Reliable enough to be a shutdown center, Ryan
also has enough offensive ability to chip in 26
points as a freshman. |
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Key Statistics: Ryan
led Notre Dame’s freshman class last year with
10 goals and 16 assists for 26 points. Those numbers
put him fourth on the team and third amongst returning
players, leaving him poised for a breakout season offensively.
While he was more focused on his defensive play in the
NCAA tournament, he still added two assists in the Fighting
Irish’s run to the national championship game.
What He Does: Coach Jeff
Jackson describes Ryan as a player with great hockey
intelligence and solid skating abilities. Ryan plays
close to the ground, helping him have a big impact physically
in the offensive and defensive zones, as it allows him
to defend well and cycle the puck at the other end of
the ice. His strength and smarts also helped him win
just under 55 percent of his faceoffs – a key
component to Notre Dame’s late-season success.
The Bigger Picture: Much
like his team as a whole, Ryan needs to get off to a
quick start this year to build on momentum from last
season. If he starts off in a positive way, he’ll
continue to build confidence and take appropriate chances
offensively without becoming less sound on defense.
Ryan’s a valuable player for Coach Jeff Jackson
because his strength and skating abilities allow him
to play well with a variety of different players. Heading
into the season, there’s a good chance he’ll
be playing with junior Ryan Thang, who is also know
for work ethic and an ability to score. Should they
team up, look for a jump in both of their numbers this
year.
Notre Dame head coach Jeff Jackson
on Ryan: "At the end of the year, Ben
played up against MSU’s top line, UNH’s
top line, Michigan’s top line and Boston College’s
top line, and for a freshman to do that, it’s
pretty impressive. I think he handled himself well and
played well defensively, even cheated to the defensive
side, so he wasn’t as effectively offensively.
That’s probably an experience thing, so I know
he will contribute more offensively in those situations
down the road if he’s in them."
—
James V. Dowd |
