Edward Donato
Hockey
Graduation Year
1991
Induction Year
2006
Hall of Fame
Hall of Fame
Harvard Athletic Achievements
Harvard's current Robert D. Ziff Head Coach of Men's Ice Hockey, Ted has etched his name along with the all-time greats in Harvard hockey history. He finished his career 11th on the Crimson’s career scoring chart (50 goals, 94 assists, 144 points) and remains 12th in that category. He earned All-ECAC and All-Ivy League accolades in his 1990-91 senior season. Ted earned the honor of Most Valuable Player of the 1989 NCAA Frozen Four, where Harvard downed Minnesota, 4-3, in overtime in the NCAA championship game. That contest saw Donato net a pair of goals, one that tied the game at 1-1 midway through the second period and another that gave the Crimson a 3-2 lead with seven minutes to go. Donato scored three goals and added a pair of assists in the tournament en route to MVP honors.
After graduation Ted played in the World Championships in 1997 and 1999. He also enjoyed a 13-year NHL career that included stops in New York (with both the Rangers and Islanders), Los Angeles, Ottawa, Anaheim, St. Louis and Boston.
Hall of Fame
Remembering Harvard Athletics
First, I’d like to thank the Varsity Club for inducting me into the Harvard Athletics Hall of Fame. I am truly honored and humbled to be included in such outstanding and impressive company. Congratulations to the other inductees this year for all your impressive accomplishments and worthy attributes. In considering some of the ways I could express my gratitude for this honor, and to a greater extent my time at Harvard and with Harvard hocke,y I keep coming back to one overwhelming realization: I have received and benefited more from my time with Harvard hockey than I could ever give back. The friendships, life lessons, and memories of my time at Harvard with the Harvard Hockey team are responsible for many of the positive experiences and accomplishments, which I have been fortunate enough to be part of since that time.
Having been lucky enough to compete 13 years in the National Hockey League and the 1992 Olympic Winter Games, winning the National Championship in 1989 is still my greatest sports memory. Not only for winning the championship, but for the guys and team I was able to share it with. I can’t say I remember all my teammates from all the professional teams I have played with over the years, but the members of the 1989 NCAA Championship team will always be indelibly etched into my memory. Harvard Hockey was a tight-knit family. Coaches Clearly, Tommassoni, and Hampe along with our student managers (Jason Weinberg and Julie Rim) and the Harvard Athletic department provided us with the support essential for great accomplishments.
I remember being a naïve, cocky, excitable 18-year-old from Catholic Memorial High School who had an insatiable appetite for hockey. Harvard opened my eyes and mind to so many other interests outside of hockey that have grown to allow for me a much more enjoyable and balanced existence. The Harvard Hockey program allowed me to develop far more off the ice than on it. I remember my conversations and social activities with roommates and teammates as wholly fulfilling. Having had the opportunity to be surrounded with such quality people filled with intelligence, compassion, and character has changed my life in the most positive fashion I could ever imagine.
Working in the equipment room with Chet Stone and Artie Clifford provided me with a humor and perspective that made my Harvard experience so much more enjoyable. I could never express in words the gratitude I feel towards Chet for all the things he did to make my time at Harvard as a student, and now as a coach, the best experience anyone could hope for.
Coming back to Harvard to be the Hockey Coach the last two years has allowed me to reconnect to a lot of the memories and feelings I had as a student-athlete at Harvard. It has been an experience I wish everyone could have the opportunity to do. The most daunting task of being the coach of Harvard Hockey is to continue the tradition of great character, camaraderie, and chemistry within the Harvard Community. The easy part is that I believe wholeheartedly in what Harvard and Harvard Hockey represent. I loved my time at Harvard and want to provide the same environment for opportunities and enjoyment that I feel so fortunate to have experienced.
Lastly, I would like to thank my family. My mom and dad, who were at almost all my games, my grandparents who came to most home games and my brothers and sister who were all there for me. For the support and sacrifices my family made for me to attend Harvard and compete in the sport of ice hockey, I will forever be grateful.
Again, I would like to congratulate all the other inductees on this great honor. I am humbled to be part of such a great group of Harvard athletes.
While I could write at great length of all the people I would like to thank (and I’m sure to miss so many others), I wanted to list some of the most influential:
Bill Cleary
Chet Stone
Artie Clifford
Jack Kirrane
Jack Reardon
Fran Toland
My Roommates:
Chris Capposella
Scotty Barringer
Tim Burnieika
Ted Decareau
Bob Durkin
Todd Cameron
Bob Bincarousky
Keith Sirrell
My Teammates:
Steve Armstrong
Andy Janfaza
Jerry Pawloski
Don Sweeney
John Devin
Allen Bourbeau
Lane MacDonald
CJ Young
Peter Ciavaglia
Mike Uukonich
John Murphy
Chuck Hughes
Kevin Sneddon
Ted Drury
Jimmy Coady
Timmy Burke
Mike Francis
Brian Popeil
John Weisbrod
Sean McCann
Eddie Presz
Paul Howley
Allain Roy
