Donnellan commits to W. Michigan

The Phantoms’ captain is the team’s most experienced defender and is fifth on the team in scoring.

VINDICATOR STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — Youngstown Phantoms captain David Donnellan has verbally committed to playing hockey at Western Michigan, beginning in the fall.

The Phantoms defenseman is sixth player on this year’s USHL expansion team to accept a college offer.

“I had some offers earlier, but I didn’t feel they were the right fit,” said Donnellan, a native of Eau Claire, Wis., said. “I was confident the right one would come along and it did.

“I’m looking forward to heading to Western Michigan.”

Donnellan is the Phantoms’s most-experienced USHL defender. Despite being recruited primarily for his defensive ability, Donnellan is fifth on the Phantoms in scoring with 17 points (three goals, 14 assists).

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

In 2008-09, the second-year USHL defenseman split 55 games between the Sioux Falls Stampede and the Tri-City Storm. He has played in all 33 Phantoms’ contests thus far.

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). The Broncos’ rivals include Michigan, Michigan State and Miami (Ohio).

Under head coach Jim Culhane, the Broncos posted a six-win improvement last season and have qualified for the NCAA postseason tournament three times.

“They’re a program that’s on the rise; they just renovated their rink [Lawson Arena] and locker room a couple of years ago,” Donnellan said.

Donnellan, who is undecided on his course of study, played high school hockey alongside Phantoms teammate Jefferson Dahl at Eau Claire Memorial, where he helped lead the Old Abes to the Wisconsin state championship in 2008. Dahl has committed to the University of Wisconsin for the 2010-11 academic year.

The other Phantoms with college commitments are Stuart Higgins (University of Maine), Cody Strang (Wisconsin), Scott Mayfield (University of Denver) and Luke Eibler (Northeastern University).

For now, the Phantoms (13-16-2, 28 points) are focused on trying to climb back into the playoff picture in the USHL’s East Division. They trail fourth-place Chicago (13-15-4) by two points. The top four teams in each division qualify for the postseason.

This weekend, the Phantoms are home against seventh-place Team USA (9-18-3, 21 points). Game times at the Covelli Centre are Saturday at 7:15 p.m. and Monday at 6:30 p.m.