Ryan Suter facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ryan Suter
Suter with the Minnesota Wild in 2019
Born	(1985-01-21) January 21, 1985 (age 39) Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.
Height	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight	206 lb (93 kg; 14 st 10 lb)
Position	Defense
Shoots	Left
NHL team Former teams	Dallas Stars Nashville Predators Minnesota Wild
National team	United States
NHL Draft	7th overall, 2003 Nashville Predators
Playing career	2004–present

Ryan Suter (born January 21, 1985) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman for the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League (NHL). He has previously played for the Nashville Predators and Minnesota Wild. Internationally, Suter has represented the U.S. national team at the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Suter was born into an athletic family as his father, Bob Suter, was a member of the historic gold medal-winning 1980 United States Olympic hockey team that defeated the Soviet Union in the famous "Miracle on Ice" game. Suter's uncle Gary Suter was also a longtime standout in the NHL.

Personal life

Suter was born on January 21, 1985, in Madison, Wisconsin, U.S. to parents Bob and Diane. He grew up in Wisconsin alongside his younger brother Garrett while their father coached at the University of Wisconsin and their mother worked as an ice hockey administrator. Suter was born into an athletic family as his father was a member of the United States men's national ice hockey team at the 1980 Winter Olympic Games and his uncle Gary Suter was a professional ice hockey player in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Playing career

Amateur

Growing up, Suter played for the Madison Capitols and Culver Military Academy before joining the USA Hockey's National Development Team in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Following a change to the NCAA legislature, Suter was able to enroll and play at the University of Wisconsin–Madison (UW) while remaining eligible for the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. He was eventually drafted seventh overall by the Nashville Predators in the NHL Entry Draft. Prior to returning to the Badgers, Suter partipated in the Predators conditioning camp ahead of the 2003–04 season. As he signed a contract with the Badgers, Suter was required to pay for his own room and board while attending the camp. Upon rejoining the Badgers, Suter was selected as the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) preseason Rookie of the Year. Although Suter began the season with one goal through six games, he was given an increase in defensive responsibilities on the Badger's rookie-dominated, power-play unit. Suter finished his rookie season with a selection for the All-WCHA Rookie Team and All-WCHA Third Team. While Suter re-enrolled at UW for his sophomore season, he signed a professional contract with the Predators on September 7. Due to the suddenness and inconvenience of the signing, as the season had already started, Predators general manager David Poile called the Badgers head coach to apologize.

Nashville Predators (2005–2012)

Suter with the Nashville Predators in February 2010.

Suter played for the Madison Capitols, Culver Military Academy and then went on to the USA Hockey's National Development Team in Ann Arbor, Michigan, before he was drafted seventh overall by the Nashville Predators in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. He then played one year with the Wisconsin Badgers (Western Collegiate Hockey Association in NCAA Division I) before joining the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League (AHL) during the 2004–05 season. He played his rookie season in the NHL with the Predators in 2005–06.

On June 16, 2008, Suter signed a four-year, $14 million contract extension with the Predators which commenced for the 2008–09 NHL season.

Minnesota Wild (2012–2021)

Suter with the Wild in February 2013.

On July 4, 2012, Suter signed a 13-year, $98 million contract with the Minnesota Wild. He and fellow free agent signee Zach Parise were introduced to the media on July 10 and were announced as alternate captains under captain Mikko Koivu. Suter got off to a rough start with a –7 plus-minus rating in his first nine games. However, once he began pairing with rookie defenseman Jonas Brodin, Suter began playing to expectations and was among three finalists for the James Norris Memorial Trophy, awarded yearly to the NHL's top defenseman. For the season, Suter averaged an NHL-leading 27:17 minutes of ice time as Minnesota reached the playoffs, where the team fell to the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round.

Suter scored his first NHL hat-trick on January 4, 2014, against the Washington Capitals; his first two goals came on the power play 38 seconds apart in the second period, and in the third period, right after his penalty expired, Suter scored his third goal on a two-on-one with defenseman Clayton Stoner. This goal sealed what would eventually be a 5–3 victory for the Wild.

During the 2015–16 season, Suter set a franchise record for the Minnesota Wild with the most points by a defenseman in a single season. With 43 assists and 51 points, he also set a personal best in both categories. Throughout his tenure with the Wild, he has continuously been relied upon to play a large number of minutes including on the power play and on the penalty kill.

On October 19, 2018, in a 3–1 win against the Dallas Stars, Suter recorded his 500th NHL point, becoming the 11th American-born defensemen to reach the milestone. Later that month, on October 25, Suter played in his 1,000th NHL game, becoming the 109th defenseman to reach the milestone.

On July 13, 2021, the Wild bought out the remaining four years of Suter's contract.

Dallas Stars (2021–present)

On July 28, 2021, the opening day of free agency, Suter agreed to sign a four-year, $14.6 million contract to join the Dallas Stars.

International play

Canada's Jonathan Toews guards the puck from Suter during the 2010 Winter Olympics
Medal record
Representing  United States
Ice hockey
Olympic Games
Silver	2010 Vancouver
World Junior Championships
Gold	2004 Helsinki
IIHF World U18 Championships
Gold	2002 Trnava
World U-17 Hockey Challenge
Gold	2002 Manitoba

Suter has represented the United States in eleven tournaments, and has won three gold medals.

On January 1, 2010, Suter was named to the United States' roster for the 2010 Winter Olympics. He was one of the team's alternate captains.

In 2016, he was also selected to represent the United States at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey alongside Wild teammate, Zach Parise.

On April 19, 2019, Suter returned to the International stage for the first time in three years as he accepted an invitation to represent Team USA at the 2019 IIHF World Championship, held in Bratislava and Kosice, Slovakia.

In 2020, Suter was introduced into the IIHF All-Time USA Team.

Personal life

Suter resides in Madison, Wisconsin, during the NHL off-season. He is married to Becky Suter (née Palmer), who is from Bloomington, Minnesota. Ryan and Becky have four children together.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2002	United States	U17	1		7	2	3	5	4
2002	United States	WJC18	1		8	1	6	7	12
2003	United States	WJC	4th		7	2	1	3	2
2003	United States	WJC18	4th		6	1	3	4	22
2004	United States	WJC	1		6	0	2	2	8
2005	United States	WJC	4th		7	1	7	8	20
2005	United States	WC	6th		1	0	0	0	0
2006	United States	WC	7th		7	1	1	2	10
2007	United States	WC	5th		7	1	2	3	12
2009	United States	WC	4th		9	1	2	3	8
2010	United States	OG	2		6	0	4	4	2
2014	United States	OG	4th		6	0	3	3	4
2016	United States	WCH	7th		3	0	1	1	0
2019	United States	WC	7th		8	0	5	5	4
Junior totals					41	7	22	29	68
Senior totals					47	3	18	21	40

Awards and honors

See also

• Notable families in the NHL