On Monday, Feb. 29, Daniel O’Donoghue, former forward for the Mercyhurst men’s hockey team, was acquired by the Pittsburgh Penguins at the NHL trade deadline.

The Pens traded Matia Marcantuoni to the Coyotes for O’Donoghue and two other minor league players.

Following the trade, he was assigned to the ECHL Wheeling Nailers for time to improve his play and develop.

Earlier in the 2015-16 season, O’Donoghue played for the Springfield Falcons who are also apart of the ECHL league. Appearing in 18 games, he netted three goals and one assist.

His professional career started in April 2014 when O’Donoghue became the fifth player in Mercyhurst history to sign an NHL contract.

His four-year career at Mercyhurst includes tallying 155 career points in 129 games. In the 2013-14 season, he was awarded AHA Defensive Forward of the Year.

He was drafted in the fifth round and the 54th pick overall. O’Donoghue signed a two year National Hockey League entry-level contract with the Phoenix Coyotes.

During these two years he played for Phoenix’s affiliate, the Portland Pirates where he appeared in three games.