Ryan Callahan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ryan Callahan
Callahan with the Tampa Bay Lightning in December 2014
Born	(1985-03-21) March 21, 1985 (age 40) Rochester, New York, U.S.
Height	5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight	186 lb (84 kg; 13 st 4 lb)
Position	Right wing
Shot	Right
Played for	New York Rangers Tampa Bay Lightning
National team	United States
NHL Draft	127th overall, 2004 New York Rangers
Playing career	2006–2019

Ryan Callahan, born on March 21, 1985, is a former American professional ice hockey player. He was a right winger and played for 13 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). His teams were the New York Rangers and the Tampa Bay Lightning. After retiring from playing, he became a sports analyst. He now shares his hockey knowledge as a studio and game analyst for NHL on ESPN and ABC.

Callahan was the captain of the New York Rangers from 2011 until 2014. That year, he was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning. He also proudly represented the United States in the Olympic Games and other international hockey tournaments.

Ryan Callahan's Hockey Journey

Starting in Amateur Hockey

Ryan Callahan began his hockey journey playing for Hilton High School. He then joined the Rochester Junior Americans in the Empire Junior B Hockey League. He played there for two seasons, from 1999 to 2001.

Later, he was picked by the Guelph Storm in the 2001 OHL Priority Selection. Before joining the Storm, he played for the Syracuse Jr. Crunch and Buffalo Lightning. He spent four years playing for the Guelph Storm in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). There, he played alongside Dan Girardi, who would later be his teammate on the Rangers and Lightning.

Callahan turned professional with the Hartford Wolf Pack in the American Hockey League (AHL). He played most of the 2006–07 season with them. In November 2022, the Guelph Storm honored him by retiring his jersey number.

Playing for the New York Rangers

Callahan first joined the New York Rangers in the NHL on November 28, 2006. He played his first NHL game on December 1. He was sent back to the Wolf Pack a couple of times before staying with the Rangers in March 2007. This was after he scored 35 goals in 60 AHL games.

On March 17, 2007, he scored his first two NHL goals against the Boston Bruins. He got his first assist on March 21 and his first game-winning goal on April 1. In the 2007 Stanley Cup playoffs, he scored his first two playoff goals on April 17.

Callahan as an alternate captain for the New York Rangers in February 2011.

After a knee injury in the 2007–08 season, Callahan was sent back to the Wolf Pack briefly. He returned to the Rangers in February 2008. The 2008–09 season was a great year for him. He scored the winning goal for the Rangers in the Victoria Cup on October 1, 2008. He finished third on the Rangers with 22 goals and fifth with 40 points. He also won the Rangers' Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award for his hard work.

On October 2, 2009, Callahan was named an alternate captain for the Rangers. He broke his hand in December 2010 while blocking a shot. He missed 19 games because of this injury.

On March 6, 2011, Callahan had an amazing game against the Philadelphia Flyers. He scored four goals and one assist, which was his first hat-trick and five-point game in the NHL. Later that season, he broke his ankle blocking a shot.

Callahan as captain of the Rangers in December 2011.

On September 12, 2011, at age 26, Callahan became the 26th captain in the history of the New York Rangers. He was one of the youngest captains for the team. He was also the first captain from the State of New York. On February 11, 2012, he scored his second hat-trick, again against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Callahan scored his 100th NHL goal on February 25, 2012, in overtime against the Buffalo Sabres. In the 2012 playoffs, he helped the Rangers reach the Conference Final for the first time since 1997. The Rangers lost to the New Jersey Devils in six games.

During the 2013–14 season, Callahan and the Rangers could not agree on a new contract. This led to him being traded.

Time with the Tampa Bay Lightning

On March 5, 2014, Ryan Callahan was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Lightning sent their captain, Martin St. Louis, to the Rangers in return. Callahan signed a six-year contract with the Lightning on June 25, 2014.

In May 2015, during the 2015 playoffs, Callahan had an emergency appendectomy. He missed one game but returned just five days later for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final. He played against his old team, the New York Rangers. The Lightning won that series and went on to the 2015 Stanley Cup Finals, where they lost to the Chicago Blackhawks.

For the 2015–16 NHL season, Callahan was named a permanent alternate captain for the Lightning. In June 2016, he had surgery on his right hip to fix a torn labrum. This injury kept him out of the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.

Callahan continued to have hip problems. In January 2017, he missed more time due to a lower body injury. He had another procedure on his hip in February 2017. Doctors found that scar tissue was causing his discomfort.

He returned to play in the 2017–18 NHL season opener on October 6, 2017. He played in 67 games that season. In the 2018–19 NHL season, Callahan played 52 games. The Lightning won the Presidents' Trophy that year, but they were surprisingly swept in the first round of the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs by the Columbus Blue Jackets.

On June 20, 2019, it was announced that Callahan had degenerative disc disease. This condition effectively ended his professional hockey career. His contract was traded to the Ottawa Senators on July 30, 2019. Ryan Callahan officially announced his retirement from the NHL on December 30, 2020.

International Hockey Play

Callahan (with puck) and Joe Pavelski move up ice against Canada during the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Medal record
Ice hockey
Representing  United States
Olympic Games
Silver	2010 Vancouver	Tournament

On January 1, 2010, Ryan Callahan was chosen to play for Team USA at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. His team won a silver medal, losing to Canada in the final game.

Callahan also played for the United States in the 2014 Winter Olympics. However, the team did not win a medal, losing to Finland in the bronze medal game.

In May 2016, Team USA named Callahan to its 2016 World Cup of Hockey roster. But due to his hip injury, he was unable to play in the tournament.

Ryan Callahan's Life Off the Ice

Ryan Callahan has always looked up to Brendan Shanahan as his favorite player.

On September 16, 2016, the Ryan Callahan Foundation launched its mission. The foundation aims to help families battling pediatric cancer by creating special moments together. It has three main parts:

• Cally's Crew: This program allows patients and their families to attend a Tampa Bay Lightning home game in the foundation's special suite.
• The "2-4" Club: This program is like a "Make-a-Wish" style program. It gives families a chance to escape cancer treatments with an all-expenses-paid trip or experience each month. Families share their stories on the foundation's website, and monthly recipients are chosen.
• Direct Funding: The foundation also provides money and raises awareness for other charities working to find a cure for pediatric cancer.

Callahan has both Italian and Irish family roots.

Career Statistics

Regular season and playoffs

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2005	United States	WJC	4th		7	1	2	3	29
2010	United States	OG			6	0	1	1	2
2014	United States	OG	4th		6	0	1	1	0
Junior totals					7	1	2	3	29
Senior totals					12	0	2	2	2

Awards and Honors

Important Career Moves

• June 27, 2004 – The New York Rangers drafted Ryan Callahan as the 127th overall pick.
• July 27, 2011 – He signed a three-year contract worth $12.825 million with the New York Rangers.
• March 5, 2014 – He was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning. In return, the Rangers received Martin St. Louis and draft picks.
• June 25, 2014 – He signed a six-year contract worth $34.8 million to stay with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

See also

In Spanish: Ryan Callahan para niños