Birthday Boy Terry Ryan Drops the Gloves in his First Pro Hockey Game in Four Years

Was there really any other way this could have went? On his 47th birthday, after coming out of retirement for his first game since the 2019-20 season, former NHL/AHL enforcer Terry Ryan did what he does best, dropping the gloves for a scrap.

It was announced last night that Ryan has signed a deal with the Newfoundland Growlers, the ECHL affiliate of the Toronto Marlies and Toronto Maple Leafs. Today, as the Growlers took on the Adirondack Thunder, Ryan wasted no time in finding an opponent to throw some hands, finding a willing party in Zach Walker of the Thunder.


Ryan, a native of St. John's, where the Growlers play, was a first round draft pick, 8th overall, of the Montreal Canadiens in 1995. He managed just eight NHL games, all with the Habs, but played another 181 in the AHL, as well as playing in a number of other pro hockey leagues. Ryan has become a familiar face on Canadian television over the last few years, getting roles on shows like Schitt's Creek, Letterkenny, and Shorsey.