RS2 Biography [1/2]

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RYAN SULLIVAN JR - BIOGRAPHY

 

Ryan Sullivan Jr. is a lot more than just the son of a legend.  Growing up in the shadow of his old man was never easy but he is seeking out a legacy that sticks out from his Hall of Fame father’s, and perhaps even surpasses the high expectations others have put on him.  This biography will look at the early life, prep school and OHL periods of his life and will look at what is next for the monstrous American defender.

 

Early Life

 

Early life was admittedly a bit easy for the youngster named Ryan Elijah Sullivan Jr. with the middle name being given with inspiration towards his father’s greatest rival, Elijah Incognito.  He grew up in Dallas and lived there until he was ready to take his hockey career more seriously.  While his father played in the VHLM and for Calgary, his son would connect more with his stay-at-home mom as she was around a lot more. 

 

Hockey would begin at three years old as Ryan played for the same local team as his father did.  He was very tall for his age and was an advanced skater for his age, but the local competition in Texas fell quite short of Canadians at the same age.  This was one of the reasons that at the age of thirteen, Ryan and his mother moved to New York to pursue hockey more seriously and to be closer to his father who was now the General Manager of the New York Americans.

 

Iona Prep Hockey

 

Ryan would join the Iona Preparatory Gaels as one of their more electrifying recruits to their freshman squad.  He played much of his freshman year on their number one pairing and showcased his excellent skating and positioning on route to a solid season for the Gaels club.  Offensively, he showed promise, flashing some excellent stick handling and playmaking skills but it was his defensive game that caught the attention of most scouts, as he shut down attacks from each and every single prep school team he faced.  That year, the Gaels finished second in their Conference and Sullivan Jr. recorded 11 goals and 27 assists in 29 games. 

 

Ryan’s second and final year with the Iona Preparatory Gaels saw his continued development stall out.  He only played half the season after suffering a concussion in practice and struggled to recover his defensive IQ once returning to the lineup.  This was especially a difficult year due it being his draft year into the Ontario Hockey League which Ryan had announced he was interested in prior to the season.  The Gaels finished fifth out of six teams, and Sullivan Jr. recorded just 2 goals and 9 assists in 16 games. 

 

While he had a tough year, it was still believed that he would be expected to be drafted into the OHL Draft due in part to his name and also due to the flashes he showcased in his freshman season with Iona Prep. 

 

The Ontario Hockey League – Mississauga Steelheads

 

When the fourth round came around, Ryan Sullivan Jr’s name was called by the Mississauga Steelheads of the Ontario Hockey League, taking the defender 88^th overall.  Their General Manager and Coach had this to say on Ryan at the time: “We know he had a tough year but he has all the tools to be a real impact player.  His skating is impressive, and I think at worst, he is a solid defensive defenseman in the Ontario Hockey League with maybe a chance to play College or lower-level professional hockey.” 

 

Ryan’s first season saw him mainly playing on the third pairing and at times as the seventh defender, but he still managed to dress in 41 games during a tough season for the Steelheads that saw the team finish with a 29-34-5 record, and narrowly in the playoffs.  Sullivan Jr. would not dress during the playoffs but played a pivotal role in the locker room according to a few of his teammates including their goaltender that said: “Most guys would sulk when they don’t play but for a 16 year old to come in and be so positive is such a great attribute to have in the growth he will have off and on the ice.”  The Steelheads would lose in the first round and while Ryan finished with just 2 goals and 7 assists, he showed a great deal of promise defensively.

 

Ryan’s second and third seasons showed significant growth as a defender in the Ontario Hockey League.  Offensively he became a much bigger threat and he greatly showed off his physical prowess, being voted as one of the top three body checkers in both seasons.  Playing a combined 128 games over the two seasons, Sullivan Jr. finished with 13 goals and 56 assists and was a +41 on an improving and now-competitive team.  The Steelheads could not get past the second round in either year but had the team to really make some noise in what would likely be Sullivan Jr’s fourth and final year in the Ontario Hockey League.

 

After going undrafted in the NHL, Ryan Sullivan Jr. knew his options were more limited to either a tryout with a lower tier professional team or perhaps even playing in the VHL like his dad did.  After having some injuries throughout training camp, Ryan put together his best year yet with 12 goals and 51 assists in 67 games.  He also was voted the top defensive defender and best body checker by OHL Coaches.  The Steelheads finished with the best record in their Conference but sadly fell short in the third round in a tight seven game series to Niagara.  After the series Ryan said: “I was very fortunate to play four years here and now I will have to figure out the next steps in my career.”

VHLM

 

Recently it was announced that Ryan Sullivan Jr. had decided to pursue the same league his father dominated for so long.  Just a couple of weeks ago, Sullivan Jr. signed a one year deal with the Las Vegas Aces and declared for the upcoming S63 VHLM Dispersal Draft.  With the playoffs looming, Ryan will get a chance to make his impact there before getting drafted by one of the VHLM’s finest in just a few short months time.

[JG10 28]

1057 words. I like how you have such a nice junior career storyline for him