Women's Ice Hockey

Chris Donovan M'06
10th season

Chris Donovan, the only head coach in the varsity history of the Saint Michael's College women's ice hockey program, enters his 10th season at the helm of the Purple Knights in 2009-10. His 2008-09 team earned the second most wins in program history. 

His 2007-08 squad won a program-record eight games, including the first victories in program history versus the University of Massachusetts Boston, the University of Southern Maine, and Norwich University.

Donovan has an extensive hockey background. He played for Archbishop William's High School in Braintree, Mass. and then went on to play at Norwich University from 1969-73, serving as captain of the Cadets in his senior year. He served as an assistant coach for the Saint Michael's men from 1991-1994.

In 1995, Donovan took over as coaching director for the Vermont Northern Lights women's program. He worked with the 13-15 age group who were the District Regional Runners-Up one year, while the 16-19 group were the District Regional Runners-Up for two consecutive years. In 2002 and 2004, he was the only coach in his league to be selected as clinician for the YES Clinic during the Division I Women's Frozen Four tournament held at the University of New Hampshire (2002) and Providence R.I. (2004).

He was a member of the coaching staff at the Phillips Exeter Academy Hockey Camp during the summer until 2005 and on ice director of the staff as a member of the Breakaway Hockey Camp for Girls held each summer at Cairns Arena in South Burlington until 2006. In 2005 he was a coach at the Cornell Hockey Camp and is presently a returning staff member each year at the USA Development Camp for girls ages 13-17.

In the past nine years, Donovan has recruited four players who received ECAC East Rookie of the Week honors, three players that have garnered Goalie of the Week honors, four ECAC East Players of the Week, an ECAC East All-Rookie Team selection in 2004, and an ECAC East All-Conference Honorable Mention selection in 2005 and 2009. In 2005-06, eight of Donovan's players earned a spot on the ECAC East All-Academic Team, including goalie Annice Mason who was nominated for the 2006 Hockey Humanitarian Award presented annually to college hockey's finest citizen. Another Goalie, Marcy Ring, was nominated for NCAA Woman of the year. Donovan's players range from Maine to Wyoming, and his roster includes two players from Maryland.

A 1973 graduate of Norwich, Donovan holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with a minor in Secondary Education, and earned his Master's Degree in Administration in May 2006. He resides in Hardwick, Vt.

Donovan's Year-by-Year Results  

Year School Wins Losses Ties  
2000-01 Saint Michael's 0 6 0  
2001-02 Saint Michael's 2 19 0  
2002-03 Saint Michael's 4 19 0  
2003-04 Saint Michael's 3 20 1  
2004-05 Saint Michael's 6 20 0  
2005-06 Saint Michael's 4 22 0  
2006-07 Saint Michael's 4 22 0  
2007-08 Saint Michael's 8 16 1 Program record for wins
2008-09 Saint Michael's 6 18 3  
  Totals (9 Years) 37 162 5