Donald McSween

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.

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.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1980–81 Little Caesars U18 AAA U18 AAA — — — — — — — — — — 1981–82 Redford Royals GLJHL — — — — — — — — — — 1982–83 Redford Royals GLJHL 37 9 33 42 — — — — — — 1983–84 Michigan State University CCHA 46 10 26 36 30 — — — — — 1984–85 Michigan State University CCHA 44 2 23 25 50 — — — — — 1985–86 Michigan State University CCHA 45 9 29 38 18 — — — — — 1986–87 Michigan State University CCHA 45 7 23 30 34 — — — — — 1987–88 Buffalo Sabres NHL 5 0 1 1 6 — — — — — 1987–88 Rochester Americans AHL 63 9 29 38 108 6 0 1 1 15 1988–89 Rochester Americans AHL 66 7 22 29 45 — — — — — 1989–90 Buffalo Sabres NHL 4 0 0 0 6 — — — — — 1989–90 Rochester Americans AHL 70 16 43 59 43 17 3 10 13 12 1990–91 Rochester Americans AHL 74 7 44 51 57 15 2 5 7 8 1991–92 Rochester Americans AHL 75 6 32 38 60 16 5 6 11 18 1992–93 San Diego Gulls IHL 80 15 40 55 85 14 1 2 3 10 1993–94 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim NHL 32 3 9 12 39 — — — — — 1993–94 San Diego Gulls IHL 38 5 13 18 36 — — — — — 1994–95 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim NHL 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 1995–96 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim NHL 4 0 0 0 4 — — — — — 1995–96 Baltimore Bandits AHL 12 1 9 10 2 — — — — — 1996–97 Grand Rapids Griffins IHL 75 7 20 27 66 3 0 1 1 8 1997–98 Grand Rapids Griffins IHL 2 0 0 0 4 — — — — — 1997–98 Milwaukee Admirals IHL 76 4 21 25 128 10 0 0 0 14 1998–99 Muskegon Fury UHL 6 0 3 3 4 8 2 2 4 10 1999–00 Muskegon Fury UHL 6 1 3 4 5 — — — — — 2001–02 Muskegon Fury UHL 3 0 0 0 0 — — — — — AHL totals 360 46 179 225 315 54 10 22 32 53 IHL totals 271 31 94 125 319 27 1 3 4 32 NHL totals 47 3 10 13 55 — — — — —

International Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM 1994 United States WC 8 1 1 2 0 Senior totals 8 1 1 2 0

Awards and honors Award Year All-CCHA First Team 1984–85 CCHA All-Tournament Team 1985 All-CCHA First Team 1985–86 AHCA West Second-Team All-American 1985–86 All-NCAA All-Tournament Team 1986 All-CCHA First Team 1986–87 AHCA West Second-Team All-American 1986–87 CCHA All-Tournament Team 1987 All-NCAA All-Tournament Team 1987