Ryan Kesler is a well-known American hockey player, winner of the World Youth Championship and silver medalist of the Vancouver Olympic Games as part of the US team. One of the most productive central strikers in the NHL.
Biography
The future NHL star was born in 1984 in a small town of Livonia, located in Michigan (USA). He inherited his love of hockey from his father, who once played for the university team, and after becoming the coach of children and youth teams.
At the age of 4, Ryan was already confidently skating. At age 16, he began attending a local hockey school run by Kesler Sr. It was here that the talent of the future famous athlete was formed.
The beginning of a professional career
2002 was a reference point for the professional career of a young hockey player. Ryan Kesler joined the team at Ohio State University. In the student league, for 40 games of the season he managed to light a red light 11 times behind the gates of his rivals and gave 20 assists. These excellent indicators as for a debutant allowed him to get into the team of All Beginners, get into the Team of the week three times, and soon become the best Young player of the month.
Such a game of the young defender could not remain without attention from the scouts of other teams. The following season, Ryan Kesler made his debut in the American Hockey League for the club Manitoba Mus. In its composition, the hockey player spent 33 games and scored 11 (3 + 8) points.
NHL appearances
In 2003 there was an event that Ryan Kesler had dreamed of all his life - the NHL accepted him into its ranks. During the draft, the 19-year-old hockey player was chartered by the Vancouver Canucks team.
In the first season, Ryan played 28 matches for the new club, in which he managed to score two goals and scored three times in assists.
Unfortunately, such modest indicators did not allow the striker to gain a foothold in the team, so the next season he was leased to the club Manitoba Mus, already familiar to him. Here, the talent that Ryan Kesler had hidden before himself was truly revealed. The hockey player spent 78 matches, in which he scored 30 goals, and also gave 27 exact passes. In addition, he helped the team break into the AHL playoffs.
The following year, Ryan Kesler returns to Vancouver Canucks, for which he played the next 9 years. The 2008/09 season turned out to be especially successful for the striker: having scored 25 goals in the regular season and giving 50 assists, the hockey player was nominated for the Selke Trophy prize, which is awarded to the most talented forwards.
Together with “Killer Whales” Kesler went into the playoff series 6 times. The 2010/11 season was the most successful for the Vancouver team - in addition to winning the NHL regular season, the Canucks reached the Stanley Cup finals, where they lost to the Boston Boyens in a dramatic series. According to the results of his performances, Ryan Kesler received the right to participate in the NHL All-Star Game.
The year 2014 brought major changes for Kesler. He became a player in the Anaheim Ducks hockey club. For the new team, Ryan managed to score 47 (20 + 27) points in the first season. This allowed him to firmly gain a foothold in the main team, and a little later - to become vice captain of the Utoks.
For two seasons with Kesler, Anaheim Ducks twice won the regular draw of the Pacific Division and entered the playoffs of the Western Conference, but, unfortunately, they are not yet a serious contender for winning the most honorable NHL trophy - the Stanley Cup.
USA Team Games
Ryan Kesler first tried on the form of the US national team at the age of 17 when he took part in the World Junior Hockey Championship. Then in the finals, the US team defeated peers from Canada. Kesler managed to score 6 (1 + 5) points in six matches.
In 2002, Ryan played for the U-18 team in competitions under the auspices of the International Hockey Association. In eight games played, the forward scored seven points, which helped the Americans win the tournament for the first time, and Kesler himself was recognized as the best player in the championship.
In 2004, the collection of awards for the young hockey player was replenished with another gold medal - the Youth World Championship. As part of the US team, Ryan Kesler held all 6 fights, distinguishing himself by three goals scored, and he scored one of them in the final against the Canadians.
The magnificent game for the “Vancouver Canucks” allowed the 26-year-old striker to break into the Olympic team of his country. In Vancouver, the US team in the dramatic finals only in overtime lost to the hosts with a score of 2-3 and won silver medals. Forward Ryan Kesler took part in all six matches, in which he managed to double-light the red light behind the gates of his opponents.
Personal life
Ryan and his wife Andrea are raising their daughter, Macayla, who was born in 2008. When Kesler played for the Canucks, during the season the family lived near Vancouver, in the small town of Kitsilano, and in the offseason the hockey player took his relatives to his hometown of Livonia.
In addition to hockey, the NHL star is fond of racing cars, likes to walk with her dogs and gamble.