Pat Ryan
Encyclopedia
Patrick J. C. Ryan (born September 28, 1955 in Winnipeg, Manitoba) is a Canadian
curler originally from Edmonton, Alberta. Ryan is a former World Champion skip, and three time Brier
champion. Ryan currently lives in Toronto
.
Ryan appeared in his first Brier in 1979 when he was the second for Paul Devlin's Alberta
team. They finished 6-5. In 1985, Ryan returned to the Brier, as a skip of Team Alberta. His team of Gord Trenchie, Don McKenzie, and Don Walchuk
had an impressive 11-1 performance, their only loss coming in the final against Al Hackner
of Northern Ontario
. Two years later, Ryan would return to the Brier. His new team, which included Randy Ferbey
(whom he played with at the 1986 Canadian Mixed Championship
) and Roy Herbert along with Walchuk finished with a disappointing 6-5 record. At the 1988 Labatt Brier however, Ryan's Alberta foursome (now with Don McKenzie as lead instead of Herbert) would win the championship defeating Eugene Hritzuk
of Saskatchewan
in the final. Ryan's team had a perfect 12-0 record. At the World Championships however, Ryan's team would be undefeated all the way to the final against Eigil Ramsfjell
of Norway
which he lost. Ryan returned to the 1989 Labatt Brier, which he won again, albeit with three losses along the way. Ryan would this time be able to win the 1989 World Championships, again with three losses. He defeated Patrick Hürlimann
of Switzerland
in the final. Ryan was nicknamed the Ryan Express for his team's ability to peel rocks which led to many low scoring games, but gave the team two straight Brier championships. This strategy was perceived as boring, and elicited jeering from crowds, and forced the rules of curling to be changed with the implementation of the free guard zone.
1993 would be Ryan's next Brier appearance. This time Ryan had moved from Edmonton, Alberta to Kelowna, British Columbia. In 1993, Ryan played third for Rick Folk
which lost the final to Russ Howard
from Ontario
. Ryan and Folk would return to the 1994 Labatt Brier
where they won, getting their revenge against Howard in the final. At the 1994 World Championships, Ryan would win his second World Championships, as their team defeated Jan-Olov Nässén of Sweden
in the final. Ryan and Folk would return to the Brier again in 1995, however they finished 6-5.
Ryan wouldn't return to the Brier until 2002. By now, Ryan was the skip of team British Columbia, and his team of Deane Horning, Kevin MacKenzie, and Rob Koffski would finish 6-5 at the 2002 Nokia Brier
. Ryan's last Brier to date was the 2003 Nokia Brier
, where his team of Horning, MacKenzie and Bob Ursel
finished 7-6
Ryan moved back to Alberta, and won his first Canadian Senior Curling Championship (for curlers over 50 years old) in 2007 as the skip for Team Alberta.
In 2008, Ryan skipped Canada to a World Senior Curling Championship
.
Ryan is the General Manager of Ontario's Hospital Diagnostic Imaging Repository Service HDIRS. He moved to Toronto in 2008, and will be playing alternate for Peter Corner
's team at the 2009 TSC Stores Tankard
.
solo and performing with his daughter Lynsay. He has released two CDs, Old Dog - New Tricks and Little Bit of Trouble.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
curler originally from Edmonton, Alberta. Ryan is a former World Champion skip, and three time Brier
Tim Hortons Brier
The Tim Hortons Brier, or simply the Brier, is the annual Canadian men's curling championship, sanctioned by the Canadian Curling Association . The current event name refers to its main sponsor, the Tim Hortons coffee and doughnut shop chain.The Brier has been held since 1927, traditionally during...
champion. Ryan currently lives in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
.
Ryan appeared in his first Brier in 1979 when he was the second for Paul Devlin's Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
team. They finished 6-5. In 1985, Ryan returned to the Brier, as a skip of Team Alberta. His team of Gord Trenchie, Don McKenzie, and Don Walchuk
Don Walchuk
Donald J. Walchuk is a Canadian curler from Edmonton, Alberta. Until April 26, 2006, Walchuk played third for Kevin Martin's team.Walchuk joined up with Martin prior to the 1996 season...
had an impressive 11-1 performance, their only loss coming in the final against Al Hackner
Al Hackner
Allan A. "Al" Hackner, nicknamed "the Iceman" is a Canadian Hall of Fame curler from Thunder Bay, Ontario. He was born and raised in Nipigon, Ontario. He is a two-time Brier and World Champion skip...
of Northern Ontario
Northern Ontario
Northern Ontario is a region of the Canadian province of Ontario which lies north of Lake Huron , the French River and Lake Nipissing. The region has a land area of 802,000 km2 and constitutes 87% of the land area of Ontario, although it contains only about 6% of the population...
. Two years later, Ryan would return to the Brier. His new team, which included Randy Ferbey
Randy Ferbey
Randy Ferbey is a Canadian curler from Sherwood Park, Alberta.Ferbey is a six-time Canadian champion and a four-time World Champion....
(whom he played with at the 1986 Canadian Mixed Championship
Canadian Mixed Curling Championship
The Canadian Mixed Curling Championship is the national curling championship for mixed curling in Canada. It is considered as the highest level of mixed curling in the world, with the absence of a World Championships. However, a...
) and Roy Herbert along with Walchuk finished with a disappointing 6-5 record. At the 1988 Labatt Brier however, Ryan's Alberta foursome (now with Don McKenzie as lead instead of Herbert) would win the championship defeating Eugene Hritzuk
Eugene Hritzuk
Eugene Hritzuk is a Canadian curler from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. He is a former World Senior men's champion skip.Hritzuk has won two provincial championships as skip, once in 1985 and again in 1988. This qualified him for the Brier both times. At the 1985 Labatt Brier, he finished the round robin...
of Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
in the final. Ryan's team had a perfect 12-0 record. At the World Championships however, Ryan's team would be undefeated all the way to the final against Eigil Ramsfjell
Eigil Ramsfjell
Eigil Ramsfjell is a Norwegian curler, world champion and Olympic medalist. Many consider him as one of pioneers in modern curling. He received a bronze medal as skip at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano...
of Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
which he lost. Ryan returned to the 1989 Labatt Brier, which he won again, albeit with three losses along the way. Ryan would this time be able to win the 1989 World Championships, again with three losses. He defeated Patrick Hürlimann
Patrick Hürlimann
Patrick Hürlimann is a Swiss curler and Olympic champion. He received a gold medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano.He has received three medals at the World Curling Championships as skip for the Swiss team....
of Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
in the final. Ryan was nicknamed the Ryan Express for his team's ability to peel rocks which led to many low scoring games, but gave the team two straight Brier championships. This strategy was perceived as boring, and elicited jeering from crowds, and forced the rules of curling to be changed with the implementation of the free guard zone.
1993 would be Ryan's next Brier appearance. This time Ryan had moved from Edmonton, Alberta to Kelowna, British Columbia. In 1993, Ryan played third for Rick Folk
Rick Folk
Richard Dale “Rick” Folk is a Canadian curler and former Member of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan. He is a two-time world curling champion....
which lost the final to Russ Howard
Russ Howard
Russell W. "Russ" Howard, ONL is a Canadian curler and Olympic champion, based in Moncton, New Brunswick, but originally from Midland, Ontario. His home club in Moncton is Curling Beausejour...
from Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. Ryan and Folk would return to the 1994 Labatt Brier
1994 Labatt Brier
-Standings:-Playoffs:-External links:*...
where they won, getting their revenge against Howard in the final. At the 1994 World Championships, Ryan would win his second World Championships, as their team defeated Jan-Olov Nässén of Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
in the final. Ryan and Folk would return to the Brier again in 1995, however they finished 6-5.
Ryan wouldn't return to the Brier until 2002. By now, Ryan was the skip of team British Columbia, and his team of Deane Horning, Kevin MacKenzie, and Rob Koffski would finish 6-5 at the 2002 Nokia Brier
2002 Nokia Brier
The 2002 Nokia Brier was the Canadian Men's Curling Championship. It was held from March 9 to March 17, 2002 at the Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta. It was won by the Albertan foursome headed by Randy Ferbey. Ferbey threw third stones throughout the tournament while his mate David Nedohin...
. Ryan's last Brier to date was the 2003 Nokia Brier
2003 Nokia Brier
The 2003 Nokia Brier was held at the Halifax Metro Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia from March 1-9. The defending champion, Randy Ferbey and his team from Alberta were the winners, winning their third Brier in a row. At the Worlds they went on to represent Canada and win the gold medal.Final...
, where his team of Horning, MacKenzie and Bob Ursel
Bob Ursel
Bob "Bobby" Ursel is a Canadian curler who curls out of Kelowna, British Columbia.In 1984, Ursel skipped his native Manitoba to a Canadian Junior Curling Championship...
finished 7-6
Ryan moved back to Alberta, and won his first Canadian Senior Curling Championship (for curlers over 50 years old) in 2007 as the skip for Team Alberta.
In 2008, Ryan skipped Canada to a World Senior Curling Championship
World Senior Curling Championships
The World Senior Curling Championships is an annual curling tournament featuring curlers from around the world who are at least 50 years old. Senior curling is quite similar to curling, with the exception of having only 8 ends played instead of 10....
.
Ryan is the General Manager of Ontario's Hospital Diagnostic Imaging Repository Service HDIRS. He moved to Toronto in 2008, and will be playing alternate for Peter Corner
Peter Corner
Peter Corner is a Canadian curler.Corner was a member of the 1993 "dream team" of his cousin Wayne Middaugh and the brothers of Glenn and Russ Howard. Corner played lead for the team. All four players would skip teams to provincial championships in the future...
's team at the 2009 TSC Stores Tankard
2009 TSC Stores Tankard
The 2009 TSC Stores Tankard was the 2009 edition of the Ontario provincial men's curling tournament. It was held on February 2-8 at the Woodstock District Community Complex in Woodstock, Ontario, Canada...
.
Music
Ryan also writes and performs country musicCountry music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
solo and performing with his daughter Lynsay. He has released two CDs, Old Dog - New Tricks and Little Bit of Trouble.