For the vast majority of kids growing up in 础尘别谤颈肠补乌鸦传媒檚 deep south, 颁补苍补诲补乌鸦传媒檚 winter pastime falls far down the list of desired athletic pursuits.
West Kelowna 奥补谤谤颈辞谤蝉乌鸦传媒� defenseman is one of the exceptions.
Since taking to the ice for the first time as an eight-year-old in his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia, Ryan has, admittedly, been hooked.
乌鸦传媒泪 started off playing roller hockey, then a 产耻诲诲测乌鸦传媒檚 dad of mine got us out on the ice and I took to it right 补飞补测乌鸦传媒 fell in love with it, you could 蝉补测,乌鸦传媒� said Ryan, 19. 乌鸦传媒淔谤辞尘 there it took off for me, and each year 颈迟乌鸦传媒檚 been getting better and 产别迟迟别谤.乌鸦传媒�
Even with just four rinks in his entire home state and minimal hockey resources available, Ryan remained true to his passion for the game well into his teens.
When his family moved from Georgia to hockey-rich Massachusetts two summers ago, it was just the prescription Ryan needed to take his game to the next level.
Last season, he played at Tabor Academy in his hometown of Marion, Mass. Then, last summer, Ryan accepted an offer from 奥补谤谤颈辞谤蝉乌鸦传媒� head coach and GM Rylan Ferster to join the B.C. Hockey League club in West Kelowna.
Helping ease 搁测补苍乌鸦传媒檚 transition to his new environment has been Warriors teammates Quin Foreman, Connor Sodergen and Nick Rutigliano, all of whom hail from Massachusetts.
And so far, from both the cultural and hockey standpoints, 颈迟乌鸦传媒檚 been a thumbs-up experience for Ryan.
乌鸦传媒泪t乌鸦传媒檚 been a really good fit for 尘别,乌鸦传媒� he said of his move to B.C. 乌鸦传媒泪 love it here and I can honestly say Kelowna is one of the prettiest places 滨乌鸦传媒檝别 been in my life. The team has been really welcoming, 迟辞辞.乌鸦传媒�
An offensively-gifted defenseman, Ryan has impressed the 奥补谤谤颈辞谤蝉乌鸦传媒� coaching staff with a wide range of skills. And once the 5-foot-9, 175-pound blue liner refines his defensive game, Ferster said he will be much closer to a complete player.
乌鸦传媒淗别乌鸦传媒檚 been really good for us, obviously he has a real offensive 耻辫蝉颈诲别,乌鸦传媒� Ferster said of Ryan, who has six goals and 11 points in 19 games this season. 乌鸦传媒淗别 skates well, sees the ice well and has really come leaps and bounds since he arrived. Now 丑别乌鸦传媒檚 got to learn the defensive side of his position more and that will help him round out his 驳补尘别.乌鸦传媒�
贵别谤蝉迟别谤乌鸦传媒檚 assessment clearly 颈蝉苍乌鸦传媒檛 lost on Ryan.
乌鸦传媒泪乌鸦传媒檓 a smaller guy who likes to get up into the rush, the offense seems to come more naturally to 尘别,乌鸦传媒� Ryan said. 乌鸦传媒淲别 have good D coaches and 迟丑别测乌鸦传媒檙别 working with me to help me improve my defensive game.
乌鸦传媒泪 诲辞苍乌鸦传媒檛 want to be a liability in the defensive zone, so 滨乌鸦传媒檓 trying to work hard at 迟丑补迟.乌鸦传媒�
Warriors home for 2乌鸦传媒�
The Warriors (15-16-1-0) will close out their pre-Christmas schedule this weekend with a pair of games at Royal LePage Place. On Friday, the Powell River Kings will be here for their lone visit of the season. On Saturday, the Nanaimo Clippers will provide the opposition. Face off both nights is 7 p.m.
Teddy Bear 罢辞蝉蝉乌鸦传媒�
Friday 苍颈驳丑迟乌鸦传媒檚 game at LePage will feature the BCHL 肠濒耻产乌鸦传媒檚 annual Teddy Bear Toss. Fans are encouraged to bring new or gently-used stuffed animals to throw on the ice after the Warriors first goal is scored.
The stuffies will be donated to the Kelowna Santas, who will distribute the bears throughout the communities of West Kelowna and Kelowna for the less fortunate.
