Ryan Donato signs contract with Bruins

BOSTON — Days after his Harvard team was eliminated from the ECAC playoffs, Ryan Donato has made up his mind, signing a two-year contract with the Bruins.

Donato forgoes his senior season at Harvard to fulfill his dream of playing professional hockey. It's a possibility, according to Bruins general manager Don Sweeney, that Donato play Monday against Columbus given the recent rash of injuries to the corps of forwards.

Originally drafted by the Bruins in 2014, Donato played one season in the USHL with Omaha before enrolling at Harvard and playing for his dad, Ted.

Ryan Donato released the following statement Sunday night: 

"I am excited to announce that today I have fulfilled a lifelong dream, signing a NHL contract to play for the Boston Bruins. While I am beyond thrilled for this next opportunity, it comes with a bittersweet feeling, as my time as a student-athlete at Harvard comes to a close. I am so thankful for every day I have spent at Harvard and the remarkable people I have met along the way, from the classroom, to the ice, and beyond. It has truly been a privilege to wear the Harvard jersey and represent my school alongside such incredible teammates and coaches. My time in the Harvard Hockey program has provided me with some of my closest friends and fondest memories, and I will strive to continue representing Harvard well from afar as I enter this next stage of my life. While no longer on campus, I am so proud to consider myself a member of the greater Harvard community, and I am still fully dedicated to working towards another lifelong dream of mine: a degree from the university that has given me the best three years of my life."

This season, Donato led the Crimson with 22 regular season goals and is a finalist for the 2018 Hobey Baker Award. He also played with Team USA at the Winter Olympics and scored five goals while in South Korea.  

He returned to Harvard for the ECAC Playoffs with the hope he could propel the Crimson to the NCAA Tournament, but after an opening weekend series win over Dartmouth, Harvard lost to Clarkson in the ECAC Semifinals.

Cox Media Group