Make Some Noise for Terry Ryan

It was a big weekend for the Newfoundland Growlers of the ECHL, the province of Newfoundland, and sputtering old guys everywhere. Newfoundland’s highest NHL draft pick ever, Terry Ryan, was signed to a Standard Player Contract on Saturday, then played Sunday, for the shorthanded Growlers against the Adirondack Thunder. Doesn’t seem abnormal. Why the big deal, then, Goonblog?

Well, super-chief, the big deal is that Terry Ryan is 47 years old.

Puppers Pints and Draft Picks

That’s right, folks. Terry Ryan turned 47 on Sunday January 14^th. Ryan was taken 8^th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in 1995, making him the Province’s highest NHL draft pick of all time. It’s a pretty cool story.

Apparently, he was in a bar getting pinted when the Growlers called him about playing. Naturally, he ignored the first call. Thankfully, they called back, and the 5 or 6 Puppers-deep Ryan answered the call. They told him they were short guys, and could he play Sunday in the Growlers last game before the ECHL All Star break. Terry put his beer down and promptly reported for duty just a few hours later.

Terry Ryan’s NHL Stats

Terry Ryan played 8 NHL games for the Habs over 3 seasons from 1996 to 1999. He recorded 0 points and managed 36 Penalty Minutes. In 1998 he fought some tough guys of the day like, Matt Baranby, Doug Houda, and Bob Boughner. In 2001, he suffered a serious ankle injury that forever ended his chances at making a return to the show.

Considered an NHL bust, or a “footnote” as Ryan describes himself in the title of his autobiography, “Tales of a First-Round Nothing: My Life as an NHL Footnote”, Ryan then played pro hockey around North America in various Minor Leagues. He made some stops as high as the AHL and was a contributor on the score sheet everywhere he went, in spite of coming up snake eyes in the biggest.

Where he’s had the most success, hockey wise, is ball hockey. Living where I do in Massachusetts, I know some serious ball hockey ballers, and they all know Terry Ryan. He’s won several championships in the medium and has been a member of The Big Deal Selects of Spittin’ Chiclets fame.

Terry Ryan on “Shorsey”

Terry Ryan has also been working in film. If you’re a fan of the Letterkenny and specifically Shorsey programs (and if not, why?), then you’ll surely recognize Terry as Ted Hitchcock on the extremely quotable show. Apparently, his abilities as a classic storyteller, a trait he got from Terry Ryan Sr., have endeared him to the hockey community and was a big reason he got the role.

Because the Boys Love It! Hell, We All Do

Best part (and it’s honestly hard to pick just one)? not only did Terry Ryan make his return to pro hockey on his 47^th birthday, he also managed to get in a scrap. The announcer in the clip asks, “why?” and the other one says, “because the boys love it!” He’s not wrong. For a 47 year old guy playing against guys that probably weren’t even born when he was in the NHL, he does pretty well in the scrap. You can tell his balance is a bit off from not having fought in a non-acting way on ice in a while, but he held his faakin’ own, bud.

From what I understand of Terry Ryan, he is an absolute beauty. A certified beautician to be sure. He was emotional in discussing the game because his daughter and her friends were all there, and he didn’t want to embarrass himself.

Speaking for all of us, I don’t think Terry Ryan embarrassed himself at all. He did exactly what I would want out of a veteran hockey player. He stood up for a guy when he thought it warranted, and did OK in the scrap to boot. I’m sure the boys were fired up as can be after seeing that. Nice to see the fighting spirit alive and well in Newfoundland!