Derek Ryan

Derek Ryan is an American professional ice hockey forward. His team, the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League, played in the NHL Conference Finals in 2022 but were defeated by the Colorado Avalanche.

Ryan was born on December 29, 1986, in Spokane, Washington, where he started his junior career with the Spokane Braves of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League. He then played four seasons of major junior hockey from 2003 to 2007 with the Western Hockey League with the Spokane Chiefs. He played four four seasons with the University of Alberta Golden Bears and was named the CIS (West) Most Valuable Player for 2010–2011 and was named to the 2010–2011 CIS All-Canadian First Team.

He then played hockey in Europe with the Austrian League from 2011 to 2014. He played for one season (2014–2015) in the Swedish Hockey League, where he was the league’s top scorer and most valuable player.

Considered small at 5’ 11”, the NHL had not been interested in Ryan until his success in Sweden. He signed a one-year contract in the NHL with the Carolina Hurricanes in June 2015 and debuted in February 2016. He left Carolina as a free agent in July 2018 by signing with the Calgary Flames. After the conclusion of his contract with the Flames in 2021, he signed with the Edmonton Oilers on July 28, 2021.

Ryan is the only Latter-day Saint playing in the National Hockey League. He joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after living with his in-laws during his off seasons in Austria and participating in the gospel.

“Coffee was totally my pregame ritual,” he said. “In the NHL and most professional hockey leagues, that’s a pretty normal thing for guys to drink a lot of coffee in order to get ready for a game. So for me to give that up was a huge sacrifice.”

The first game Ryan played without coffee was in Austria. He remembers going out and how he just “felt terrible, lethargic and tired.” That’s how he also played, he said, and afterward he was upset. “Why am I doing this?” he said.

Despite the discouragement, Ryan didn’t give up. Within a few games he began to notice a feeling of increased energy, especially in the third period. He also played better overall.

That sustained energy throughout the game was just one way Ryan felt blessed after joining the church.[1]

Derek Ryan and his wife, Bonnie, have two children.