Ryan O'Reilly (ice hockey)
Encyclopedia
Ryan O'Reilly is a Canadian
professional ice hockey
centre
currently playing with the Colorado Avalanche
of the National Hockey League
. Ryan's older brother, Cal
, plays for the Phoenix Coyotes
.
. He then moved up to the AAA level playing for the Huron-Perth Lakers of the Minor Hockey Alliance through his bantam-aged year in 2005–06. Touted as one of the most talented prospects to come out from the Lakers, O'Reilly then played one year of minor midget hockey with the Toronto Jr. Canadiens
in 2006–07.
Ryan started playing Junior
for the Erie Otters
of the Ontario Hockey League
after he was the recipient of the Jack Ferguson Award as the first overall selection in the 2007 OHL draft. In his rookie season in 2007–08
, O'Reilly put up a solid 52 points in 61 games and was named the Otters Rookie of the Year and Most Sportsmanlike Player while also earning Erie's nomination for the Bobby Smith Trophy
. In the following year, Ryan backed up his rookie year with 50 assists and 66 points in 68 games for the 2008–09
season, and his allround game was noticed when he was named the Western Conference best Penalty Killer.
O'Reilly was drafted 33rd overall in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft
by the Colorado Avalanche. O'Reilly became the youngest player in Avalanche history to appear in a regular season game when he surprisingly made the opening night roster for the 2009–10
season. Ryan earned his first NHL point in his Avalanche debut on October 1, 2009 against the San Jose Sharks
, becoming the first non-first round draft pick to immediately make the NHL in his post-draft year since Patrice Bergeron
in 2003–04. He scored his first NHL goal, a game winner, on October 15, 2009 against Carey Price
of the Montreal Canadiens
. On October 19, 2009, following his strong play, the Avalanche announced that O'Reilly and his fellow 2009 draftee Matt Duchene
would spend the entire season with the Avalanche. Initially leading all rookie forwards in scoring through October, O'Reilly recorded an assist in a 3-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings
on October 24, to cap a 7 game point streak, that stood as the longest by a rookie throughout the season.
Suffering an offensive plateau midway through the season, O'Reilly anchored his position as a top defensive forward and penalty killer. He led the Avalanche in ice time on the penalty kill culminating in posting two short-handed goals during a double minor penalty against the Columbus Blue Jackets
on February 2, 2010, to become the first Avalanche player in history to achieve two shorthanded goals in a game. Ryan finished his rookie season with the Avs, scoring 26 points (8g/18a) in 81 regular season games before making his post-season debut in a 2-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks in Game 1 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals on April 14. On April 18, 2010, he scored his first career playoff goal, posting the game winning tally in Colorado's Game 3 1-0 overtime victory over San Jose. He was credited with the goal after inadvertently deflecting Sharks defenceman Dan Boyle's pass attempt from an improbable angle into the net past Evgeni Nabokov
to put the Avalanche ahead in the series 2-1.
scoring 6 points in 6 games as captain of gold winning Team Ontario. As an underage 17 year old, O'Reilly gained selection to Team Canada
the 2008 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament
in Slovakia
. He scored 5 points in 4 games as and was named game MVP in the final against Russia as he helped Canada capture the Gold Medal for the fourth time in five years.
The following year Ryan was selected as captain of Team Canada, at the 2009 IIHF World U18 Championships
. In 6 games he contributed with 5 points before finishing in fourth place after losing 2-1 in the semi-final's to the United States.
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...
professional ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
centre
Centre (ice hockey)
The centre in ice hockey is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play is the middle of the ice, away from the side boards. Centres have more flexibility in their positioning and are expected to cover more ice surface than any other player...
currently playing with the Colorado Avalanche
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise...
of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
. Ryan's older brother, Cal
Cal O'Reilly
Cal O'Reilly is a professional ice hockey centre who currently plays for the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
, plays for the Phoenix Coyotes
Phoenix Coyotes
The Phoenix Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team based in Glendale, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their home games at Jobing.com Arena....
.
Playing career
O'Reilly grew up playing hockey near his hometown of Varna, Ontario with the Seaforth Stars of the Ontario Minor Hockey AssociationOntario Minor Hockey Association
The Ontario Minor Hockey Association is a major ice hockey governing body at the minor level. The OMHA is empowered by the Ontario Hockey Federation and Hockey Canada. The OMHA oversees minor hockey from Initiation to Juvenile throughout the majority of southern Ontario...
. He then moved up to the AAA level playing for the Huron-Perth Lakers of the Minor Hockey Alliance through his bantam-aged year in 2005–06. Touted as one of the most talented prospects to come out from the Lakers, O'Reilly then played one year of minor midget hockey with the Toronto Jr. Canadiens
Toronto Jr. Canadiens
The Toronto Jr. Canadiens are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Downsview, Ontario, Canada. They are a part of Central Division Hockey but also used to be a part of the Metro Junior A Hockey League and were known as the Wexford Raiders until the end of the 2005-06 season.-History:The team...
in 2006–07.
Ryan started playing Junior
Junior ice hockey
Junior hockey is a catch-all term used to describe various levels of ice hockey competition for players generally between 16 and 20 years of age...
for the Erie Otters
Erie Otters
The Erie Otters are a major junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League . Based in Erie, Pennsylvania, USA, they have played their home games at the Louis J. Tullio Arena since 1996...
of the Ontario Hockey League
Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
after he was the recipient of the Jack Ferguson Award as the first overall selection in the 2007 OHL draft. In his rookie season in 2007–08
2007–08 OHL season
The 2007–08 OHL season was the 28th season of the Ontario Hockey League. Twenty teams played 68 games each during the schedule, that started on September 19, 2007, and concluded on March 16, 2008....
, O'Reilly put up a solid 52 points in 61 games and was named the Otters Rookie of the Year and Most Sportsmanlike Player while also earning Erie's nomination for the Bobby Smith Trophy
Bobby Smith Trophy
The Bobby Smith Trophy is awarded annually to the OHL Scholastic Player of the Year who best combines high standards of play and academic excellence....
. In the following year, Ryan backed up his rookie year with 50 assists and 66 points in 68 games for the 2008–09
2008–09 OHL season
The 2008–09 OHL season was the 29th season of the Ontario Hockey League . Twenty teams played 68 games each during the regular season schedule, which started on September 17, 2008 and concluded on March 15, 2009....
season, and his allround game was noticed when he was named the Western Conference best Penalty Killer.
O'Reilly was drafted 33rd overall in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft
2009 NHL Entry Draft
The 2009 NHL Entry Draft was the 47th Entry Draft. It was held on June 26–27, 2009 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec. The Draft was part of the Montreal Canadiens centennial celebrations. National Hockey League teams took turns selecting amateur ice hockey players from junior, collegiate, or...
by the Colorado Avalanche. O'Reilly became the youngest player in Avalanche history to appear in a regular season game when he surprisingly made the opening night roster for the 2009–10
2009–10 NHL season
The 2009–10 NHL season was the 93rd season of operation of the National Hockey League , and the 100th season since the founding of the predecessor National Hockey Association . It ran from October 1, 2009, including four games in Europe on October 2 and 3—until April 11, 2010, with the 2010...
season. Ryan earned his first NHL point in his Avalanche debut on October 1, 2009 against the San Jose Sharks
San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
, becoming the first non-first round draft pick to immediately make the NHL in his post-draft year since Patrice Bergeron
Patrice Bergeron
Patrice Bergeron is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre and alternate captain currently playing for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League...
in 2003–04. He scored his first NHL goal, a game winner, on October 15, 2009 against Carey Price
Carey Price
Carey Price is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League . Price was the Canadiens' first round selection in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft...
of the Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
. On October 19, 2009, following his strong play, the Avalanche announced that O'Reilly and his fellow 2009 draftee Matt Duchene
Matt Duchene
Matthew Duchene is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre in the National Hockey League for the Colorado Avalanche. He was selected third overall by Colorado in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.-Junior:...
would spend the entire season with the Avalanche. Initially leading all rookie forwards in scoring through October, O'Reilly recorded an assist in a 3-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
on October 24, to cap a 7 game point streak, that stood as the longest by a rookie throughout the season.
Suffering an offensive plateau midway through the season, O'Reilly anchored his position as a top defensive forward and penalty killer. He led the Avalanche in ice time on the penalty kill culminating in posting two short-handed goals during a double minor penalty against the Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
on February 2, 2010, to become the first Avalanche player in history to achieve two shorthanded goals in a game. Ryan finished his rookie season with the Avs, scoring 26 points (8g/18a) in 81 regular season games before making his post-season debut in a 2-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks in Game 1 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals on April 14. On April 18, 2010, he scored his first career playoff goal, posting the game winning tally in Colorado's Game 3 1-0 overtime victory over San Jose. He was credited with the goal after inadvertently deflecting Sharks defenceman Dan Boyle's pass attempt from an improbable angle into the net past Evgeni Nabokov
Evgeni Nabokov
Evgeni Viktorovich Nabokov is a Russian professional ice hockey goaltender who is playing for the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League .Nabokov was selected by San Jose in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft...
to put the Avalanche ahead in the series 2-1.
International play
O'Reilly made his international debut at the 2008 World U-17 Hockey Challenge2008 World U-17 Hockey Challenge
The 2008 World U-17 Hockey Challenge was an ice hockey tournament held in London, Lucan, St. Thomas, Stratford, Strathroy, and Woodstock, Ontario, Canada between December 29, 2007 and January 4, 2008...
scoring 6 points in 6 games as captain of gold winning Team Ontario. As an underage 17 year old, O'Reilly gained selection to Team Canada
Canada national junior hockey team
The Canadian men's national under 20 ice hockey team is the national under-20 ice hockey team in Canada. The team represents Canada at the International Ice Hockey Federation's World Junior Hockey Championship, held annually every December and January...
the 2008 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament
2008 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament
The 2008 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament was an under-18 ice hockey tournament held in Břeclav, Czech Republic and Piešťany, Slovakia from August 12–16, 2008. The two venues were Alcaplast Arena in Břeclav and Zimný Štadión in Piešťany...
in Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
. He scored 5 points in 4 games as and was named game MVP in the final against Russia as he helped Canada capture the Gold Medal for the fourth time in five years.
The following year Ryan was selected as captain of Team Canada, at the 2009 IIHF World U18 Championships
2009 IIHF World U18 Championships
- Group B :-Relegation round:-Results:Note: The following matches from the preliminary round carry forward to the relegation round:*April 10, 2009: 5-2 *April 14, 2009: 8–3 -Final round:-Quarterfinals:-Semifinals:-Fifth place game:...
. In 6 games he contributed with 5 points before finishing in fourth place after losing 2-1 in the semi-final's to the United States.
Regular season and playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... |
A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... |
Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one... |
PIM Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2005–06 | Huron-Perth Lakers | OMHA Ontario Minor Hockey Association The Ontario Minor Hockey Association is a major ice hockey governing body at the minor level. The OMHA is empowered by the Ontario Hockey Federation and Hockey Canada. The OMHA oversees minor hockey from Initiation to Juvenile throughout the majority of southern Ontario... |
51 | 31 | 40 | 71 | 60 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | Toronto Jr. Canadiens Toronto Jr. Canadiens The Toronto Jr. Canadiens are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Downsview, Ontario, Canada. They are a part of Central Division Hockey but also used to be a part of the Metro Junior A Hockey League and were known as the Wexford Raiders until the end of the 2005-06 season.-History:The team... |
GTHL Greater Toronto Hockey League The Greater Toronto Hockey League , formerly known as the "Metro Toronto Hockey League", is a minor level ice hockey organization based out of the Toronto region of Ontario. The league was founded in 1911 as the Beaches Hockey League by Fred C. Waghorne, Sr., and it is the largest minor hockey... |
50 | 31 | 43 | 74 | 42 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | Toronto Jr. Canadiens | OPJHL | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2007–08 2007–08 OHL season The 2007–08 OHL season was the 28th season of the Ontario Hockey League. Twenty teams played 68 games each during the schedule, that started on September 19, 2007, and concluded on March 16, 2008.... |
Erie Otters Erie Otters The Erie Otters are a major junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League . Based in Erie, Pennsylvania, USA, they have played their home games at the Louis J. Tullio Arena since 1996... |
OHL Ontario Hockey League The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada.... |
61 | 19 | 33 | 52 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 2008–09 OHL season The 2008–09 OHL season was the 29th season of the Ontario Hockey League . Twenty teams played 68 games each during the regular season schedule, which started on September 17, 2008 and concluded on March 15, 2009.... |
Erie Otters | OHL | 68 | 16 | 50 | 66 | 26 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 2 | ||
| 2009–10 2009–10 NHL season The 2009–10 NHL season was the 93rd season of operation of the National Hockey League , and the 100th season since the founding of the predecessor National Hockey Association . It ran from October 1, 2009, including four games in Europe on October 2 and 3—until April 11, 2010, with the 2010... |
Colorado Avalanche Colorado Avalanche The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise... |
NHL | 81 | 8 | 18 | 26 | 18 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 2010–11 2010–11 NHL season The 2010–11 NHL season was the 94th season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the fourth consecutive season that opened in Europe with NHL Premiere . A record three events were scheduled, all in previous NHL Premiere cities: Helsinki, Finland; Stockholm, Sweden; and Prague, Czech... |
Colorado Avalanche | NHL | 74 | 13 | 13 | 26 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 155 | 21 | 31 | 52 | 34 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | ||||
International
| Year | Team | Comp | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Canada Hockey Canada Hockey Canada, formally known as the Canadian Hockey Association, is the national governing body of ice hockey in Canada and is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. Hockey Canada controls a vast majority of ice hockey in Canada, with a few exceptions... |
WHC17 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 2008 2008 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament The 2008 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament was an under-18 ice hockey tournament held in Břeclav, Czech Republic and Piešťany, Slovakia from August 12–16, 2008. The two venues were Alcaplast Arena in Břeclav and Zimný Štadión in Piešťany... |
Canada | IH18 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament The Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament is an annual event held each August for national under-18 ice hockey teams from around the world. Unsanctioned by the International Ice Hockey Federation , the tournament is not granted official status by the sport's governing body... |
4 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
| 2009 2009 IIHF World U18 Championships - Group B :-Relegation round:-Results:Note: The following matches from the preliminary round carry forward to the relegation round:*April 10, 2009: 5-2 *April 14, 2009: 8–3 -Final round:-Quarterfinals:-Semifinals:-Fifth place game:... |
Canada Canada national junior hockey team The Canadian men's national under 20 ice hockey team is the national under-20 ice hockey team in Canada. The team represents Canada at the International Ice Hockey Federation's World Junior Hockey Championship, held annually every December and January... |
WJC18 IIHF World U18 Championships The IIHF World U18 Championship is an annual event organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation for national under-18 ice hockey teams from around the world. The tournament is usually played in April and is organized according to a system similar to Ice Hockey World Championships and World... |
6 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 |
| Junior int'l totals | 16 | 5 | 11 | 16 | 0 | ||