Playing career

Amateur

Stoa was drafted in the 2nd round (34th overall) in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft by the Colorado Avalanche. Prior to being drafted Ryan played high school hockey at Bloomington Kennedy High School earning All-Lake Conference Honorable Mention honors during the 2002-03 season. He was then selected to the U.S. Development Program playing in the Under 17 and 18 National Team from 2003-2005.

Stoa committed play Collegiate Hockey for the University of Minnesota in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. In 2005-06, his freshmen year, Stoa finished second to Phil Kessel in freshman scoring with 25 points for the Golden Gophers. At the start of the 2007-08 season, in his junior year, Stoa was Red-Shirted when he suffered a season ending knee-injury. In the following season, Stoa returned as the Gophers captain to lead the WCHA in scoring with 46 points in 36 games to be named the Gophers Most Valuable Player. Stoa was also selected to the WCHA First All-Star Team and named first-team All-American by the American Hockey Coaches Association, College Hockey News and Inside College Hockey. On March 27, 2009, Stoa forwent his senior year and signed a two-year entry level contract with the Colorado Avalanche.

Professional

Despite making an impression with the Avalanche in the pre-season, Stoa was assigned to the Avalanche's AHL affiliate, the Lake Erie Monsters to begin the 2009-10 season. On October 13, 2009, he scored his first professional goal with Lake Erie against the San Antonio Rampage in a 4-1 defeat. Stoa made his NHL debut with the Avalanche against the Calgary Flames on December 13, 2009. In his fifth recall to the Avalanche, Stoa scored his first NHL goal in a 5-2 defeat to the Chicago Blackhawks on April 9, 2010. Stoa finished the season scoring 40 points with the Monsters, co-leading the AHL with 23 goals among rookies.

On July 7, 2012, Stoa signed as a free agent to a one-year deal with the Washington Capitals. Assigned to AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears, for the 2012-13 season, Stoa missed two-months to injury before returning to finish with 19 points in 46 games. On April 15, 2013, Stoa was re-signed by the Capitals on a one-year extension.

For a second successive season within the Capitals organization, Stoa was assigned to the Bears to begin the 2013-14 season. In 67 games, Stoa matched his career high 40 points from his rookie campaign and was recalled by the Capitals in the latter half of the season. He made his debut with Washington, marking a return to the NHL after a two-year absence, in a 6-4 defeat to the Philadelphia Flyers on March 5, 2014. In his three-game stint with the Capital, Stoa was scoreless.

On July 15, 2014, Stoa opted to sign abroad as a free agent on a one-year deal with Russian club, Metallurg Novokuznetsk of the KHL. In his debut season, Stoa established himself amongst the forwards, contributing with 15 goals and 30 points in 60 games. He was signed to a one-year extension during the 2014-15 season on February 27, 2015.

In the following 2015-16 season, Stoa was elevated to the leadership group amongst Metallurg. Despite the club languishing in the standings, he was leading the club with 15 goals in just 33 games before he was traded to Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk for financial considerations on November 21, 2015. Following the 2015-16 season, he transferred from Nizhnekamsk to fellow KHL team HC Spartak Moscow.

International play

Medal record
Representing United States
Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
	2007 Mora
IIHF U18 Championships
	2005 České Budějovice

Apart of the U.S. development program, Stoa was named to the United States Team for the 2005 U18 World Championships. Using his imposing frame, Stoa recorded 3 assists in 6 games to help the U.S. capture Gold. Stoa was also named to the U.S. Team for the 2007 World Junior Championships in Mora, Sweden. Stoa played a checking role with the Americans, and scored 2 points in 7 games to help earn Bronze.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2003-04	U.S. National Development Team	USDP		60	19	20	39	26		7	7	1	8	2
2004-05	U.S. National Development Team	USDP		38	14	24	38	36		—	—	—	—	—
2005-06	University of Minnesota	WCHA		41	10	15	25	43		—	—	—	—	—
2006-07	University of Minnesota	WCHA		41	12	12	24	44		—	—	—	—	—
2007-08	University of Minnesota	WCHA		2	1	1	2	2		—	—	—	—	—
2008-09	University of Minnesota	WCHA		36	24	22	46	76		—	—	—	—	—
2009-10	Lake Erie Monsters	AHL		54	23	17	40	42		—	—	—	—	—
2009-10	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		12	2	1	3	0		1	0	0	0	2
2010-11	Lake Erie Monsters	AHL		48	16	17	33	55		7	1	0	1	4
2010-11	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		25	2	2	4	20		—	—	—	—	—
2011-12	Lake Erie Monsters	AHL		75	16	20	36	65		—	—	—	—	—
2012-13	Hershey Bears	AHL		46	11	8	19	43		4	1	0	1	0
2013-14	Hershey Bears	AHL		67	16	24	40	51		—	—	—	—	—
2013-14	Washington Capitals	NHL		3	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2014-15	Metallurg Novokuznetsk	KHL		60	15	15	30	40		—	—	—	—	—
2015-16	Metallurg Novokuznetsk	KHL		33	15	8	23	12		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				40	4	3	7	20		1	0	0	0	2

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2005	United States	WJC18	01 !		6	0	3	3	2
2007	United States	WJC	03 !		7	1	1	2	8
Junior totals					13	1	4	5	10

Awards and honors

Award	Year
College
WCHA First All-Star Team	2008-09
AHCA West First-Team All-American	2008-09

[ Source: Wikipedia ]