Ted Donato

Edward Paul Donato (born April 28, 1969) is an American former ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL). He most recently served as the head coach at Harvard University from 2004 to 2026, and is the winningest coach in program history.

Early and personal life Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Donato grew up in Dedham, Massachusetts and attended Catholic Memorial High School, where he became the high school's all-time leading goalscorer.

Playing career Donato was selected 98th overall in the 1987 NHL entry draft by the Boston Bruins. He played his high school hockey at Catholic Memorial, college hockey at Harvard University, and then moved up to the NHL for the 1991–92 season. Donato played 796 career NHL games, scoring 150 goals and 197 assists for 347 points. During his career, Donato played for the Bruins, New York Islanders, Ottawa Senators, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, Dallas Stars, Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues, and New York Rangers.

He played his youth hockey for the Hyde Park Eagles, a Boston neighborhood organization, where a banner still hangs honoring his time playing for Hyde Park Youth Hockey.

Donato is the second professional hockey player to appear on the show The Price Is Right (winning his way on-stage and making it to the Showcase Showdown), the first player in the NHL to appear.

In 2023 he would be named one of the top 100 Bruins players of all time.

Coaching career Donato was the head coach of his alma mater, Harvard University from 2004 to 2026. On December 6, 2025, following a 3–0 victory against the Brown Bears, Donato became the winningest men's ice hockey coach in Harvard history, surpassing his former coach Bill Cleary.

Personal life Donato is married to Jeannine Donato. The couple have four children. NCAA Tournament MVP 1989 All-ECAC Hockey First Team 1990–91