GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Bill Donovan, the father of Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan and whose own basketball exploits propelled him to the Boston College Hall of Fame, has died. He was 85. Bill Donovan died Saturday, according to the obituary posted by Williams-Thomas Funeral Home in Gainesville, Florida. A native of Queens, New York, Donovan captained the Boston College basketball team and graduated in 1962
There was no shortage of Bruins prospects on the ice in Friday's season opener between No. 6 Boston College and No. 13 Quinnipiac - with seven different skaters drafted by Boston taking to the ice at Conte Forum. The Eagles rolled out five different Bruins prospects - headlined by 2025 first-round pick (No. 7 overall) James Hagens. Joining Hagens as Bruins property on BC's roster were fellow pivots Will Moore (2025 second-round pick) and Dean Letourneau (2024 first-round pick) - as well as wingers Oskar Jellvik (2021 fifth-round pick) and Andre Gasseau (2021 seventh-round pick).
When he was drafted by San Jose, a large chunk of fans were incredulous that General Manager Mike Grier didn't take Matvei Michkov instead (ignorant of the reality that Michkov almost certainly didn't want to come to the Sharks, given that he said no to Washington and Arizona). When he spent his post-draft year with Boston College, NHL scouts focused on his linemates Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault instead, ignoring the reality that it was Smith's playmaking and play-driving ability carrying the line.
