During the 2004-05 season, Kent McDonell witnessed the beauty of Norway, the terror of the North Sea, the taste of German beer and the thrill of winning a championship. But there's no place he'd rather be now than Grand Rapids, where he's a member of one of the AHL's most potent lines.

By Randy Rice

A big part of a professional hockey player’s life is traveling. Just ask Griffins forward Kent McDonell. Having played in three different countries within the past two years, the Williamston, Ontario, native knows first-hand what it’s like to frequently wake up in a new place.

Sure, players like McDonell may tire of road life over the course of a season. But in the end, traveling can prove advantageous in developing their skills and providing many unforgettable experiences.

Prior to arriving in Grand Rapids, McDonell logged parts of four seasons in the AHL with the Syracuse Crunch. He also had the opportunity to play for the Columbus Blue Jackets, scoring his first NHL goal on Oct. 18, 2003 at Nashville.

“I didn’t even realize the puck was in for about four seconds, but once I did, it was a great feeling,” he said. “It didn’t really sink in that it actually happened until I was on the flight home. Scoring a goal in the NHL was something I always grew up dreaming of.”

With the NHL lockout of 2004-05, many players – including McDonell – found themselves moving to other areas of the world to ply their trade. McDonell landed in Norway, where he played for the country’s worst team but, on the bright side, acquired some great stories to tell.

The amount of snow Griffins fans see each winter in West Michigan is mild compared to the accumulations in the mountains of Norway. During McDonell’s first road trip to Oslo, the snow presented a slippery situation.

“Before I got to Norway, I was told the trip would only take four hours; it actually takes 12. We left at 5 a.m. the day of a game and had to stop the bus up on the mountain to put snow chains on the tires. It got pretty scary for a moment there, since we were sliding around so much. Then we got to the game and lost 8-0 and had to drive back,” said McDonell. Looking back now, he finds humor relating the experiences he had overseas.

After playing only 11 games in Norway and accumulating 12 goals and 3 assists, McDonell headed off to Germany, where he played division two hockey for Duisburg. He helped lead the team to its first German championship, which earned it a promotion to division one for the 2005-06 season.

After the title game, the club’s fans (better known as supporters in Germany) packed into the team’s arena and awaited the return of their champions. It was not until 6 a.m. that the players returned home from a seven-hour drive and walked into a building packed full of their cheering supporters.

“We had a big party right on the ice that morning with all of our fans,” McDonell said. “It was really nice to see such loyalty from everyone. People were out there on the ice in their shoes just having fun and drinking the good German beer.”

Winning the German championship was the last game McDonell played in Europe before coming to Grand Rapids for the 2005-06 season. Even though he is glad to be back in North America, he feels playing overseas worked to his advantage.
“Playing in Europe really helped my skating. If you can’t skate in Europe, you can’t really play. Since the ice is so much bigger over there, skating is the biggest factor.”

Improving his skating ability could not have come at a better time for McDonell. With the new rules in professional hockey, skating has become just as important in North America as it is in Europe.

In making the decision to sign with the Detroit Red Wings to play for the Griffins, McDonell describes it as a “no-brainer.” The winger was excited to see familiar faces in Grand Rapids; he is now playing alongside his former Syracuse teammate, Donald MacLean, and for a former coach, Greg Ireland, from his days spent with the ECHL’s Dayton Bombers.

“I knew what type of coach Greg was prior to coming here, and I knew he liked my style of play,” McDonell said. “I also heard from players who previously played in Grand Rapids that it was a great city.”

In regards to team chemistry, McDonell couldn’t be happier with his experiences so far with the Griffins. “We have one of those teams where everybody gets along with everybody else. There are no individuals, and all the players seem to be on the same page,” said the alternate captain. “We like to practice hard but, at the same time, have fun doing it.”

Team chemistry is not the only aspect of playing for the Griffins that excites McDonell. There’s also the fan base. “Opening night was probably my greatest memory in the American Hockey League. Playing in front of nearly 11,000 fans was the most I have ever played before in the AHL. It was really nice to see and pretty unbelievable.”

Growing up in Ontario, McDonell was always a big fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs. But as far as he is concerned, having the opportunity to be part of another Original Six franchise like Detroit is a privilege.

“Going to training camp and playing beside players like Steve Yzerman was a dream come true for me. I grew up idolizing him and the skills he has, then I find myself lining up next to him and receiving his passes.”

McDonell explains that playing in Grand Rapids and with the Red Wings organization is an honor, but so far this season, it has been a pleasure for the Griffins to have him around. As a member of the Griffins’ top line alongside Jiri Hudler and Eric Manlow, he has recorded 17 points in just 22 games.

When asked about the line’s chemistry, a humble McDonell merely replies, “We just seem to click so well that it is almost scary at times. Hopefully we can keep things rolling, and we’re not just on a lucky spurt.”

Whatever ups and downs the season may hold, the well-traveled forward is certainly ready for the journey.