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and release. Skating fast came easy for the 5-foot-11, 185-pound wing er, now 56, who remains 15th all-time in Division I history with 97 points that season. "He spent a lot of time working on his shot," Miller recalled. "You knew his shot would be on net, accurate and quick. That is a com- bination you need to be a great goal scorer." "I was pretty driven," Donnelly added. "If not for [MSU coach] Ron Mason and that program I never would have developed. I had no scholarship. I was considered undersized. I was always battling for ice time. There was so much competition four days a week in practice. I only got better those first three years." Donnelly's pro career mirrored his college years with him making the most of his hard work and abilities when an opportunity arose. He was struggling to produce consistently with the New York Rangers and then Buffalo, bouncing up and down from the American Hockey League, before landing with the Kings in 1991. He emerged while playing on the third line and then enjoyed his 32 // OCTOBER 2020 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM PHOTOS BY Getty Images; Michigan State University MIKE DONNELLY could always rely on his natural skating speed to create offensive opportunities at the college and pro levels. But it was the hours of hard work he was willing to put in that helped forge a 13-year professional career, including most of 12 seasons in the NHL (N.Y. Rangers, Buffalo, Los Angeles, Dallas, and N.Y. Islanders). The former Michigan State standout is living proof of someone who made the most of his talent through hard work, a lesson he tries to pass on in his role with the L.A. Kings player development system. Goal scorers like Donnelly are typically a combination of natural ability honed by the hard work required to build upon that talent most productive NHL season during the 1992-93 campaign (69 points, 29 goals), which ended with a loss in the Stanley Cup Finals. He often lined up that season with Granato and St. Cloud Norsemen coach Corey Millen on an offensive line built upon speed and skill. "That system fit my style," Donnelly said. "We often had the other team's lines on their heels with our speed." That line added an additional scoring punch to a loaded Kings team led by Hockey Hall of Famers Wayne Gretzky, Rob Blake, Paul Coffey, Jari Kurri and Luc Robitaille. Donnelly earned his minutes with a consistent defensive effort that made him a great linemate. "You didn't have to worry about Mike," Granato said. "You never had to cover for him defensively. He was extremely reliable and dependable. He was good on the backcheck. He was one of those guys who always stepped up at key times." An honest approach to the game is what Donnelly teaches now while working for the Kings since 2002, the last 10 focused on player development. "I love it," he said. "I think it's one of the best jobs to have in hockey. I get to work with younger players and teach them to play the game the right way. It's very gratifying." THE MIDAS TOUCH Talent Plus Tenacity Proved To Be A Deadly Combination For MSU Star After a long pro career, Mike Donnelly currently works for the Los Angeles Kings in their player development system. M I K E D O N N E L L Y