All-Star Skills CompetitionDonovan grew up playing in Oklahoma City's youth hockey program where he initially attended
Edmond North High School until the age of 15 before moving to
John F. Kennedy High School in
Cedar Rapids, Iowa. For his efforts he was rewarded by being named to the Inside College Hockey Freshman All-American team, All-College Hockey News Rookie Team, and All-WCHA Rookie Team. Donovan was drafted 96th overall in the fourth round of the
National Hockey League's (NHL)
2008 draft by the
New York Islanders. Upon completing his sophomore season at the
University of Denver, he was quickly signed to a professional contract by the Islanders, who assigned him to play for their
American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the
Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Donovan scored a goal and four assists during the final six games of
2010–11 AHL season. For the
2012–13 season, Donovan tied
Justin Schultz for the most points among AHL defensemen with 48. Donovan made his NHL debut on April 3, 2012, against the
New Jersey Devils, making him the first Oklahoman born, raised, and trained in the state to play in the NHL. Donovan wore uniform number 46 in honor of Oklahoma being the 46th state. After making the Islanders' roster to start the
2013–14 season, With the Islanders declining to give Donovan a qualifying offer, on July 1, 2015, the
Buffalo Sabres signed Donovan as a free agent to a one-year contract. After spending the
2015–16 season exclusively within the Sabres' AHL affiliate, the
Rochester Americans, Donovan left the NHL as a free agent to sign a one-year contract abroad with Swedish club,
Frölunda HC of the
Swedish Hockey League (SHL), on July 21, 2016. Donovan enjoyed two productive seasons in Sweden, before opting to return to North America for the
2018–19 season, securing a one-year AHL contract with the Milwaukee Admirals on June 7, 2018. Donovan instantly made an impact with the Admirals, leading the club in scoring with 12 points through his first 13 games before he was signed by NHL affiliate, the
Nashville Predators, on a two-year, two-way contract on November 4, 2018. Nearing the conclusion of his contract with the Predators, Donovan opted to continue his tenure with the Milwaukee Admirals by signing a two-year AHL contract extension on March 23, 2020. With the Admirals opting out of playing in the pandemic delayed
2020–21 season, Donovan made a return to Sweden and the SHL, belatedly signing for the remainder of the season with
HV71 on January 20, 2021. He posted 2 goals and 7 points in 12 regular season games, unable to help prevent HV71 suffering relegation to the
HockeyAllsvenskan (Allsv). Returning to the Admirals for the following
2021–22 season, Donovan as an alternate captain, contributed with 8 goals and 40 points from the blueline in all 76 regular season games. On June 17, 2022, Donovan again left the AHL and signed a one-year contract with German club,
Adler Mannheim of the
Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). In the
2022–23 season, Donovan as an alternate captain contributed offensively on the blueline with 8 goals and 23 points through 47 regular season games. He also added 8 assists in 12 playoff contests. As a free agent, Donovan returned to North America after securing a one-year AHL contract with the
Chicago Wolves on June 14, 2023. In the
2023–24 season, Donovan continued to produce offensively from the blueline, totalling 43 points through 69 regular season games. On August 26, 2024, Donovan concluded his 14-year professional career, after he was unveiled as an assistant coach of the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL, affiliate to former club, the Nashville Predators. ==International play==