Michael Donahue has enjoyed an excellent first season as the starting goaltender for the Winthrop High boys hockey team. He was named All-Conference after posting a GAA [goal against average] under 2.00 during the Vikings’ championship season.
In the second of his two-post season starts Saturday, Donahue also placed his name on the scoresheet.
“That was the first point of my career,” said Donahue, smiling. “The puck hit off my blocker. Petey [Silverman] skated up the ice and he found Philly [Boncore] on the back door and he just put it into the net.”
Donahue was quick to credit his defensemen for his All-Conference recognition and the two playoff wins.
“They’re the reason why my goals against is under 2.00,” lauded Donahue. “Billy Hayes, Colin O’Leary, Paulie Ferrara, Jackson Andy, and Hunter Fife – they’ve been playing great hockey. We’re all dialed in every day.”
Donahue also noted his day-to-day work with goaltending coach Dan Lynch. “Coach Lynch is helping me a lot,” said Donahue. “I love all our coaches (Dale Dunbar, Mike Norris, Phil Lundberg, Chris Finn). They just push us every day in practice to make us better.”
A product of Winthrop Youth Hockey where he was “always the goaltender,” Donahue has played a previous game at the TD Garden in Boston.
“It’s a dream to play at the Garden. I played there once in the sixth grade with Winthrop Youth Hockey. We played a team from China,” Donahue recalled.