• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
Player Profiles

Bobby Ryan Bio: Against All Odds

By Kevin Hunter September 21st, 2010

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

The headlines in August announced the signing of Bobby Ryan by the Anaheim Ducks  to a five-year extension for twenty-five million, five hundred thousand dollars – a fitting reward for the hard-working, six-foot two-inch, two-hundred twenty pound sniper whose talent and hard work earned him a silver medal at the 2010 Olympics and an important spot in the Ducks powerful offensive lineup.

Bobby Ryan

Bobby Ryan – Rookie Year

Ryan had a meteoric rise through the amateur ranks, jumping in 2003 from the Los Angeles Junior Kings to the Owen Sound Attack (OHL), where he played for four years.  After amassing 89 points in his second year, the eighteen-year-old was drafted second overall in the 2005 NHL entry draft, second only to Sidney Crosby, a fitting climax to his brilliant on-ice play.

More to the Bobby Ryan Story

Just prior to the draft, burdened heavily by a haunting family secret, young Ryan decided to unload, come clean, tell the world the truth and no longer live in fear of random discovery.

Bobby Ryan was born March 17,1987 to Robert Stevenson and his wife, Melody.  His parents named him Robert Shane Stevenson.  The family lived in Cherry Hill, NJ where his dad owned a successful insurance company.  On October 30, 1997, returning home from a night of heavy drinking, his father accused his wife of drug abuse and in a bizarre series of events chased her out of the house, down the street into a neighbor’s house, caught her and beat her badly, putting her in a local hospital with four broken ribs, a fracture to her skull and a punctured lung.  Young Bobby was ten years old.

Robert Stevenson was arrested, charged with attempted murder and five other felony counts.  While out on bail, rather than face a stiff jail term,  he fled to Canada where his wife, who had forgiven him, and his son soon joined him.  The family was on the run, living as outlaws, moving from place to place, looking for a new home where Bobby could pursue his passion for the game of hockey.

They settled in El Segundo, CA, just outside of Los Angeles, where Bobby joined the Los Angeles Jr. Kings.

Robert Stevenson became Shane Ryan.  Bobby also changed his name.

“My parents made it clear,” Bobby says.  “They were serious. You are Bobby Ryan, no matter who asks, no exceptions!”

In a careless moment, the father rented a video at a local store with an old credit card, was quickly discovered by federal marshals and sent back to New Jersey to face the scales of justice.  Back in New Jersey, pleading guilty to aggravated assault and jumping bail, he was sentenced to five years in prison.  The family once again was lost in turmoil.

Despite all this, Bobby climbed the ladder of hockey success from L.A. to Owen Sound, to Anaheim.  He  finally decided in 2005 to tell his story, to come out of the dark into the light.  “It wasn’t easy by any means,” says Ryan, “but through it all I became more independent.  I certainly don’t have any skeletons left in my closet.”

Ryan’s Rookie Year

In his rookie year with the Anaheim Ducks, the high-flying center had 31 goals, added 26 assists and was second in the voting for the Calder Trophy for rookie-of-the-year. Last year he increased his totals to 35/29/64.

The brain trust of the Ducks breathed easier once the sophomore ended his holdout and signed with the club.  They can now look forward to five years of production from the kid from New Jersey.

Robert Stevenson has paid his debt to society.  The couple, still together after all these years, live a quiet life back in Cherry Hill.

Bobby Ryan is one tough kid.  He deserves al the  kudos he receives and every dollar he earns.

  • Tags
  • Bobby Ryan
  • Calder Trophy
  • Owen Sound Attack
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 27th 8:55 AM
Column

Rangers News & Rumors: Chytil, First Five, What’s Next & More

Jan 27th 8:45 AM
Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs Takeaways: Sizzling Simmonds, Marner Produces and a Rivalry in the Making

Jan 27th 8:35 AM
Montreal Canadiens

Today in Hockey History: Jan. 27

Jan 26th 6:20 PM
Calgary Flames

Tkachuk Shows His Ignorance Discussing Maple Leafs’ Campbell Injury

Jan 26th 6:10 PM
Vegas Golden Knights

Golden Knights Reaping the Rewards of Zach Whitecloud’s Development

Jan 26th 6:00 PM
Buffalo Sabres

Sabres Outlook After First 6 Games of 2020-21

Jan 26th 5:50 PM
Winnipeg Jets

Jets’ 2021 Offseason Free Agent Preview

Jan 26th 5:05 PM
Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks Unlikely to Call Up Former Fan Favourite Darling

Jan 26th 4:40 PM
Archives

The NHL’s Best Farm Systems Ranked – 2020-21 Season Update

Jan 26th 4:32 PM
Archives

Jimmy Howard’s Red Wings Legacy

Editor’s Picks
Wayne Gretzky - The Great One's 10 Most Unbreakable Records

Wayne Gretzky - The Great One's 10 Most Unbreakable Records

Test Your Wayne Gretzky Knowledge With Our Quiz

Test Your Wayne Gretzky Knowledge With Our Quiz

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information