Sandman Player of the Month: Donohoe's record-breaking January featured nine assists in seven games
Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – After breaking the program record for the most assists by a Griffins player in a Canada West men's hockey season, Hunter Donohoe has been named the Sandman Signature Downtown Edmonton Player of the Month for January.
As MacEwan's top student-athlete for the month, Donohoe earns a free night's stay at the Sandman Signature Downtown Edmonton hotel.
Donohoe recorded nine assists, went +2 and produced eight shots in seven January games for the Griffins. This was all in addition to his usual solid defensive work, blocking shots and shutting the opposition down.
"His game's been just getting better and better as the season's gone along," said Griffins head coach Zack Dailey. "I just like his patience, his skill and his decision making with the puck. I think the biggest thing this year is he's making better and correct decisions more consistently and he's getting rewarded for those good and consistent decisions with the puck.
"And he's definitely helping our powerplay, too," he added. "We were struggling a little bit to start the year, and he got an opportunity on the powerplay and helped us, and hasn't looked back. He's been on there ever since."
On Jan. 24, Donohoe had two assists to pace MacEwan to a 5-4 win over the Manitoba Bisons in Winnipeg, breaking the program's single Canada West season record of 15, set by Ethan Strang in 2023-24.
GOAL��
— MacEwan Griffins Men's Hockey (@GriffinsMHKY) January 25, 2025
Liam Ryan won't be denied twice, scoring off his own rebound to put @MacEwanGriffins up 2-0 over @umbisons. Hunter Donohoe picks up his 16th assist of the season on the play, breaking the program's single season @CanadaWest record!#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/lBoYzgKCwF
"It's a young program, so records will get broken, but that's the cool thing about getting to play here is there are a lot of records to be had, and your name can be in the record books," said Dailey of the Griffins' Canada West record book history, which began in 2021. "He's done a really good job and had a fantastic season.
"You always hope these records keep falling because that means we're scoring more goals and winning more games, but I have a feeling this one's going to be there for a while."
After picking up his 10th assist in the past eight games with a helper in Saturday's 5-4 OT loss to Saskatchewan, Donohoe is now up to 20 helpers in 2024-25, which is impressively tied for sixth in Canada West and tied for third amongst all defencemen in the conference.
"To be fair, Hunter sits sixth in the league in assists, so he's not just having a great season for MacEwan, he's having a great season Canada West-wise," said Dailey.
His ability to rush the puck up the ice has helped the Griffins push for a second-consecutive playoff spot in the stretch drive of the season. They enter the weekend five points ahead of Manitoba for the final playoff spot in the East Division. Both teams have four games left.
"It just relieves stress from our defensive zone," said Dailey of his puck-rushing ability. "We don't have to play defence as much. We get to spend our energy offensively and with the puck instead of using it to defend. It just helps in all facets, especially creating goals.
"He does quite a good job on the offensive blueline when he gets pucks and he's able to extend O-zone time. It just helps out in terms of scoring goals and having to defend less."
Donohoe and the Griffins have a home-and-home series vs. Calgary this weekend – Friday (7 p.m. in #YYC) and Saturday (5 p.m., Downtown Community Arena, both Canada West TV).
