When he was growing up in St. Paul, Minn., Ryan McDonagh always dreamed of becoming a member of a U.S. Olympic hockey team.

“I learned as much as I could about the 1980 Olympic team,” McDonagh said. “It started at a very young age.”

Although McDonagh played on youth national teams and for the senior national team at the 2011 world championships, the 25-year-old New York Rangers defenseman realized his dream last February when he suited up for Team USA in the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games.

“Representing the country is the greatest thing to do for any American,” said McDonagh, who registered a goal, an assist and a plus-1 rating in Sochi. “I’d love to go back and do it again.”

McDonagh proved to be one of the breakout stars for Team USA, and he has continued his upward trajectory in the months that followed.

After being named the Rangers’ most valuable player last year and leading the team in scoring during a run to the 2014 Stanley Cup Final, McDonagh was named team captain before the current campaign. The captaincy was left vacant after the Rangers traded Ryan Callahan, another 2014 U.S. Olympian, midway through last season.

The honor continued a meteoric rise for McDonagh that began in 2007, when he led his Cretin-Derham Hall high school team to the Minnesota state championship, was named Minnesota’s Mr. Hockey and was subsequently drafted by the Montreal Canadiens.

McDonagh then went to the University of Wisconsin and was a standout for the Badgers. He was traded to the Rangers in 2009 while in college and eventually joined the Blueshirts in 2010-11. He has been a fixture ever since.

McDonagh has seen action in 255 regular season games and 62 playoff contests as of Monday night and should remain in New York for the foreseeable future after inking a six-year contract in the summer of 2013.

After his breakout 2014 season, the next step for the hard-working defenseman was to sew the “C” onto his sweater.

When he was named the Rangers’ team captain earlier this month, it came at a team dinner with former team captains Vic Hadfield, Ron Greschner and Dave Maloney in attendance, not to mention team owner James Dolan.

McDonagh is the 27th player to wear the Rangers’ “C.” It’s a responsibility that McDonagh is not taking lightly.

“It’s a tremendous honor,” said McDonagh, who had his first two assists of the young season Tuesday night in a thrilling come-from-behind 4-3 overtime win against the Rangers’ nearest and fiercest rivals, the New Jersey Devils. “I’m more excited being the guy that everyone is going to look to, to inspire the team to get better. I want to install an attitude of hard work, where we can improve each day. They’ve given me this responsibility because I’ve carried myself the way I have. The big thing is not to change my habits.”

McDonagh said that he doesn’t need to be the type of captain who is constantly barking orders at his teammates.

“Obviously talking to guys and speaking to the team and holding guys accountable is very important,” he said. “But it’s the stuff you do when people aren’t looking that’s very important as well.”

It’s basically textbook Leading By Example 101, without the need for a manual.

“I’m going to try to be someone who brings a certain belief and attitude to the individual and as far as the team,” McDonagh said when his captaincy became official before the start of the season. “It’s about getting better off the ice, working hard in the weight room, coming ready to practice, because that’s where you get better as a team.”

McDonagh is already wearing the captain’s hat very well.

“It’s a great responsibility and a challenge I’m looking forward to,” McDonagh said. “I feel like I’ve gained a lot of confidence the last couple of years here. I feel very comfortable within the organization, especially amongst my teammates. I think they understand me, my attitude and the kind of player I try to be every day. I’m someone they can look to improve their game and the team’s game.”

His teammates are applauding the decision. Coach Alain Vigneault said McDonagh was the logical choice “because he constantly works so hard and inspires everyone,” Vigneault said. “He’s a great role model.”

All-Star goalie Henrik Lundqvist also sang McDonagh’s praises.

“He’s the great choice, because he’s a great player and a greater person,” Lundqvist said. “He comes to the rink to work hard and shows everyone how much he wants it. He wants to get better and compete. It’s a good decision. To be the captain of the New York Rangers is an extremely big honor. It’s a big responsibility.

“It’s a big deal.”

McDonagh got married last year to wife Kaylee, which was also a big deal.

Just like it was a big deal to play for Team USA in the Olympic Winter Games.

“Every opportunity I get to wear the Team USA jersey is very special to me,” McDonagh said. “It’s something I always dreamed about.”

Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.