Michigan State University Athletics
Donnelly Tabbed MSU Distinguished Hockey Alumnus
3/9/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
March 9, 2007
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Mike Donnelly, a member of Michigan State's 1986 NCAA Champion hockey team and NCAA record holder for most goals in a season (59) in 1985-86, has been selected to receive the Spartan Hockey 2007 Distinguished Alumnus Award. Donnelly will be honored at the Hockey Awards Banquet on Monday, March 19.
"Mike Donnelly's career, both at Michigan State and in the National Hockey League, was one of quality," noted Ron Mason, MSU Athletics Director and former hockey coach. "He is someone who reached his potential as a college player - he had an impressive level of success."
A native of Livonia, Mich., Donnelly was a four-year letterwinner at MSU, helping his teams combine for a 136-38-3 record in his four years (1983-86). During that span, the Spartans captured three CCHA Tournament titles and two regular season crowns in addition to the 1986 national title. Michigan State also reached the Frozen Four in Donnelly's sophomore season, and made two other NCAA Tournament appearances during his collegiate career.
"I am really excited and honored to win the award," notes Donnelly. "Anytime I can come back and just be around the program it is a great thing. It is also nice for family and kids to see what we were able to accomplish - it is a side of me they have never seen. I loved all four years I was at State, and am very thankful for the opportunity I received."
Donnelly appeared in 156 games in his four years at Michigan State, racking up 110 goals and 86 assists for 156 points - good for 15th in points and fourth in goals in MSU history. In his senior season, which culminated in the Spartans second NCAA Title, Donnelly posted one of the most prolific seasons in college hockey history. His 59 goals in 1985-86 still stands as the top goal-scoring season ever, and his points total (97) is 15th-best in the NCAA's all-time record books. Overall, Donnelly shares or holds five MSU records for his performance in 1985-86, including goals in game (five vs. Ohio State, Dec. 14, 1985) and consecutive games with a goal (16, from Dec. 29, 1985 to Feb. 28, 1986.
"I'm not sure anyone will ever match what he did, with 59 goals in a season." Mason said. "The most important one, of course, was his game-winner in the 1986 National Championship game. Mike worked hard and did things the right way, and that made him the type of player that people aspire to be."
Donnelly's 1985-86 season earned him Hobey Baker Award finalist honors - becoming the fourth finalist in Spartan history. He also garnered CCHA first-team all-star honors, was a first-team All-America selection, a member of the NCAA Championship All-Tournament Team, and the 1986 NCAA Tournament's Most Valuable Player.
"Winning the national title, even though I have been retired six or seven years, will always be something I have to look back on - it was a great accomplishment," reflects Donnelly. "Scoring the goals was great, but to win a title and feel excitement of being the best hockey team in the country was an unbelievable achievement, especially since we were not expected to win it after all the hype my first three years. The 1986 team probably didn't have as much talent as the others, but we were a tough, hard-working team."
The 5-11, 185-pound winger swept the major athletic awards on campus in 1986 as well, sharing the George Alderton Male Athlete of the Year Award with football player Lorenzo White, in addition to being named team MVP and recipient of the Bill Burgess Outstanding Senior Award.
Upon the completion of his collegiate career, Donnelly signed a free agent contract with the National Hockey League's New York Rangers, and spent his first professional season with the New Haven Nighthawks in 1986-87, registering 61 points in 58 games. His play earned him a late-season call-up, and Donnelly notched two points in five games with the Rangers that spring. After another year on Broadway, he had a three-year stint in the Buffalo Sabres organization. Donnelly then landed in Los Angeles, where he played in the 1993 Stanley Cup Finals, falling to the Montreal Canadiens in a seven-game series.
Playing with hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, Donnelly posted three consecutive 20-goal seasons from 1991-94. In 1994, the Kings traded Donnelly to the Dallas Stars, where he spent the next two seasons before ending his NHL career with the New York Islanders in 1996-97. Donnelly played games in both the International Hockey League and the Swiss-A League before retiring in 1998.
Overall, Donnelly competed in 465 regular season NHL games, registering 114 goals and 121 assists for 235 points. He also appeared in 47 postseasn games, notching 12-12-24 point totals.
"After he left Michigan State, he had a quality NHL career - he played alongside Wayne Gretzky in Los Angeles, and is still employed by that organization as a scout," notes Mason. "Mike's career body of work makes him a no-brainer to receive the Distinguished Alumni Award."
Donnelly currently resides in Northville, Mich., with his wife, Debbie, and his three daughters - Micaela (10), and twins Paulina and Alexa (8). He is employed as an amateur scout for his former team, the Los Angeles Kings. Donnelly will be honored at the MSU Hockey Awards Banquet, which will be held on Monday, March 19 at the Kellogg Center. Tickets are available for $50 a person or $400 for a table of eight through the Ralph Young Fund at (517) 432-4610.
Mike Donnelly At a Glance: • Four-Year MSU letterman • Three-Time Great Lakes Invitational Champion (1983, 1984, 1985) • Two-time CCHA Regular-Season Champion (1985, 1986) • Three-time CCHA Tournament Champion (1983, 1984, 1985) • Four-time NCAA Tournament Participant (1983, 1984, 1985, 1986) • 1984 NCAA Tournament Fourth-Place Finish • 1986 NCAA Champion • Career Collegiate Statistics: 156 Games Played; 110 goals, 86 assists • 1986 NCAA Tournament MVP • 1986 CCHA All-Star (First Team) • 1986 First Team All-America • 1986 NCAA Championship All-Tournament Team • MSU Record holder for most goals in a game (five vs. Ohio State on Dec. 14, 1985) • 1986 Hobey Baker Award Finalist • Signed as a free agent by the New York Rangers, Aug. 15, 1986 • 13-year professional hockey career; 495 NHL games, 114 goals, 121 assists, 255 penalty minutes • 1993 Stanley Cup Finalist (Los Angeles Kings) • 735 professional hockey games played; 255 goals, 288 assists • Currently an Amateur Scout with the Los Angeles Kings • Resides in Northville, Mich. with wife, Debbie, and three daughters: Micaela, Paulina and Alexa
-- msu --
