Donald McSween

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Donald McSween
Born (1964-06-09) June 9, 1964 (age 60)
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 197 lb (89 kg; 14 st 1 lb)
Position Defense
Shot Left
Played for Buffalo Sabres
Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
National teamFlag of the United States.svg  United States
NHL draft 84th overall, 1983
Buffalo Sabres
Playing career 19872002

Donald Kennedy McSween (born June 9, 1964) is an American former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for two clubs in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Contents

Playing career

A defenseman known for his adept puck-handling skills as well as his quick mobility, McSween, a two-time All American, was successful during his college career at Michigan State University, leading the team to the NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey National Championship in 1986.

He was quite successful while playing in the minor league. Following his impressive college career, McSween went on to play for the Buffalo Sabres (NHL). He was selected 84th in the 1983 NHL Draft, with a height of 5'11" a weight of 197 lb, and shooting left. After this stint, he played for the Rochester Americans (AHL), and the San Diego Gulls (IHL). In fact, McSween continues to hold American records for points scored by a defenseman in a career: 215 goals. In 1989–90 McSween was selected as an AHL First-Team All-Star. McSween also won myriad awards playing as a member of the Americans. He won five straight team Defensive Player of the Year awards (1987–92).

He also had a short but notable career as a player for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. However, his chances of becoming a prominent National Hockey League player were severed after a serious arm injury in January 1995 at Winnipeg, when involved in a fight with another player, Keith Tkachuk. The tendons in McSween's left wrist were severely damaged after being severed by Tkachuk's skate. The nerve and tendon injury never fully healed, preventing him from being able to fully close his left hand, his shooting arm, effectively ending McSween's professional career. Ironically, McSween had severed the Achilles tendon of another promising player, Teemu Selänne, earlier in his career (Selänne would go on to make a full recovery, playing for 2 decades). After his injury McSween went on to play in the AHL (American Hockey League) for the Baltimore Bandits; in the IHL (International Hockey League) for the Grand Rapids Griffins and later Milwaukee Admirals; and in the UHL (United Hockey League) for the Muskegon Fury.

Personal life

McSween lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan, working as an electrical engineer and a volunteer coach for local Youth Hockey Leagues. He is raising two boys and a daughter with his wife. As a youth, he played in the 1977 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hockey team from Detroit. [1]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
1980–81Little Caesars U18 AAAU18 AAA
1981–82Redford RoyalsGLJHL
1982–83Redford RoyalsGLJHL3793342
1983–84 Michigan State University CCHA 4610263630
1984–85 Michigan State UniversityCCHA442232550
1985–86 Michigan State UniversityCCHA459293818
1986–87 Michigan State UniversityCCHA457233034
1987–88 Buffalo Sabres NHL 50116
1987–88 Rochester Americans AHL 6392938108601115
1988–89 Rochester AmericansAHL667222945
1989–90 Buffalo SabresNHL40006
1989–90 Rochester AmericansAHL7016435943173101312
1990–91 Rochester AmericansAHL747445157152578
1991–92 Rochester AmericansAHL75632386016561118
1992–93 San Diego Gulls IHL 80154055851412310
1993–94 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim NHL32391239
1993–94 San Diego GullsIHL385131836
1994–95 Mighty Ducks of AnaheimNHL20000
1995–96 Mighty Ducks of AnaheimNHL40004
1995–96 Baltimore Bandits AHL1219102
1996–97 Grand Rapids Griffins IHL75720276630118
1997–98 Grand Rapids GriffinsIHL20004
1997–98 Milwaukee Admirals IHL76421251281000014
1998–99 Muskegon Fury UHL 60334822410
1999–00 Muskegon FuryUHL61345
2001–02 Muskegon FuryUHL30000
AHL totals360461792253155410223253
IHL totals27131941253192713432
NHL totals473101355

International

YearTeamEventGPGAPtsPIM
1994 United States WC 81120
Senior totals81120

Awards and honors

AwardYear
All-CCHA First Team 1984–85 [2]
CCHA All-Tournament Team 1985 [3]
All-CCHA First Team 1985–86 [2]
AHCA West Second-Team All-American 1985–86 [4]
All-NCAA All-Tournament Team 1986 [5]
All-CCHA First Team 1986–87 [2]
AHCA West Second-Team All-American 1986–87 [4]
CCHA All-Tournament Team 1987 [3]
All-NCAA All-Tournament Team 1987 [5]

References

  1. "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 "All-CCHA Teams". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved July 27, 2013.
  3. 1 2 "2012-13 CCHA Media Guide". ISSUU.com. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
  4. 1 2 "Men's Ice Hockey Award Winners" (PDF). NCAA.org. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  5. 1 2 "NCAA Frozen Four Records" (PDF). NCAA.org. Retrieved June 19, 2013.