When the Checkers take the ice in Iowa on Saturday, it will mark the next chapter of Derek Ryan’s career, one that has taken a unique course up to this point.
Earlier in the summer, the Hurricanes made a splash by signing the reigning Swedish Hockey League MVP and leading scorer, who would be making the jump to North America for the first time. Reading that information alone might lead one to imagine a native Swede who had been honing his game with the country’s junior teams since he was a teenager, but in actuality it was Ryan, a 28-year-old, American-born forward coming home for the first time as a pro.
Ryan began his hockey journey like many others around the league: playing major junior. He spent four seasons with his hometown Spokane Chiefs of the WHL- two of which featured current Carolina head coach Bill Peters behind the bench- and twice led the team in scoring. At the conclusion of his junior career, instead of turning pro, Ryan went the Canadian college route, starring for four years at the University of Alberta. He continued to show offensive firepower, ranking in the top two in scoring three of his four seasons and helping lead the Golden Bears to four straight conference titles and a national championship.
After his college career ended, Ryan was left with a choice on how to proceed with his career. Instead of going the ECHL or AHL tryout route, he decided that his best option was to head overseas and begin his pro career in Europe.
“It’s different for each player, but for me as an offensive player, I thought Europe was a great fit,” said Ryan.
Ryan spent three impressive seasons in Austria before making another move. This time it was to Sweden, where he would skate for Orebro in the country’s top league.
“I think the Swedish league is really high so the opportunity to play there is really hard to come by. It’s probably the third best league in the world behind the NHL and the KHL,” said Ryan.
It was in Sweden that Ryan really broke out offensively, netting 60 points in 55 games to lead the notoriously stingy league in scoring and earning an MVP award. That outburst set up Ryan’s best shot at achieving his main goal: to play in the NHL.
“It’s always been a possibility, but this year more than ever,” said Ryan of signing a contract in North America. “This past year was definitely the biggest year I had in Sweden and that exposed me to North America. I figured I’d take advantage of that and take a shot.”
Several teams showed interest in signing the 28-year-old, but it was the Peters-coached Hurricanes that won the bidding war, giving Ryan his opportunity.
“I thought Carolina was a good fit as an organization, they needed some forwards and some scoring,” said Ryan. “I figured this is my shot at playing in the NHL and making a crack at the best league in the world.”
Ryan spent considerable time in Hurricanes training camp, sticking around until the final round of cuts. That helped ease his transition into not only a new team, but an entirely new style of play.
“It got me more comfortable with the organization and the systems for sure,” said Ryan of his stint at Canes Camp. “Bill [Peters] explained everything, he’s really good at that so that was nice just getting a feel for what it’s like to play here in North America.”
Tangibly, there’s really only one main difference in the game Ryan played in Sweden versus here in North America. But when it comes to how that game is played, there is a noticeable shift.
“The smaller ice is the biggest change that I would notice, but to be honest, outside of the neutral zone, the offensive and defensive zones don’t seem much smaller,” said Ryan. “But it’s definitely a different style of play. It’s a little more chip it in and bang around the offensive zone, whereas in Europe it was more puck possession and they never really dump it in. So that’ll be a change for sure.”
The one thing that has followed Ryan wherever he has played has been his scoring touch. He has put up gaudy numbers at every level he has played at, and his production in a Swedish league that has a reputation for being a very tough place to score is an encouraging sign for Checkers fans. The key for Ryan will be replicating that level of performance in a new environment- one that is more wide open.
“I think that’s a very true statement that the Swedish league is lower scoring,” said Ryan. “The games are so defensive and they’re so structured. Obviously I haven’t played in an American League game so I don’t know exactly how it is, but I think it’s a little more run and gun. Sweden is just so ‘shut it down.’ 3-1, 1-2, 1-0 are the scores every night. I think playing against that strong, structured defense will help for sure. But it’s a different style of play as well, so it’ll be an adjustment”
Ryan hasn’t spent a lot of time with the Checkers, being one of the last players assigned from Carolina. But in his few practices he has looked strong, gelling with his teammates and showing his offensive edge.
“It’s been high tempo, lots of offense, just trying to get back into the groove of things,” said Ryan of his first few days of Checkers camp. “The great thing about it is that we’re using the same systems that they’re using in Carolina, so it makes it a bit of an easier adjustment.”
Ryan figures to be one of the Checkers main pillars offensively this season. After last year’s team struggled mightily to find the back of the net, the addition of Ryan and several other pieces will aim to remedy that. His route to this point is certainly unique, and the fact that he is unproven in North America might draw doubts from some. But regardless of where he’s playing, Ryan know that this game boils down to one thing.
“At the end of the day it’s hockey,” said Ryan. “You’re just trying to put that little round thing in the net.”
