Ryan Wagner (ice hockey)

Ryan Wagner (born April 15, 1996) is an American professional ice hockey forward who is currently playing for the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League (AHL).

Ryan Wagner
Wafgner with the Chicago Wolves in 2019
Born (1996-04-15) April 15, 1996 (age 28)
Park Ridge, Illinois, U.S.
Height 5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Weight 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position Left wing
Shoots Left
AHL team
Former teams
Chicago Wolves
Colorado Eagles
NHL draft Undrafted
Playing career 2018–present

Playing career edit

Amateur edit

Wagner played as a youth within his homestate, Illinois, with the Chicago Mission of the HPHL through to the under-16 level before joining the U.S. National Team Development program to play the 2013–14 season with the under-17 and under-18 teams. While attending Ann Arbor Pioneer High School, he registered 9 points through 28 games within the United States Hockey League (USHL) before committing to a collegiate career with the University of Wisconsin of the Big Ten Conference (B1G).

After completing his freshman season with the Badgers in the 2014–15 season, contributing with a modest 2 goals and 5 points through 35 games, Wagner increased his presence through his sophomore season surpassing his entire freshman points totals through the first 9 games and finishing the 2015–16 season with 10 goals and 22 points in 35 games.

Appearing in every game with the Wisconsin Badgers as a junior in the 2016–17 season, Wagner established his identity as a high compete checking-line role player, in posting 9 goals and 28 points through 36 contests.[1]

Returning for his senior season with the Badgers, Wagner was selected as an alternate captain for the 2017–18 season. Establishing a new career best with 15 goals and 33 points, Wagner appeared in all 37 games with Wisconsin and drew his collegiate career to a close in receiving the teams' Spike Carlson/Chris Chelios Most Valuable Player award.[2]

Professional edit

Having concluded his four-year college hockey tenure, Wagner embarked on his professional career in initially signing a professional tryout contract with hometown team the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League on March 8, 2018.[3] He made his professional debut against the Milwaukee Admirals and registered an assist, on March 9, 2018, and appeared in 7 games with the Wolves to complete the 2017–18 regular season.[4]

Impressing the Wolves NHL affiliate, the Vegas Golden Knights, Wagner was re-signed by Chicago to a one-year AHL contract on May 10, 2018.[5] In the 2018–19 season, Wagner registered his first professional goal, in a 4–2 victory over the Manitoba Moose on November 18, 2018.[6] As a depth forward for the Wolves, Wagner finished the regular season with 4 goals and 7 points through 49 regular season games. He appeared in 14 playoff games with the Wolves helping the team reach the Calder Cup finals in a defeat to the Charlotte Checkers.

As a free agent, Wagner left the Wolves organization in the off-season and was signed to a one-year, two-way AHL contract with the Colorado Eagles, affiliate to the Colorado Avalanche, on July 31, 2019.[7] Splitting the 2019–20 season between the Eagles and ECHL affiliate, the Utah Grizzlies, Wagner registered 20 points through 23 games for the Grizzlies before contributing and eclipsing his previous season AHL totals with 6 goals and 10 points in just 24 games before the remainder of the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On April 8, 2020, the Eagles opted to re-sign Wagner to a one-year AHL contract extension for the 2020–21 season.[8] In showing development and growth within the Eagles in a checking-line role, Wagner was elevated as an alternate captain during the campaign and contributed with 5 goals and 13 points through 34 regular season games of the pandemic shortened season.[9]

On June 24, 2021, Wagner continued his tenure with the Eagle by agreeing to a two-year contract extension.[10] Adding an energetic presence to the Eagles, Wagner notched career high marks in the 2021–22 season, in registering 10 goals and 14 assists for 24 points through 50 regular season games. He helped the Eagles advance to the Divisional Finals against the Stockton Heat, finishing with 4 goals in 9 games.[9]

Entering his third year as an alternate captain with the Eagles in the 2022–23 season, Wagner made his 200th AHL appearance in a 5–2 victory over the Ontario Reign on January 18, 2023.[11]

Personal edit

Born to Dan and Pattie Wagner, he attended Maine South High School in Park Ridge, Illinois, and Ann Arbor Pioneer High School. As part of a sporting family, his father played collegiate baseball at Northwestern and his three younger siblings, Bridget, Megan and Sean all played collegiate hockey.[2][12][13][14]

Career statistics edit

Regular season and playoffs edit

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2013–14 U.S. National Development Team USHL 28 5 4 9 10
2014–15 University of Wisconsin B1G 35 2 3 5 12
2015–16 University of Wisconsin B1G 35 10 12 22 12
2016–17 University of Wisconsin B1G 36 9 19 28 16
2017–18 University of Wisconsin B1G 37 15 18 33 36
2017–18 Chicago Wolves AHL 7 0 1 1 0
2018–19 Chicago Wolves AHL 49 4 3 7 10 14 0 0 0 2
2019–20 Utah Grizzlies ECHL 23 9 11 20 12
2019–20 Colorado Eagles AHL 24 6 4 10 4
2020–21 Colorado Eagles AHL 34 5 8 13 13 2 0 1 1 0
2021–22 Colorado Eagles AHL 50 10 14 24 16 9 4 1 5 4
2022–23 Colorado Eagles AHL 67 6 11 17 53 7 2 0 2 7
2023–24 Chicago Wolves AHL 63 3 7 10 28
AHL totals 294 34 48 82 114 32 6 2 8 13

International edit

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2013 United States IH18   5 1 0 1 4
Junior totals 5 1 0 1 4

References edit

  1. ^ "Badgering: Ryan Wagner". Wisconsin Badgers. November 1, 2017. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Ryan Wagner player profile". Wisconsin Badgers. January 21, 2023. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  3. ^ "Wagner signs PTO with Wolves". Chicago Wolves. March 8, 2018. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  4. ^ "Wolves 4, Admirals 3". American Hockey League. March 9, 2018. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  5. ^ "Wagner and Weis sign with Wolves". American Hockey League. May 10, 2018. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  6. ^ "Wolves 4, Moose 2 game summary". American Hockey League. November 18, 2018. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  7. ^ "Forward Ryan Wagner signs two-way deal". Colorado Eagles. July 31, 2019. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  8. ^ "Wagner re-signs with Eagles for 2020-21 season". Colorado Eagles. April 8, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  9. ^ a b "Eagles' Wagner a positive and powerful leader". American Hockey League. November 22, 2022. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  10. ^ "Wagner signs two-year contract extension with Eagles". Colorado Eagles. June 24, 2021. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  11. ^ "Eagles 5, Reign 2 Game Summary". American Hockey League. January 18, 2023. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  12. ^ "Bridget Wagner player profile". eliteprospects.com. January 21, 2023. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  13. ^ "Megan Wagner player profile". eliteprospects.com. January 21, 2023. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  14. ^ "Sean Wagner player profile". eliteprospects.com. January 21, 2023. Retrieved January 21, 2023.

External links edit