Shoots Right Playing career Role Ice hockey Weight 77 kg Date joined 2015 | NHL Draft Undrafted Name Derek Ryan Height 1.78 m Positions Centerman | |
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Born December 29, 1986 (age 37)
Spokane, Washington, USA ( 1986-12-29 ) NHL team (P)
Cur. team
Former teams Carolina Hurricanes
Charlotte Checkers (AHL)
SAPA Fehervar AV19
EC VSV
Orebro HK | ||
Derek Ryan (born December 29, 1986) is an American professional ice hockey forward. He is currently playing within the Carolina Hurricanes organization of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Playing career
Ryan played four seasons of major junior hockey (2003–2007) in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Spokane Chiefs. With limited NHL interest due to his diminutive size, he went on to play four seasons of Canadian college hockey (2007 – 2011) with the University of Alberta in the CWUAA conference of Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS). For his outstanding college hockey play he was named the CIS (West) Most Valuable Player for the 2010–11 season, and was also named to the 2010–11 CIS All-Canadian First Team.
Ryan embarked on a professional career in Europe and made his debut in the 2011–12 season in the Austrian League with Hungarian club, Alba Volan Szekesfehervar. After placing third in team scoring with 49 points in 50 games, Ryan was signed to an improved contract with Austrian club, EC VSV on July 7, 2012. In his second season in Villacher, Ryan lead the EBEL with 38 goals and finished with 84 points in 54 games. He was awarded the Ron Kennedy Trophy as the league's most valuable player for the 2013–14 season.
On April 10, 2014, Ryan moved to the Swedish Hockey League, signing a lucrative contract with Orebro HK. In the 2014–15 season, Ryan's rapid ascent in the professional leagues continued as he became the cornerstone of Orebro's offense and in leading the club to the playoffs, lead the SHL in scoring with 45 assists and 60 points to be selected as the league's Forward of the Year and the SHL Most Valuable player.
Earning NHL interest after defying initial size concerns, Ryan signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Carolina Hurricanes on June 15, 2015.