The Donskoffs are celebrating their 25th year running hockey camps in Central Ohio, working with players of all ages and skill levels, from the AAA Blue Jackets junior program to professional and collegiate players, and the opportunity to share the ice with the next generation of future Blue Jackets was a special experience they couldn't turn down.
“It's been awesome,” Anthony said. “It's been fun working with the young guys that were drafted and obviously the coaching staff and getting the opportunity to learn from them and work with them. It's definitely something that we're both passionate about.”
Added Matthew: “Coming here and being involved with the team, being in the meetings every day, being on the ice with these draft picks and being a part of the future of the organization has been an honor and a humbling experience. It's been a real pleasure.”
Few in central Ohio have experienced the sport's growth over the years as much as the Donskoff family. When Paul, who passed away in April 2020, first moved with his family from London, Ontario, to Columbus in 1990, there was no professional hockey and youth hockey was virtually unknown.
Paul was a basketball evangelist, working hard to promote the game wherever he could, and things started to look up with the arrival of the minor league Columbus Chill in town in 1991. This was the start of a love affair with the town and basketball that accelerated over time, first with the construction of the Chiller Ice Rink and eventually the founding of the Blue Jackets.
“It's been amazing,” says Anthony, with his close-cropped hairline explaining the next line: “I moved here in the early '90s and the hockey landscape was like my hairline. There were 93 participants then. It's so fun to see the growth of hockey at all levels now. It's a world away from what it was in the '90s. There are more kids participating in the sport than ever before. It's fun to watch.”
When the Donskov brothers decided they wanted to continue their hockey careers as teenagers, they had to move somewhere else to develop to a higher level. They had varying levels of success — Anthony played four years at Miami, while Matthew (SUNY Cortland) and Misha (Norwich) played at the NCAA Division III level — but it's fair to say things have changed in the nation's capital now.
Columbus is home to numerous youth organizations that provide advanced training for children, and the results are evident in the many NHL players who grew up in the city, as well as players who have gone on to play at a high level in junior and college hockey.
“In the early '90s, hockey players had to travel far to get a scholarship or play major junior,” Anthony said. “Now, in Columbus, they're set up so that players have all the resources they need to play at the collegiate level without having to go anywhere, which is great. Columbus is a destination for hockey players. It's fun to see that.”
The Blue Jackets invite guest coaches to their development camp each season, notably Ohio State women's head coach Nadine Muserall, who was one of those coaches last year. For Nash, reaching out to the Donskovs this season was an easy choice. He was looking for the “right people,” and he said he found them.
Matthew said he enjoyed working with a group of 17-21 year olds who are preparing to take their game to the highest level and it was a great experience for everyone involved.
“I think you can see the maturity they have at such a young age,” he said. “They're very focused. They're very calculated in their approach and they prepare accordingly both on and off the ice. That's part of why they're here, because they've taken that step and are very serious about the game and their approach. It's been a lot of fun getting to know them. Great individuals, great personalities and it's been fun being a part of that process this week.”
