Playing career

Van Ryn developed his hockey skills in the Byron Minor Hockey Association. He also has a collegiate hockey experience with the University of Michigan of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association, before joining the Sarnia Sting of the Ontario Hockey League in 1999.

Van Ryn was drafted in the 1st round, 26th overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft. In June 2000, through a loophole, Van Ryn signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Blues. NHL teams retain the rights of drafted college players until they leave the school. Van Ryn challenged this practice in court and an arbitrator ruled that a player drafted off a college team could play one season of major junior hockey and then become a free agent. Thus after two years at the University of Michigan, Van Ryn went on to play one year for Sarnia Sting, and then became a free agent, which allowed him to sign a three-year deal with St. Louis.

Van Ryn made his NHL debut for the St. Louis Blues in Phoenix against the Coyotes on October 5, 2000. On January 23, 2002, Van Ryn scored the first of his 30 NHL career goals against Martin Biron and the Buffalo Sabres in a 5-2 Blues victory

In March 2003, Van Ryn was traded to the Florida Panthers for Valeri Bure and a conditional draft selection in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. Van Ryn was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs on September 2, 2008 for Bryan McCabe and a fourth round draft pick in 2010 (Sam Brittain). Van Ryn's time with the Maple Leafs was plagued with injuries and on October 22, 2009, Van Ryn underwent an osteotomy on his left knee. The surgery was a success in that it allowed Van Ryn to continue his day-to-day life. The Maple Leafs announced on June 30, 2010 that Van Ryn would not be playing in the 2010-11 season. After this announcement, Van Ryn made the decision to transition into coaching as an assistant for the Niagara IceDogs of the Ontario Hockey League when he felt he could not make it back to NHL playing shape.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1997-98	University of Michigan	CCHA		38	4	14	18	44		—	—	—	—	—
1998-99	University of Michigan	CCHA		37	10	13	23	52		—	—	—	—	—
1999-00	Sarnia Sting	OHL		61	6	35	41	34		7	0	5	5	4
2000-01	Worcester IceCats	AHL		37	3	10	13	12		7	1	1	2	2
2000-01	St. Louis Blues	NHL		1	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2001-02	Worcester IceCats	AHL		24	2	7	9	17		—	—	—	—	—
2001-02	St. Louis Blues	NHL		48	2	8	10	18		9	0	0	0	0
2002-03	St. Louis Blues	NHL		20	0	3	3	8		—	—	—	—	—
2002-03	Worcester IceCats	AHL		33	2	8	10	16		—	—	—	—	—
2002-03	San Antonio Rampage	AHL		11	0	3	3	20		3	0	0	0	0
2003-04	Florida Panthers	NHL		79	13	24	37	52		—	—	—	—	—
2005-06	Florida Panthers	NHL		80	8	29	37	90		—	—	—	—	—
2006-07	Florida Panthers	NHL		78	4	25	29	64		—	—	—	—	—
2007-08	Florida Panthers	NHL		20	0	2	2	14		—	—	—	—	—
2008-09	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		27	3	8	11	14		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				353	30	99	129	260		9	0	0	0	0

Mike Van Ryn

Medal record
Representing Canada
Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
	1999 Winnipeg

International

Year	Team	Event	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1998	Canada	WJC	7	0	0	0	4
1999	Canada	WJC	7	0	1	1	4
Junior int'l totals			14	0	1	1	4

Awards and honours

Award	Year
All-CCHA Rookie Team	1997-98
CCHA All-Tournament Team	1999

[ Source: Wikipedia ]