Bruins Prospect Ryan Donato To Continue Development At Harvard In 2015-16

Ryan Donato’s dream of being part of the Boston Bruins organization came true when the Original Six club picked him in the second round of the 2014 NHL Draft, but he’ll put family first next season.

After playing in the USHL and USPHL for a good portion of the 2014-15 season, Donato will take his talents to Harvard for the 2015-16 campaign, playing under his dad, Crimson head coach Ted Donato. He will join other Bruins prospects, such as University of Denver’s Danton Heinen and Boston University’s Matt Grzelcyk at the NCAA level.

Harvard already has assembled a very good team that should build on its success from this past season, which included an ECAC tournament title and an NCAA Tournament appearance.

“I think, honestly, at the end of the day, it’s just going to help me improve my game at a faster rate because (my dad) is not going to be afraid to yell at me, and he won’t be afraid to make an example out of me,” Donato recently told Jess Isner of Bruins.com. “I think at times, it will be a little bit stressful, but I think at the end of the day, it will help me more.”

Donato, like many of the centers on the Boston’s NHL roster, has good defensive awareness, doesn’t shy away from puck battles in all areas of the ice and displays a high hockey IQ.

It’s still early in the development process, but Donato’s progress thus far is encouraging. It’s making the Bruins’ 2014 draft class, which also includes David Pastrnak and Heinen, look quite impressive.