| 31 January 2010
Ryan Suter grew up in Madison, WI. Madison is a great place for shopping, eating and watching sports. Whats better then watching the Badgers playing pretty much anything, especially hockey? Hockey fans need to camp outside in the elements just to try to get tickets to the Badger games. Ryan Suter knows this. He spent a year playing hockey for the Badgers.
A true Wisconsinite at heart.
But with being named to the USA Olympic hockey team on New Years day, he has some big skates to fill. Ryan, his dad and uncle have all worn the number 20 on their back with the Team USA on the front. His uncle has represented the US in 1998 Nagano and 2002 Salt Lake City games. His dad? Oh yah, he won that gold in 1980 Lake Placid. Can Ryan follow in his dad's footsteps and get the gold?
Ryan is responsible in his own end. After 52 games this season, he is a +8. Over his NHL career? A +12. That is a lot of responsibleness right there. Oh and let's not forget that he can be get the points too. He has 2 goals and 21 assists in those same 52 games. In 5 NHL seasons he has 23 goals and 111 assists. Yah, the boy is multi-talented.
He also has some of those leadership qualities too. He was captain of the USA's 2005 World Junior team. He's also been named an alternate captain for the Olympics this year. He is the only one of seven Predators to be put in a leadership role. I think that means he is the best Pred in the Olmpics...
On representing his Country, Ryan has said:
"I feel it's an honor to wear the Team USA jersey and every time I'm on the ice I play my hardest and give everything I have. Playing for Team USA is on of those things you look forward to. When I got the call and was asked to play on this team, it was an easy answer. It didn't matter who was on the team or who the coach was. It's just an honor to wear the jersey and compete for your country."
Randomness:
Dad: Gary Suter - played for UW-Madison and the Nashville (talk about following in his footsteps...) Southstars of the CHL
Uncle: John Suter - also played for UW-Madison
Uncle: Gary Suter - again... played for UW Madison and in 1,145 NHL games
Ok, do the Suter's get a discount at Madison or something? I expect all future off-spring of Ryan and his wife, Becky, will go to UW-Madison....
More Randomness:
Ryan enjoys golf (what hockey player doesn't? and fishing.
He also enjoys Nashville for the country music.
He spends the off-season in Pine Island, Florida.
He owns a tractor and considers himself a wannabe farmer. Really Ryan? A tractor? Oi, you can take the boy out of Wisconsin but you can't take the Wisconsin out of the boy...
If he wasn't on the Preds, he would want to get a good , solid hit on Tootoo (would have been my choice too!). But since he is on the Preds, he would pick his friend Ryan Kesler.
Favorites:
Movie - Old School
TV Show - Sports Center
Band - Tim McGraw and the Dance Hall Doctors
Actor - Will Ferrell
Vacation Spot - Alaska
Nashville Restaurant - Stoney River Grille
Moral of the Ryan Suter story? He is definitely from Wisconsin and he totally personafies all those Midwest/Wisconsin stereotypes (tractors, country music, farmer). He also has a lot of hockey in his blood. And he can help propel Team USA to the golds this February in Vancouver.
Jenna Volden covers the Phoenix Coyotes at Hipchecks in addition to her work on Bloguin's Olympic Hockey Blog.
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