Ryan Walter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ryan Walter |
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Walter in 2011
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| Born | April 23, 1958 New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada |
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| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) | ||
| Weight | 195 lb (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb) | ||
| Position | Centre | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for | Washington Capitals Montreal Canadiens Vancouver Canucks |
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| National team | .svg){kind=small} Canada |
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| NHL Draft | 2nd overall, 1978 Washington Capitals |
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| Playing career | 1978–1993 | ||
Ryan William Walter (born April 23, 1958) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played as a centre for 15 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). Ryan Walter won the Stanley Cup with the Montreal Canadiens in 1986.
After his playing career, he became an assistant coach for the Vancouver Canucks. He also coached the Canadian National Women's hockey team. Walter worked as a hockey broadcaster and was president of the Abbotsford Heat hockey team.
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Early Life and Hockey Beginnings
Ryan Walter was born in New Westminster, British Columbia. He grew up in Burnaby, British Columbia. When he was young, he played in the 1971 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. This is a famous tournament for young hockey players.
Ryan Walter's NHL Career
Ryan Walter was picked second overall in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft by the Washington Capitals. In his second season, the Capitals made him their team captain. At that time, he was the youngest captain in NHL history.
In September 1982, Walter was traded to the Montreal Canadiens. This was a big trade involving six players. He won the Stanley Cup with the Canadiens in 1986. Even though he was injured for most of the playoffs, his name is on the Cup.
In the 1989 Stanley Cup Finals, Walter scored an important goal in game three. This gave the Canadiens a 2–1 lead in the series. However, the Calgary Flames won the series and the Cup that year.
In 1991, he joined the Vancouver Canucks. He played his last two seasons there. In 1992, he won the Budweiser NHL Man of the Year Award. Walter was known as a tough and hard-working player. He was also very good at winning face-offs. He also served as a leader for the players' union, the NHLPA.
Broadcasting and Coaching Roles
After playing, Walter worked as a hockey commentator for TSN. He covered NHL, CHL, and international games. He also worked on Vancouver Canucks TV broadcasts.
Later, on June 17, 2008, Walter became an assistant coach for the Vancouver Canucks. He left this role after the 2009–10 season. In 2010, he became the head coach of Canada's women's hockey team. They won the gold medal at the 2010 Four Nations Cup.
From 2011 to 2014, Walter was the president of the Abbotsford Heat. This team was a minor-league team for the Calgary Flames.
Personal Life and Other Work
Ryan Walter is also a motivational speaker and author. He uses his hockey experiences to teach about success.
He had a small role in the movie Miracle. He played the referee in the game between the USA and USSR. Disney also hired him as a hockey expert for the movie. He appeared on the Canadian TV show Being Ian as himself.
Ryan and his wife, Jennifer, have three sons. All of them play hockey. His oldest son, Ben, played 24 games in the NHL.
Career Statistics
Regular season and playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1973–74 | Langley Lords | BCHL | 62 | 40 | 62 | 102 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1973–74 | Kamloops Chiefs | WCHL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1974–75 | Langley Lords | BCHL | 52 | 32 | 60 | 92 | 111 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 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 | WHL | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1978–79 | Washington Capitals | 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 | 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 | NHL | 67 | 6 | 11 | 17 | 49 | 13 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 | ||
| 1992–93 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 25 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 1,003 | 264 | 382 | 646 | 946 | 113 | 16 | 35 | 51 | 62 | ||||
International
| Year | Team | Event | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Canada | WJC | 6 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 4 | |
| 1979 | Canada | WC | 8 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 4 | |
| 1981 | Canada | WC | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 1982 | Canada | WC | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | |
| Junior totals | 6 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 4 | |||
| Senior totals | 20 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 6 | |||
Awards and Honors
- WCHL First All-Star Team – 1978
See also
- List of NHL players with 1000 games played
