Terry Ryan – Athlete

Inducted 2019

Terry Ryan of Grand-Falls-Windsor, had a successful career as a hockey and baseball player. Terry grew up immersed in hockey and would find himself playing for the Hamilton Red Wings of the Ontario Hockey Association from 1969-1972. His skill lead him to multiple awards including Rookie of the Year in 1969 and the team’s top scorer and MVP honors in 1972.

Spending three years in Hamilton, Ryan played 171 games, scoring 92 goals, and adding 203 assists for 205 points. He was soon drafted by the Minnesota Fighting Saints of the World Hockey Association (WHA) and as a rookie in 1973, he had 13 goals and six assists in 76 games. He set a league record in 1973 with six short-handed goals, 4 of which were game winners. He played in the International Hockey League for two seasons, was fifth in league scoring in 1975, and voted to the second all-star team with 52 goals and 90 assists for 141 points.

Ryan also played 7 seasons of Provincial senior hockey with Memorial University, the Gander Flyers, Mike’s Shamrocks and Stephenville Jets and the St. John’s Capitals collecting 84 goals, 173 assists, 247 points in 164 games. Ryan was an excellent promoter of hockey and contributed in many ways to the betterment of the sport in Newfoundland and Labrador. Ryan was inducted into the Hockey NL Hall of Fame in 2000.

In addition to his great hockey career, Terry Ryan Sr. was an all-star baseball player. For two decades Ryan represented Newfoundland and Labrador at numerous national junior and senior tournaments where he developed a reputation as a clutch hitter. At 15 years of age, he was selected to the Canadian All-Star team. He would capture 3 provincial junior championships, 2 with Grand Falls and one with St. John’s, and 9 senior with the St. John’s Capitals. In 1977 Terry has the best individual season of his career winning 8 league awards. Over the course of his career, Terry won 29 individual league awards in St. John’s and won 6 city championships eventually retiring in 1990.