The announcement of the signing of our second non-EIHA trained player has been much anticipated by fans of Raiders and around the league and we are delighted that the timing is now right. A new face to the league always comes with a level of expectation as to how they will fit into the style of play.
We are pleased therefore to welcome 25 year old Canadian forward Ryan Shaw to the team for the forthcoming season, the first Canadian to ice for the Raiders for thirteen years. The 6’2” 200lb forward hails from Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.
Ryan joins the Raiders having spent the latter half of last season icing for HYC Herentals, a Belgian team in the Belgium / Netherlands League where he moved when it seemed possible Covid would halt the season at home. He settled in quickly and made 13 league and play off appearances scoring six goals and 13 assists for 19 points.
Prior to moving to Belgium, Ryan spent four seasons (excluding the Covid cancelled season) icing for the University of Windsor, in the Canadian Collegiate league (now known as USports) making 70 appearances, scoring 19 goals and 13 assists for 32 points.
Ryan played his junior hockey in the Greater Ontario and Ontario Junior Hockey Leagues, playing for Newmarket Hurricanes, Aurora Tigers, Cambridge Winter Hawks and Oakville Blades, where he made 169 league and play off appearances, scoring 63 goals and 66 assists for 129 points. He was selected to the Divisional All Star second team in his season at Oakville.
The management are pleased to complete the considerable paper chase and are looking forward to seeing Ryan on ice as Sean Easton explained.
“Ryan has played 5 years in USports Canada which is a well respected league. He comes highly recommended to us and everyone I have spoken to about him has nothing but good things to say.
“I have watched a lot of videos of Ryan, and he’s a big body power forward with a big shot, but has great vision for a pass.
“I’ve been speaking with Ryan a lot and he is excited to get going as we are all to meet him”.
Ryan is looking forward to a new team and a new country and is keen to show his worth wearing the Gold and Blue and he chats to us about his life and hockey before his move over to the UK.
Talking on his origins and his family connections to the game:-
“I was born in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, but my family moved around all over Canada when I was younger and settled in Barrie, Ontario an hour north of Toronto. Canada loves the game of hockey and is played all over the country in hockey rinks, ponds in the winter time, and even play ball hockey in the summer time.
“Hockey is big in my family and started with my dad Graeme Shaw. He played a little bit of junior hockey and university hockey. I have two brothers, my oldest brother Brandon played hockey up to juniors and now he is coaching and was just hired to be an assistant coach In the OHL for the Niagara Ice Dogs. My youngest brother plays hockey as well and he currently plays for the Mount Academy prep school in Prince Edward Island. My mom has always enjoyed watching hockey and grew up watching my uncle, John Butler, play growing up for the UPEI panthers. So I guess you can say we are a hockey family lol.
On the location of the University of Windsor, his college team, and what he was studying for:-
“I just finished my studies at the University of Windsor majoring in Criminology and minoring in sociology. One of the bonuses for playing for Windsor was how close and accessible the US border is (just south of Detroit) and how easy it was to catch a NHL, NBA, NFL or a MLB game. I have been over plenty of times with my family and teammates to watch the Redwings and big stars in the NHL today.
“At school we would practice every day during the week (Monday-Thursday), workout twice a week in the gym and would play 2 games over the weekend along with our studies. It definitely got busy at times, but it was important to learn how to use my time wisely to be successful on the ice and in the classroom.
“Being in Windsor there is a decent amount of travel for hockey games. The closest opponent in our division being 2 hours away and the furthest close to 8 hours away. But travelling on the bus long hours gets the guys on the team closer together and bonding which is a great thing about the game of hockey.
On his first European experience:-
“Last year playing in Herentals was the first time being in Europe and it was a great experience! It was a first for both myself and my long-time girlfriend Jada and it was a very cool experience getting to get to Europe and learn about different cultures around the world. Everyone in Belgium was very welcoming at HYC and treated myself and Jada very well and we both enjoyed our time there.
“In the BeNeLiga they have a 2 “import” rule as well for overseas players. I actually played with a guy I went to school with, Ethan Skinner, which was great to play with someone that I was familiar with and with a familiar face in the locker room. In Belgium, both imports could play with each other which was great as well playing off of each other’s strengths on the ice.
His expectations for his first season in the UK :-
“I have watched a couple of Raiders games from last year on YouTube and I am very excited to get to Romford and meet my teammates and coaching staff and look forward to having a great season this year.
“I have played with guys who have moved on to play in the EIHL and I have heard great things about playing hockey and living in the UK so I am very excited to arrive in Romford, meet the fans and play for the Raiders!
On what Raiders fans can expect from Ryan this season:-
“I am a 6’2” 200lb right shot winger. I am a two-way power forward who likes contributing offensively scoring goals using my shot and creating plays for my line mates. I’m comfortable playing in all situations of the game and like to be defensively responsible. I have good size and speed that I like to use to drive the net and use my body down low in the offensive zone to create scoring opportunities. I have been used in all situations PP, PK, and in end game situations if the team needs a goal, or to keep the puck out of our net. And I am very excited to get to Romford and putting on the Raiders jersey for the first time and do my best to help the team be successful both on and off the ice!
Ryan, welcome to the Gold and Blue!
