Ryan O'Connor now a Barrie Colt
Fast-skating defenceman taken sixth overall in OHL draft
Mark Newman
Published on
May 09, 2008
When Ryan O'Connor was seven years old his parents bought him a new hockey stick and helmet.
One night after Ryan had gone to bed his dad Randy looked in on him and saw his son sleeping with the helmet on and clutching the hockey stick.
"That kid is going to make it," Randy thought.
Fast-forward nine years and hundreds of games and thousands of kilometres later, all of Ryan's hard work on and off the ice has paid off.
The 16-year-old St. Jean de Brebeuf student was chosen by the Barrie Colts in the first round, sixth overall, in the May 3 Ontario Hockey League draft.
"I can't explain how I feel right now," said a beaming Ryan, minutes after he was chosen. "I really don't know what to think."
Watching the draft unfold on the Internet with about a dozen friends and family members, Ryan heard Barrie call his name around 9:30 a.m. A few minutes later came the call from Colts' head coach Marty Williamson. Not long after that Ryan and his family jumped in their vehicle and headed to Barrie to meet with Williamson and pull on a Colts' sweater in front of the local media.
"I was happier then ever when I heard my name called," said Ryan, who was tipped off by his agent Mark Guy the previous evening that he would likely be chosen sixth by Barrie.
Ryan said he got little sleep on Friday night in anticipation of the draft. He was up around 6 a.m. and spent much of the morning pacing around his south central Mountain home until his name was called.
Touted as a can't miss first round pick by many OHL scouts, Ryan spent the past six seasons with the Toronto Canadiens organization in the Greater Toronto Hockey League. Four of his teammates were also taken in the first round. Canadiens forward John McFarland was taken first overall by Sudbury.
In March, Ryan helped his minor midget AAA team win the OHL Cup final over the Toronto Marlboros. The Mountain teen was the top scorer among defencemen in the tournament with two goals and five assists.
It was Ryan's speed, puck-handling skills and his ability to jump into the offensive rush that attracted the Colts' attention.
"We feel he's an impact player," said Williamson. "We've always believed in building from the back out. It's a perfect fit for us."
Williamson also noted Ryan "hits like truck" and "has a good head on his shoulders" two important skills required to patrol the blueline in the OHL.
The OHL will be a big jump from minor hockey as Ryan can expect to find himself up against 20-year-olds and National Hockey League draft picks, but he feels ready for the challenge.
"All the guys are bigger and stronger and more mature," he said. "I'll just try to keep playing my game, it's what got me here. I think I'll be able to handle it."
Heading to the OHL also means moving away from home and billeting in Barrie.
"It's going to be different not having mom's cooking," Ryan admitted. "It should be a good experience."
After logging thousands of kilometres around minor hockey rinks in Ontario, Ryan's mom, Kelly O'Connor, said the family will soon get used to driving to Barrie and other OHL arenas.
"We're just so proud of him," she said "He's a remarkable kid."
Father Randy figures the family has travelled over 100,000 hockey miles in the past six years including trips to tournaments in Chicago and Boston with many more to come.
"I'm beside myself with what he's achieved as a hockey player," he said.
Randy also recalled the many hours his son would fire pucks at the net he set up in the basement.
"Off the rafters, off the air conditioning system, everywhere he could bang-em he shot-em."
Being chosen in the first round of the OHL draft has lead many observers to wonder if Ryan's name might pop up again in a couple of years at NHL draft time.
While pro hockey is in the back of his mind, Ryan said he's not thinking about that now, just getting ready for Barrie.
He'll continue to play four-on-four hockey at the Mohawk Four Pad Arena until the Colts rookie camp hits the ice in late August.
Other local players chosen in the OHL draft include Hamilton Reps goalie Mike Morrison in the sixth round by Kitchener, Hamilton Reps defenceman Conor McLoughlin in the ninth round by Brampton, Hamilton Junior Bulldogs forward Chadd Edwards in the 11th round by Kingston and Hamilton Reps forward Mike Christou in the 12th round by Belleville.