DULUTH — Former Duluth East High School standout Ryder Donovan announced over the weekend he will transfer from Wisconsin to Vermont for his senior season in 2022-23.
Donovan, who went in the fourth round of the 2019 NHL Draft to the Vegas Golden Knights, leaves the Badgers after three seasons. The junior forward has two seasons of NCAA eligibility remaining due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Originally a North Dakota recruit, Donovan landed with Wisconsin right out of high school after leading the Greyhounds to a Section 7AA title and the Minnesota Class AA state tournament. He tallied 17 goals and 30 assists in 29 games as a high school senior before getting drafted by Vegas.
In 88 games at Wisconsin over three seasons, the 21-year-old Donovan finished with six goals and six assists.
Donovan is one of four transfers Vermont has picked up this offseason, including Michigan Tech senior defenseman Eric Gotz of Hermantown. The Catamounts are coming off an 8-25-2 season in 2021-22 and a 10th-place finish in the 11-team Hockey East under second-year coach Todd Woodcroft.
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Donovan’s younger brother, Shay, is still a Badger. The junior defenseman has appeared in 18 games over three seasons.
