Ryan Walter
Encyclopedia
Ryan William Walter is a Canadian former professional
ice hockey
centre
who played 15 seasons in the National Hockey League
. He was also an assistant coach with the Vancouver Canucks
, a hockey broadcaster and is currently president of the Abbotsford Heat
of the American Hockey League
.
in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft
. At the time the Capitals named him as team captain in his second season, he was the youngest player in the history of the NHL to hold that position. Walter was traded to the Montreal Canadiens
in a blockbuster trade in 1982. He went to Montreal along with Rick Green
in exchange for Doug Jarvis
, Rod Langway
, Craig Laughlin
and Brian Engblom
. Walter's name is engraved on the Stanley Cup
, which the Canadiens won in 1986 though Walter was injured for most of the playoffs. In the 1989 Stanley Cup Finals
, he scored in the second overtime period of game three to give the Canadiens a 2–1 series lead. However, the Calgary Flames
came back to win the series and the Cup. In 1991 he signed as a free agent with the Vancouver Canucks
, where he played the final two seasons of his career and won the Budweiser NHL Man of the Year Award
in 1992. He was known as a tough, hard-working player who was excellent in the face-off circle. Walter also served as vice president of the NHL Players Association.
as the network's secondary hockey colour commentator. In this role, he worked on NHL, CHL
, and IIHF broadcasts. He worked five Memorial Cup
s, one World Junior Hockey Championship, and four World Hockey Championships. From 1996–97 until 2001–02, he was the colour commentator on Vancouver Canucks television broadcasts on BCTV
, Rogers Sportsnet
and VTV
. He also occasionally filled in on radio when Tom Larscheid
had football duties. In these roles, he was teamed up with, at various times, Jim Robson
, Jim Hughson
, and John Shorthouse
.
.
Walter also had a cameo appearance in the movie Miracle
, playing the referee in the game between the USA and USSR in Lake Placid and was hired by Disney to be a hockey expert for the movie. He was also hired as a hockey expert for both seasons of Making the Cut, a Nike hockey commercial, and played himself on an episode of the Canadian TV series Being Ian
.
Walter has three sons who are also hockey players. His oldest son, Ben
, is under contract to the Calgary Flames
of the NHL and currently plays in the AHL for the Flames' AHL affiliate, the Heat. Joey spent 2006–07 and 2007–08 with the Langley Chiefs
of the BCHL
and his other son, Ryan Jr., played for the TWU Titans
in 2006-07 and 2007–08 as well as the Liberty University
club hockey team.
Professional
A professional is a person who is paid to undertake a specialised set of tasks and to complete them for a fee. The traditional professions were doctors, lawyers, clergymen, and commissioned military officers. Today, the term is applied to estate agents, surveyors , environmental scientists,...
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...
who played 15 seasons in 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...
. He was also an assistant coach with the Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
, a hockey broadcaster and is currently president of the Abbotsford Heat
Abbotsford Heat
The Abbotsford Heat are a professional ice hockey team based in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada. The Heat began play during 2009-10 season, and are the affiliate of the National Hockey League's Calgary Flames...
of the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
.
NHL career
Walter was drafted second overall by the Washington CapitalsWashington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft
1978 NHL Amateur Draft
The 1978 NHL Amateur Draft occurred at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Quebec on June 15, 1978. It was the last draft to be called the "Amateur Draft" before the process was renamed to the NHL Entry Draft in 1979.-Selections by round:...
. At the time the Capitals named him as team captain in his second season, he was the youngest player in the history of the NHL to hold that position. Walter was traded to 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 ...
in a blockbuster trade in 1982. He went to Montreal along with Rick Green
Rick Green (ice hockey)
Richard Douglas Green is a former ice hockey defenceman.Green was drafted by the Washington Capitals in the 1976 NHL Amateur Draft, First Overall. He was also drafted by the Quebec Nordiques in the 1976 WHA Amateur Draft, First Round, Tenth Overall...
in exchange for Doug Jarvis
Doug Jarvis
Douglas M. Jarvis is a former Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played for the Montreal Canadiens, Washington Capitals and Hartford Whalers in the National Hockey League. He currently serves as an assistant coach for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:Doug...
, Rod Langway
Rod Langway
Rod Cory Langway is a retired American professional ice hockey defenseman who played for the Montreal Canadiens and Washington Capitals in the National Hockey League and Birmingham Bulls of the World Hockey Association...
, Craig Laughlin
Craig Laughlin
Craig Alan Laughlin is a retired Canadian ice hockey right wing and color analyst for the Washington Capitals on CSN Washington.Laughlin was drafted in 1977 by the Montreal Canadiens...
and Brian Engblom
Brian Engblom
Brian Paul Engblom is an ice hockey broadcaster and retired Canadian professional hockey defenseman.-Biography:...
. Walter's name is engraved on the Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
, which the Canadiens won in 1986 though Walter was injured for most of the playoffs. In the 1989 Stanley Cup Finals
1989 Stanley Cup Finals
The 1989 Stanley Cup Final was between the Calgary Flames and the Montreal Canadiens, the top two teams during the 1988–89 NHL regular season. , this is the most recent time that the first two seeds met in the Stanley Cup Final, as the New Jersey Devils had one win less than the Detroit Red Wings...
, he scored in the second overtime period of game three to give the Canadiens a 2–1 series lead. However, the Calgary Flames
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
came back to win the series and the Cup. In 1991 he signed as a free agent with the Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
, where he played the final two seasons of his career and won the Budweiser NHL Man of the Year Award
Budweiser NHL Man of the Year Award
The Budweiser NHL Man of the Year Award was sponsored by Anheuser-Busch to award an National Hockey League player based on his sportsmanship and involvement with charitable groups. Every NHL team nominates a player and the winner would be chosen by a panel of judges at the start of the Stanley Cup...
in 1992. He was known as a tough, hard-working player who was excellent in the face-off circle. Walter also served as vice president of the NHL Players Association.
Broadcasting career
From 1993–94 until 1997–98, he worked for TSNThe Sports Network
The Sports Network, commonly abbreviated as TSN, is a Canadian English language Category C specialty channel and is Canada's leading English language sports TV channel. TSN premiered in 1984, in the first group of Canadian specialty cable channels...
as the network's secondary hockey colour commentator. In this role, he worked on NHL, CHL
Canadian Hockey League
The Canadian Hockey League is an umbrella organization that represents the three Canadian-based major junior ice hockey leagues for players 16 to 20 years of age. The CHL was founded in 1975 as the Canadian Major Junior Hockey League, and is composed of its three member leagues, the Western Hockey...
, and IIHF broadcasts. He worked five Memorial Cup
Memorial Cup
The Memorial Cup is a junior ice hockey club championship trophy awarded annually to the Canadian Hockey League champion. It is awarded following a four-team, round robin tournament between a host team and the champions of the CHL's three member leagues: the Ontario Hockey League , Quebec Major...
s, one World Junior Hockey Championship, and four World Hockey Championships. From 1996–97 until 2001–02, he was the colour commentator on Vancouver Canucks television broadcasts on BCTV
CHAN-TV
CHAN-DT is a television station in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, broadcasting over-the-air on digital channel 22, and available via cable providers in the area on channel 11. Owned by Shaw Communications as a part of its Shaw Media division, it is the West Coast flagship station of the...
, Rogers Sportsnet
Rogers Sportsnet
Sportsnet was launched on October 9, 1998 as CTV Sportsnet. The name was chosen to match the regional "Fox Sports Net" operations across the United States...
and VTV
CIVT-TV
CIVT-DT is a television station in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Owned by Bell Media, it is part of the CTV Television Network...
. He also occasionally filled in on radio when Tom Larscheid
Tom Larscheid
Tom Larscheid is a former Vancouver-based radio sports broadcaster and football player. After a career playing college and CFL football, he was the colour commentator for the CFL's BC Lions and the NHL's Vancouver Canucks for many years...
had football duties. In these roles, he was teamed up with, at various times, Jim Robson
Jim Robson
Jim Robson was a radio and television broadcaster for the Vancouver Canucks from 1970 to 1999...
, Jim Hughson
Jim Hughson
Jim Hughson is a Canadian sportscaster, best known for his play-by-play of professional ice hockey and baseball.-Biography:...
, and John Shorthouse
John Shorthouse
John "Shorty" Shorthouse is a Canadian sports broadcaster, based in Vancouver. He is the lead play-by-play commentator for the Vancouver Canucks on the television station Rogers Sportsnet Pacific and the "Team 1040" when Vancouver games are not broadcast on Rogers Sportsnet Pacific.Shorthouse...
.
Coaching career
On June 17, 2008, Walter was named an assistant coach to Alain Vigneault of the Vancouver Canucks. On September 21, 2010, Walter was named head coach of Canada's women's hockey team which won a Gold Medal at the 2010 Four Nations Cup2010 Four Nations Cup
The 2010 4 Nations Cup was held in Clarenville, Newfoundland and St. John's, Newfoundland from November 9 to November 13, 2010. Games were played at the Clarenville Events Centre and Mile One Centre. The 15th edition of the international tournament was held in Newfoundland to help Hockey...
.
Personal life
Walter is a motivational speaker, author and leadership expert, using his experiences in hockey to relate to business and success.Walter also had a cameo appearance in the movie Miracle
Miracle (film)
Miracle is a 2004 American biographical sports film about the United States men's hockey team, led by head coach Herb Brooks, that won the gold medal in the 1980 Winter Olympics. The USA team's victory over the heavily favored Soviet team in the medal round was dubbed the Miracle on Ice...
, playing the referee in the game between the USA and USSR in Lake Placid and was hired by Disney to be a hockey expert for the movie. He was also hired as a hockey expert for both seasons of Making the Cut, a Nike hockey commercial, and played himself on an episode of the Canadian TV series Being Ian
Being Ian
Being Ian is a Canadian animated series produced by Studio B Productions, Corus Entertainment and Nelvana, focusing on 12-year-old Ian Kelley, who aspires to become a filmmaker....
.
Walter has three sons who are also hockey players. His oldest son, Ben
Ben Walter
Ben James Walter is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre currently playing with the Calgary Flames in the National Hockey League...
, is under contract to the Calgary Flames
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
of the NHL and currently plays in the AHL for the Flames' AHL affiliate, the Heat. Joey spent 2006–07 and 2007–08 with the Langley Chiefs
Langley Chiefs
The Langley Rivermen are a junior "A" ice hockey team based in Langley, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Coastal Conference of the British Columbia Hockey League . They play their home games at Langley Events Center.-History:...
of the BCHL
British Columbia Hockey League
The British Columbia Hockey League is a Junior "A" ice hockey league from British Columbia under Hockey Canada, a subsection of the Canadian Junior Hockey League. Founded in Vernon in 1961, the BCHL now includes 16 teams. These teams play in two conferences, known as the Coastal and the Interior...
and his other son, Ryan Jr., played for the TWU Titans
TWU Titans
The Trinity Western University Titans hockey club is a competitive ice hockey team competing in the British Columbia Intercollegiate Hockey League. Today, the BCIHL included teams from Simon Fraser University, University of Victoria, University of the Fraser Valley, and Selkirk College...
in 2006-07 and 2007–08 as well as the Liberty University
Liberty University
Liberty University is a private Christian university located in Lynchburg, Virginia. Liberty's annual enrollment is around 72,000 students, 12,000 of whom are residential students and 60,000+ studying through Liberty University Online...
club hockey team.
Career statistics
| 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 | ||
| 1973–74 | Langley Lords | BCJHL | ? | 40 | 62 | 102 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1973–74 | Kamloops Chiefs Kamloops Chiefs The Kamloops Chiefs were a junior ice hockey team based in Kamloops, British Columbia that played in the Western Canada Hockey League from 1973–77... |
WCHL Western Hockey League The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada... |
2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1974–75 | Langley Lords | BCJHL | ? | 32 | 60 | 92 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1974–75 | Kamloops Chiefs | WCHL | 9 | 8 | 4 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | ||
| 1975–76 | Kamloops Chiefs | WCHL | 72 | 35 | 49 | 84 | 96 | 12 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 10 | ||
| 1976–77 | Kamloops Chiefs | WCHL | 71 | 41 | 58 | 99 | 100 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 11 | ||
| 1977–78 | Seattle Breakers | WCHL | 62 | 54 | 71 | 125 | 148 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1978–79 | Calgary Wranglers Calgary Wranglers The Calgary Wranglers were a junior ice hockey team that played in the Western Hockey League from 1977 until 1987. The Wranglers played their home games in Calgary, Alberta, at the Stampede Corral.-Season-by-season Record:... |
WHL | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1978–79 | Washington Capitals Washington Capitals The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup... |
NHL | 69 | 28 | 27 | 55 | 70 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1979–80 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 80 | 24 | 42 | 66 | 106 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1980–81 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 80 | 24 | 45 | 69 | 150 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1981–82 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 78 | 38 | 49 | 87 | 142 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1982–83 | 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 ... |
NHL | 80 | 29 | 46 | 75 | 40 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | ||
| 1983–84 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 73 | 20 | 29 | 49 | 83 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | ||
| 1984–85 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 72 | 19 | 19 | 38 | 59 | 12 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 13 | ||
| 1985–86 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 69 | 15 | 34 | 49 | 45 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 1986–87 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 76 | 23 | 23 | 46 | 34 | 17 | 7 | 12 | 19 | 10 | ||
| 1987–88 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 61 | 13 | 23 | 36 | 39 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | ||
| 1988–89 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 78 | 14 | 17 | 31 | 48 | 21 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 6 | ||
| 1989–90 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 70 | 8 | 16 | 24 | 59 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 1990–91 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 25 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 1991–92 | Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Canucks The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,... |
NHL | 67 | 6 | 11 | 17 | 49 | 13 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 | ||
| 1992–93 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 25 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 1003 | 264 | 382 | 646 | 946 | 113 | 16 | 35 | 51 | 62 | ||||