistake the Eau Claire, Wisc., native for anything other than a team player. In fact, given his USHL experience, he's in position to fill an important leadership role on the Phantoms' back end.

"I definitely would love to be a leader on this team," Donnellan said. "Since I've played in this league before, I want to pass on anything I can to help these guys."

Donnellan officially became a Phantom in early May, when Youngstown plucked him from the Tri-City roster in the USHL Expansion Draft. On the day of the draft, Donnellan was out playing golf with former high school teammate Jefferson Dahl, who also happened to be whisked from his former team, the Green Bay Gamblers, to the Phantoms.

Both Donnellan and Dahl discovered the news at the same time, which was a happy circumstance for the pair who helped the Eau Claire Memorial High School Old Abes go 26-0 on the way to the 2008 Wisconsin state crown.

"[Being on the same team] has been really good. We didn't expect it at all," Donnellan said. "I thought maybe we'd get the chance to play together in college. It's a great experience playing with him again."

For Dahl, Eau Claire Memorial's all-time scoring leader with 96 goals and 211 points in four years, skating alongside his fellow Old Abe has eased the transition from Green Bay to Youngstown.

"It definitely made me a lot more comfortable knowing that [Donnellan] was going to be here, too," Dahl said. "It's awesome."

So, Jefferson, how have David's abilities grown since high school?

"Well, he's really improved his physical play in the last couple years," he said. "But he always knew where to be on the ice and was an intelligent player."

It was that innate hockey sense that attracted the Phantoms' brass to Donnellan in the first place. When he was left available, Head Coach/General Manager Bob Mainhardt was eager to pull the trigger.

"We were very pleased to have the opportunity to pick him up during the Expansion Draft," Mainhardt said. "We feel he's a very solid defensive defenseman, but we also see some offensive upside, so we hope to develop that while still improving his defensive game."

It's an assessment Donnellan himself would agree with, and so would his stats from last year: eight points, all assists. Nevertheless, the Phantoms' coaching staff is trying to germinate his latent offensive talent so it can blossom.

"It's a lot of skills and drills and working on little things like getting my shots off quicker," Donnellan said when asked about his practice regimen. "They're not trying to change my game at all. They want me to stick to the things I know and do well, and keep working and getting better at the same time."

One of the things Donnellan knows well is the rigorous nature of the USHL regular season. He intends to do his best to communicate that fact to his less-experienced teammates.

"[It helps] just knowing the speed of the game," he said. "It's a much faster game than anyone's played at any other level. Also, playing 60 games, knowing how much of a grind that is and the wear it puts on the body is something I can tell them."

No matter what he talks about, Donnellan's coach is convinced he can be one of the Phantoms' most reliable mentors, both at the rink and away.

"We're definitely looking at David to use his experience and knowledge to help lead this team," Mainhardt said.

"I think he's got a good personality and good character and he brings a good temperament to the locker room. As we go along I hope he continues to display that."

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