Troy Ryan named new men’s hockey coach at St. Thomas University
Troy Ryan looks to rebuild a struggling STU Tommie's team that finished last in the AUS the past two seasons.
Rebuilding a struggling program is nothing new for Troy Ryan, in fact you could say he’s made a career of it.
The newest men’s hockey coach of the St. Thomas University Tommies will have his work cut out for him. He takes over a team that finished last place in the AUS in the past two seasons and have not made the playoffs in three years.
Ryan replaces former head coach Mike Eagles, who spent the previous nine seasons behind the Tommies bench. During the past two years, Eagles served as both head coach and athletic director. The university decided that the roles needed to be divided which lead them to assemble a selection committee.
The committee, comprised of Eagles, former Tommies forward Jason Cassidy, along with other administrators, former players, hockey executives and alumni held a national search for a new coach.
“The team was due for a revamp,” said Cassidy, who recently wrapped up four seasons with the men’s hockey team. “I really enjoyed playing for Mike. It would be difficult for anyone to manage the responsibility he was tasked with. (He) was carrying too much of the load administratively and that was something the school needed to address. They needed to allot more time to the hockey program because the AUS has gotten increasingly more competitive.”
Ryan’s passion for hockey, coupled with his experience in turning around struggling programs made him the unanimous decision by St. Thomas’s selection committee, which selected him over 22 other applicants.
“He is very knowledgeable about the game. (He) understands how to relate to players and has a passion that can’t be matched,” said Cassidy. “Troy made it clear that this is the level of hockey he has always aspired to coach and the committee was looking for someone to take the program and run with it.”
Ryan, a two-time junior A coach of the year in the Maritime Junior Hockey League has always dreamed of coaching a university hockey team.
“Since the very first time I stepped behind a bench my goal was to coach at the university level. When I contacted my Mother to tell her the news, she quickly reminded me that over 10 years ago I told her I would like to be coaching at the University level by the time I was 45,” said the 39-year old Ryan.
When looking at the Tommies situation, they couldn’t have asked for a more qualified candidate.
At the junior A level, Ryan took hold of the Weeks Crushers who in their previous season won only 18 games. In four years, he built a winner as his team captured the Fred Page Cup. Ryan was also responsible for the turnaround of the Metro Marauders organization as he stabilized the franchise on and off the ice.
Ryan has also established himself on the international level, as he has been a part in seven consecutive world championship events, five with the world junior A and two at world under-17 with team Atlantic.
“I think I fit St. Thomas University and the situation the Tommies hockey program is in because I have experience building and rebuilding hockey programs (both on and off the ice). I like the mentality that St. Thomas University has. Although everyone works in their own departments it seems that everyone is on the same page and is working towards common goals. It is my goal to get the hockey program thinking the same way as the institution.”
With Eagles acting as the university’s athletic director, Ryan does not believe there will be any interference from the team’s former coach.
“It is a bit of a unique situation as he was the former coach of the Tommies but all signs point to us being able to have a good working relationship. I strongly believe that Mike has the best interests of St. Thomas University in mind and I feel we will make a great team.”
Ryan’s influence on the team will be visible right away, as he has been thrown into the recruiting fire with the Tommies graduating eight players from last year. As a new coach, he has the unique opportunity of bringing a handful of new players along with him in his rookie season behind the bench.
“The timing of my hiring has put me behind a little in the recruiting process. I will continue to make calls and meet with potential players and their families and see where that takes us,” said Ryan. “I think there are some advantages and disadvantages to the recruiting situation I have in front of me. I like the fact that I will have the opportunity to bring in a number of players this year but it is very important not to forget the players that have been with this program for a number of years.”
With the AUS continuously producing top teams in the country, Ryan will have to use all of his resources to ensure his team competes.
“My goals for recruiting are to bring in quality student/athletes that fit the core values that we want to surround ourselves with here at St. Thomas University. There is no one area in which to find these players. I will continue to speak with contacts, players, past players, alumni, etc. to try to search out quality student/athletes that are interested in St. Thomas University.”
With much of the recruiting still left to be done and the season only a few months away, Ryan is remaining reserved with his predictions for the program.
“One thing I have learned through my experience in building and rebuilding teams is never to make predictions. In my short time here with the Tommies program, I can already see many areas in which I can work with my staff to make positive changes. My goal with this program is to create a culture and atmosphere of success (on the ice, in the classroom, and out in the community). In time I strongly believe that St. Thomas University will be a spot that top end players will want to play. This does not happen overnight but will happen in time.”
The St. Thomas Tommies have nowhere to go but up after finishing dead last in almost every statistical category in the AUS last season, but they hope Troy Ryan can work the magic that he has made a career out of and rebuild their struggling program.
