After a great career at Swampscott High followed by a strong season of junior hockey, Swampscott native and Worcester Junior Railers forward Conor Donovan has committed to play collegiate hockey at the University of Southern Maine beginning next season. The NCAA Division III program is located in Portland, Maine.
A former team captain at Swampscott, Donovan was named the Item Player of the Year for the 2019-20 season after a stellar senior year for the Big Blue. Donovan led all area MIAA players in goals (23), assists (46) and points (69) during his senior campaign, all while helping lead the Big Blue to a compelling run through the Division 3 North tournament.
Also named Northeastern Conference co-MVP that year, Donovan finished his career with 50 goals and 65 assists for 115 points. His play helped the Big Blue win the NEC South title and make a run to the Division 3 North semifinal, upsetting three higher ranked teams along the way.
After graduation, Donovan moved on to play with the Worcester Junior Railers in the Eastern Hockey League (EHL) during the 2020-21 season and he made an impact there as well. In 22 games with the Premier squad ― which is one level below the EHL squad ― Donovan averaged more than a point per game after notching 12 goals and 12 assists. The outburst was good enough not only to earn him EHLP Star of the Month honors in December 2020, but also good enough to bump him up to the EHL team. He played the final nine games of the regular season and then five playoff games at the EHL level, registering three goals and three assists.
He’s back with the EHL team for the 2021-22 season, and through 11 games with the Railers he has six goals and three assists.
