Ryan Knox was born in Orillia, ON, July 11th, 1979 to Rob and Cathy Knox. He has a younger sister Amanda.
Ryan’s love for hockey started as a toddler. He was given his first hockey stick soon after he was born and it never left his hands. His hockey obsession started with shooting and stickhandling in the family’s living room. His parents first got him on the ice at the age of two and a half. At four years old he was enrolled in the CanSkate program in Oakville and started organized hockey the following year.
When Ryan was six years old, the Knox family moved to Parry Sound where his parents enrolled him at William Beatty School and in the Parry Sound Hockey Club. He started in the house league until he was old enough to play for the Novice Rep team. Starting as a forward, Ryan had good offensive skills but was moved to defense and excelled as an offensive defenseman.
The Parry Sound Hockey Club gave Ryan the opportunity to play on successful teams with talented teammates. His Atom team reached the All-Ontario finals. As a minor Bantam, Ryan was added to the Midget team for the playoffs where the team reached the All-Ontario finals. In his major Bantam year, Ryan played on both the Bantam and Midget teams, winning an All Ontario Championship with the Midget squad.
Ryan’s love of sports extends beyond hockey. He had a great group of athletic, competitive friends that shared his interests. He played basketball and soccer in high school but his favourite sports were hockey and baseball. He played baseball every summer in the local league and on traveling teams, coached by Rick Thomas. He was on the 1994 midget team that won the Ontario Baseball Association All-Ontario Championship. At the end of that successful season, along with two of his teammates Ryan was selected to the York Simcoe select team that competed against other top players in the province.
The following hockey season Ryan played in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL) for the Parry Sound Jr. A Shamrocks led by coach Barry “Hawk” Tabobondung. As a rookie, he earned a spot in the NOJHL All Star game and was named the Shamrock’s Rookie of the Year, leading the team in defenceman scoring. That spring he was selected by the Erie Otters in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) draft. After giving it much consideration Ryan and his family decided he was going to pursue a US college hockey scholarship and not move on to the OHL.
Ryan then was recruited by coach Lindsay Hofford to play for the Bramalea Blues in the Provincial Junior A Hockey League (PJHL). He had a successful season as one of the team’s leading scorers and was named a PJHL All-Star. He also earned the Blues’ Top Defenceman award and was a runner-up for the league’s Top Defenceman. Ryan was recruited by over a dozen US college hockey teams and accepted a full scholarship from Lake Superior State University (LSSU).
At LSSU, he played for coaches Scott Borek and Paul Jerrard. In his first season, Ryan played in 35 out of the team’s 36 games, leading the team in freshman scoring. The Lakers won the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) Tournament but were eliminated in the first round of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) playoffs. He earned the team’s Outstanding Freshman award. In his sophomore season, he led the team in defenceman scoring and was named the team’s Most Valuable Defenceman. As a junior, he served as an assistant team captain, ranked second in team scoring, and was voted Most Valuable Defenceman. In his senior season, Ryan was named captain of the Lakers. Though hampered by injury, he led the team in defenseman scoring and earned multiple team and school honors.
He was named to the all-tournament team at the Mariucci Classic, awarded the team’s Most Valuable Defenceman, the Ken Shouldice MVP Award and the Ronald ‘Bud’ Cooper Coaches Award (awarded annually to a male athlete, who has displayed outstanding qualities of citizenship, leadership, active campus participation, and contributed significantly to the athletic program). Ryan finished his senior year at LSSU graduating with a degree in Finance & Economics.
After his college career, Ryan attended training camp with the Ottawa Senators. Performing well at camp, he was assigned to the Senators farm team, the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League (AHL). His first professional season he played with the Griffins and the Mobile Mysticks of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL). He started the season with the Mysticks and was called-up to the Griffins early into the season. His first game with the Griffins (his first in the AHL) he scored a goal and added two assists. That season he earned a spot in the ECHL All-Star game and the Mysticks’ Outstanding Defenceman award.
In his second professional season, Ryan attended training camp with the Colorado Avalanche before starting the season with the Pee Dee Pride of the ECHL. He played for two AHL teams that season, the Cleveland Barons and the Grand Rapids Griffins.
For his third pro season, Ryan signed again with the Pride of the ECHL. Unfortunately, his season was cut short due to injury after taking a shot to his face that required reconstructive surgery. Unable to play, he dedicated his time to the community and earned the team’s community service award.
He was considering retirement from hockey after the injury but received several contract offers from teams in Europe. He signed with the Halmstad Hammers in the Swedish Allsvenskan league. He was sidelined for part of the season with a broken hand but made it back for the team’s strong playoff run.
After the season, he again received multiple contract offers from teams in Europe. Looking for a new experience, he signed a contract with the Val Pusteria Wolves in the Italian Serie A League where he led the team in defenceman scoring.
After that season, Ryan decided to retire from professional hockey. He settled in the Grand Rapids, Michigan area where he met his wife, Christine. He transitioned from hockey to a successful sales career, primarily in the marine industry. He has coached minor hockey teams and high school hockey in the area. He continues to get on the ice to play pick-up hockey in the winters and enjoys golf and outdoor activities in the summers.
Ryan credits his development and success in minor hockey to the excellent coaches and talented teammates, including Bobby Orr Hall of Fame inductees Chris Stanley and Chris Lee. His coaches included his father, Rob Knox and many Bobby Orr HOF inductees: Rick Thomas, Butch Rochon, Dave Chalk, Dave Burrows, Floyd Thompson and Barry “Hawk” Tabobondung. Ryan is grateful to them along with those who volunteered their time to the Parry Sound Hockey Club. He has fond memories of Alex Eagar and Frosty Hannon always supporting minor hockey at the Bobby Orr Community Centre, Bob Beaumont as an Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA) Executive, and Dave Garagan as an OMHA referee.
Always proud of his Parry Sound roots, Ryan Knox is very honored to receive induction into the Bobby Orr Hall of Fame. He is thankful to his family, friends, and everyone who provided support along the way.
