47-year-old Terry Ryan makes comeback with ECHL Newfoundland Growlers

Terry Ryan is coming out of retirement today to play for ECHL’s Newfoundland Growlers as they host the Adirondack Thunder.

The 47-year-old former NHLer currently stars on the hit comedy show ‘Shorsey’ and looks to make his return to pro hockey. Ryan last played in the ECHL in 2002-03 with the Cincinnati Cyclones.

Ryan was drafted No. 8 overall in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft by the Montreal Canadiens after dominating the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Tri-City Americans and Red Deer Rebels. In 207 career games, he tallied 111 goals and 247 points, he led all WHL skaters in playoff goals with 18 in the 1996-97 campaign.

The Newfoundlander made his NHL debut in 1996-97, appearing in three games before being returned to Red Deer. The following season, Ryan made his American Hockey League (AHL) debut with the Fredericton Canadiens where he tallied 21 goals and 39 points in 71 games earning himself the Rookie of the Year honours in 1998. He also led the AHL in fights with 34 scraps that season. Throughout the next three seasons, Ryan would suit up for the Habs just eight times. He suffered a career-ending ankle injury in 2001, ending his chances of returning to the NHL.

Ryan also spent time in the IHL with the Utah Grizzlies and Long Beach Ice Dogs before making the switch to senior men’s hockey playing in the WCSHL, NLSHL, ECSHL and most recently in the AESHL where he played four games in 2021-22 with the St Johns Sr. Ice Caps collecting three assists.

In 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, and 2013 Ryan represented Canada at the ISBHF ball hockey tournaments and led Canada to a gold medal in ’03 and ’07, won a silver in 2011, and won a bronze medal again at the 2013 Worlds in his hometown of St. John’s. In 2018, his team, Colonial Auto Parts from St. John’s, won the 2018 Canadian men’s masters championship.