One of the reasons that Groton coach Bill Riley is excited about his team’s prospects for the upcoming season is a talented, veteran defense corps.
The Zebras’ top four blueliners are all juniors returning to the varsity level, including a leader with loads of potential in Kaiden Donia (Townsend, Mass.).
Donia, at 6-foot-5 and 183 pounds, has the frame, physical strength and power to make an impact. He has grown by leaps and bounds since his arrival on campus.
“He is certainly going to have a huge impact as a leader and a defensive stalwart for us. The sky’s the limit, I guess, is the short answer,” Riley said. “But I feel very lucky to say that he’s surrounded by some other really good defensemen. … (Our top four) might be as impactful as any core group in the league.”
Donia is surrounded by stalwart classmates Connor Wig (Holliston, Mass.), Alejandro Hassan and Elliot Wood (Auburndale, Mass.), who all helped Groton make its way into the NEPSAC Small School Tournament for the first time since 2020 last winter.
While a quarterfinal loss to Frederick Gunn curbed the Zebras’ playoff hopes early, Donia and his teammates will be looking for more in the season ahead. And more is exactly what Donia is looking for in his own game as well.
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After all, last season was really his first full-time foray at the prep level after he missed a large chunk of games during his freshman year due to shoulder surgery.
“What really helped me the most last year was just overall confidence,” Donia said. “Just getting back into the flow, getting opportunities on the power play and more ice time 5-on-5 helped me grow. [I’m looking forward to] just more time, more puck possession, protecting the puck — I think it will help a lot.”
Donia amassed solid offensive totals with three goals and 10 assists in 26 games a season ago, but there were flashes of brilliance along the way.
The coach will not soon forget a goal that Donia scored at last year’s season-opening St. Paul’s Jamboree, jumping into the play from the blue line to score a top-shelf goal that stood as the game-winner against Tabor. The Zebras were the only team to go 3-0 that weekend.
“That kind of set the tone for our team in a lot of ways,” Riley said. “It raised some eyebrows that this kid could do some special things in this league. He definitely did that, as much as a sophomore can.”
Donia has continued standing out. Even this fall with the East Coast Militia, Riley pointed to an end-to-end goal that his defenseman scored against one of the top programs in the country in the Long Island Gulls.
It was a moment where Donia rose to the occasion and put the team on his back. Doing that on a consistent basis, Riley believes, is not out of the realm of possibility.
Despite his size and position on defense, Donia has always had that offensive knack in his skillset.
“I think my skating is definitely impressive for a person of my size, so I try to join the rush and contribute to the offense as much as I can if the spot’s there,” Donia said. “I’ve had to work on it, but I think it’s naturally been there. I started playing hockey as a center and turned into a defenseman at nine or 10 (years old), so I’ve definitely had that offensive touch to my game.”
With his junior year at Groton nearing, the opportunity for Donia to take his game to the next level is starting to become real. College interest has been heightened since he participated in USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program Evaluation ?Camp last March, where he was one of seven New Englanders rostered.
Though he didn’t make the NTDP Under-17 cut, the camp further exposed him to the best in the country.
“Playing against the 40 other top kids in the United States, it definitely helped getting experience against kids of a high level, which is probably a higher level than prep,” said Donia, who also plays varsity baseball at Groton. “I think that will help when we start the prep season again.”
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As for Riley, he can’t wait to see what is in store for Donia’s immediate future and beyond.
“He’s a very measured individual and recognized how great of an opportunity it was to showcase his skills in front of the best,” Riley said. “I wasn’t present [at NTDP camp], but I heard he did really well. I know he had a great experience, and is having a great experience at Groton. I know that more opportunities will come as long as he continues to have the right attitude and work ethic.
“The best is yet to come for him.”
