Height: 5-10
Weight: 180
Shoot: L
Born: 10 Sep 1952, Grand Falls NF
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Regular Season & Playoff Scoring Record (key)
| year | team | |||||||||||
| 1972-73 | Minnesota | |||||||||||
| Totals: |
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From Newfoundland to St. Paul • by Charley Hallman • The Hockey Spectator • February 2, 1973
Terrence Ryan is one of the youngest members of the Fighting Saints. Earlier in the season, Ryan was confined to killing penalties with teammate Len Lilyholm. But recently the 20-year-old native of Newfoundland has been filling in for the injured Huffer Christiansen between Ted Hampson and Billy Klatt. Terry is a young man filled with pride. When he signed a bonus contract with the Saints last July (instead of the NHL North Stars who had made him their second pick), Ryan returned home to Newfoundland and bought his family their first ever automobile. "Our family has always been poor," Terry said. "We always ate well and had a fine roof over our heads but no luxuries like cars. That's why I wanted to buy the car for my mom and dad." "It has been a great thing for the family. They've been able to enjoy life on the island a great deal more now that they can get around." Only one hockey player from Newfoundland had ever played Major League hockey before this season — Alex Faulkner with the Detroit Red Wings. Even Faulkner had only played two NHL seasons. "Everyone back home treats Faulkner as a hero. I know I did when I was a younger player in Newfoundland." Now, both Ryan and Ottawa defenseman Brian Gibbons have made it. Both played for the Hamilton Red Wings and Saints' Assistat General Manager Harry Neale. "I'm 3000 miles from home in Saint Paul," said Ryan. "I've got a lot to live up to. Many of the people in the province are now Fighting Saints fans. We carry large game reports on every game in our newspaper in Grand Falls." "We have only 500,000 people in the whole province and my home city of Grand Falls has 10,000 people." Terry played the last three years in Hamilton. "I went away from home when I was 16," the young maritimer said. "It was a completely new world but I made my mind up to do my darndest to make the Hamilton team and I did." He was his club's rookie of the year as an OHA freshman, scoring 23 goals and adding 28 assists in 54 games. The following season he had 22 goals and 39 assists and last year showed his best form scoring 47 times and assisting 45 times for 92 points — and that with a last place club. "Terry was our whole offense," said Neale. "He's one of the hardest working younger players I've seen. When he started out in Hamilton, he had a point to prove and did it easily. Now he feels the same way about playing with the Saints. It wasn't easy for him early in the season and he still has a lot to learn now. But he's a gutty kid and is working hard. He'll eventually be a good Major League hockey player." Ryan hasn't exactly set the world on fire. He has only four goals but three were shorthanded scores making him one behind WHA leader Bob Dillabough of Cleveland in league statistics. "I can't say as I really enjoyed only killing penalties," said Ryan. "But I felt like I was doing a good job and Lilyholm and I work hard at doing the best job possible." Ryan says "One of the realities I'm facing is I'm not playing juniors anymore. These fellows are men stronger and quicker than the players I'm used to. But you have to learn to adapt to these players and situations. I'm learning a great deal seeing a lot of new places meeting a lot of new people things I'm really enjoying. I've played against Bobby hull! Think of that — a kid from Newfoundland." |
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