Ryan Lannon
Encyclopedia
Ryan Lannon is an American
professional ice hockey
defenseman who plays for the KalPa Kuopio of the Finnish Elite League (SM-Liiga).
in the NAHL
in the 1998–99 season. After one season Lannon left the development program and played two seasons of high school hockey in Massachusetts with Cushing Academy
Penguins.
Lannon attended Harvard University
and played collegiate hockey in the ECAC from 2001 until 2005. After his freshman season, Ryan was drafted in the eighth round, 239th overall, by the Pittsburgh Penguins
in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft
, joining fellow Harvard teammate and childhood friend, Noah Welch
as a Penguins prospect. Lannon scored 4 goals and had 34 assists for 38 points and missed only two games throughout his college career as he helped the Crimsons win the ECAC in 2002 and 2004.
As a stay-at-home defenseman, he ranked in the top three in Plus/minus in all four of his seasons with Harvard and in his senior year was named U.S Hockey Onlines "Unsung Hero", Harvards Raplh "Cooney" Weiland Award as the teams most spirited, selfless player and earned selection to the Second All-Ivy team. On August 3, 2005, Lannon was then signed, alongside Noah Welch, by the Penguins to a two-year entry level contract.
Lannon was assigned to Pittsburgh's AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
, for the entirety of his entry-level contract, helping the "Baby Pens" to the Calder Cup playoffs in each season. He then re-signed with the Penguins on a one-year deal on July 27, 2007. In the following 2007–08 season, Lannon received his first NHL recall on January 6, 2008. However after traveling with Pittsburgh for two weeks he failed to make his Penguins debut and was returned to the Baby Pens on January 20, 2008. In 75 regular season games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, he scored 3 goals and 13 points and as a leader on the Penguins defense he scored 7 points in 23 post-season games before suffering defeat in the Calder Cup
finals.
After three years with the Penguins, he signed as a free agent with the Phoenix Coyotes
on July 15, 2008, and was later assigned to the San Antonio Rampage
of the AHL. On October 16, 2008, he was recalled to the Coyotes but with two games as a healthy scratch was again unable to make his NHL debut after he was re-assigned to the Rampage on October 19. Remaining with the Rampage for the remainder of the season, Ryan compiled only 5 assists in 63 games but contributed to the San Antonio community off the ice to win the team's Man of the Year Award and nominee for the AHL's Yanick Dupre Memorial Award
.
On July 23, 2009, Lannon signed as a free agent to a one-year contract by the Minnesota Wild
. He was then assigned to AHL affiliate, the Houston Aeros
for the 2009–10 season. Shortly after appearing in his 300th career AHL game on December 15, 2009, Ryan was injured and subsequently only played in 27 games for the year, recording a goal and an assist.
Once again a free agent at season's end, Lannon was invited to the Philadelphia Flyers
training camp prior to the 2010–11 season, before he was later released on September 26, 2010. On December 4, 2010, he was signed to a professional try-out contract with the Lake Erie Monsters
of the AHL. After 7 games with the Monsters, Lannon was released and briefly joined the Worcester Sharks
before leaving for Europe to sign with Finnish
team, KalPa of the SM-liiga, on January 27, 2011.
After impressing in 15 games with KalPa, Lannon was signed to a one-year contract extension on March 16, 2011.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
defenseman who plays for the KalPa Kuopio of the Finnish Elite League (SM-Liiga).
Playing career
As a defensive-defensman, Ryan was first selected to play with the U.S. National Development Team ProgramUSA Hockey National Team Development Program
The National Team Development Program was started in 1996 by USA Hockey as a way to identify elite ice hockey players in the country under the age of 18, and centralize their training. There are two teams in the program, an Under-17 squad and an Under-18 squad. The teams are both based in Ann...
in the NAHL
North American Hockey League
The North American Hockey League is one of the top junior hockey leagues in the United States and is enterting its 36th season in 2011-12. It is currently the only Junior A Tier II league, sanctioned by USA Hockey. The NAHL currently acts as an alternative to the United States Hockey League...
in the 1998–99 season. After one season Lannon left the development program and played two seasons of high school hockey in Massachusetts with Cushing Academy
Cushing Academy
Cushing Academy is a coeducational college preparatory boarding school for grades 9 through 12 plus an optional postgraduate year located in Ashburnham, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1865 in fulfilment of a bequest by Thomas Parkman Cushing and opened in 1875, and is sometimes cited as the...
Penguins.
Lannon attended Harvard University
Harvard Crimson
The Harvard Crimson are the athletic teams of Harvard University. The school's teams compete in NCAA Division I. As of 2006, there were 41 Division I intercollegiate varsity sports teams for women and men at Harvard, more than at any other NCAA Division I college in the country...
and played collegiate hockey in the ECAC from 2001 until 2005. After his freshman season, Ryan was drafted in the eighth round, 239th overall, by the Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft
2002 NHL Entry Draft
The 2002 NHL Entry Draft was held June 22–23 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. 291 players were drafted in total: 35 from the OHL; 23 from the QMJHL; 43 from the WHL; 41 from the NCAA; 6 from U.S high schools and 110 from outside North America....
, joining fellow Harvard teammate and childhood friend, Noah Welch
Noah Welch
Noah Paul Welch is an American professional ice hockey defenseman who currently plays for HV71 in the Swedish elite league Elitserien while under contract to the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
as a Penguins prospect. Lannon scored 4 goals and had 34 assists for 38 points and missed only two games throughout his college career as he helped the Crimsons win the ECAC in 2002 and 2004.
As a stay-at-home defenseman, he ranked in the top three in Plus/minus in all four of his seasons with Harvard and in his senior year was named U.S Hockey Onlines "Unsung Hero", Harvards Raplh "Cooney" Weiland Award as the teams most spirited, selfless player and earned selection to the Second All-Ivy team. On August 3, 2005, Lannon was then signed, alongside Noah Welch, by the Penguins to a two-year entry level contract.
Lannon was assigned to Pittsburgh's AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are the American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins. They play in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza...
, for the entirety of his entry-level contract, helping the "Baby Pens" to the Calder Cup playoffs in each season. He then re-signed with the Penguins on a one-year deal on July 27, 2007. In the following 2007–08 season, Lannon received his first NHL recall on January 6, 2008. However after traveling with Pittsburgh for two weeks he failed to make his Penguins debut and was returned to the Baby Pens on January 20, 2008. In 75 regular season games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, he scored 3 goals and 13 points and as a leader on the Penguins defense he scored 7 points in 23 post-season games before suffering defeat in the Calder Cup
Calder Cup
The Calder Cup is awarded annually to the playoff champion of the American Hockey League. The trophy is the world's second oldest continuous professional ice hockey championship, having first been awarded in 1937 following the 1936-37 AHL season, and continuously being awarded every year.The cup...
finals.
After three years with the Penguins, he signed as a free agent with the Phoenix Coyotes
Phoenix Coyotes
The Phoenix Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team based in Glendale, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their home games at Jobing.com Arena....
on July 15, 2008, and was later assigned to the San Antonio Rampage
San Antonio Rampage
The San Antonio Rampage are an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League based in San Antonio, Texas. They are the top affiliate of the Florida Panthers of the NHL. Their home arena is the AT&T Center.-History:...
of the AHL. On October 16, 2008, he was recalled to the Coyotes but with two games as a healthy scratch was again unable to make his NHL debut after he was re-assigned to the Rampage on October 19. Remaining with the Rampage for the remainder of the season, Ryan compiled only 5 assists in 63 games but contributed to the San Antonio community off the ice to win the team's Man of the Year Award and nominee for the AHL's Yanick Dupre Memorial Award
Yanick Dupre Memorial Award
The Yanick Dupre Memorial Award is presented annually to the American Hockey League's man of the year for service to his local community. The award winner is chosen by the league president....
.
On July 23, 2009, Lannon signed as a free agent to a one-year contract by the Minnesota Wild
Minnesota Wild
The Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
. He was then assigned to AHL affiliate, the Houston Aeros
Houston Aeros
The Houston Aeros are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. The team plays in Houston, Texas, at the Toyota Center. They are the AHL affiliate of the NHL's Minnesota Wild.- History :...
for the 2009–10 season. Shortly after appearing in his 300th career AHL game on December 15, 2009, Ryan was injured and subsequently only played in 27 games for the year, recording a goal and an assist.
Once again a free agent at season's end, Lannon was invited to the Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
training camp prior to the 2010–11 season, before he was later released on September 26, 2010. On December 4, 2010, he was signed to a professional try-out contract with the Lake Erie Monsters
Lake Erie Monsters
The Lake Erie Monsters are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They began play in the 2007–08 AHL season at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio...
of the AHL. After 7 games with the Monsters, Lannon was released and briefly joined the Worcester Sharks
Worcester Sharks
The Worcester Sharks are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League . The franchise is located in Worcester, Massachusetts and play their home games at the DCU Center in Downtown Worcester. The Sharks and the city of Worcester hosted the 2009 AHL All-Star Classic.-History:On...
before leaving for Europe to sign with Finnish
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
team, KalPa of the SM-liiga, on January 27, 2011.
After impressing in 15 games with KalPa, Lannon was signed to a one-year contract extension on March 16, 2011.
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... |
A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... |
Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one... |
PIM Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1998–99 | U.S. National Development Team USA Hockey National Team Development Program The National Team Development Program was started in 1996 by USA Hockey as a way to identify elite ice hockey players in the country under the age of 18, and centralize their training. There are two teams in the program, an Under-17 squad and an Under-18 squad. The teams are both based in Ann... |
NAHL North American Hockey League The North American Hockey League is one of the top junior hockey leagues in the United States and is enterting its 36th season in 2011-12. It is currently the only Junior A Tier II league, sanctioned by USA Hockey. The NAHL currently acts as an alternative to the United States Hockey League... |
56 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 36 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2001–02 | Harvard University Harvard University Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country... |
ECAC | 34 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 38 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 | Harvard University | ECAC | 34 | 3 | 11 | 14 | 39 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2003–04 | Harvard University | ECAC | 35 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 36 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2004–05 | Harvard University | ECAC | 33 | 1 | 12 | 13 | 34 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2005–06 | Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are the American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins. They play in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza... |
AHL American Hockey League The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League... |
74 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 65 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | ||
| 2006–07 2006–07 AHL season The 2006–07 AHL season was the 71st season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-seven teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Hamilton Bulldogs won their first Calder Cup, defeating the defending champions, the Hershey Bears in the finals.... |
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins | AHL | 68 | 0 | 19 | 19 | 71 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 14 | ||
| 2007–08 | Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins | AHL | 75 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 29 | 23 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 2 | ||
| 2008–09 | San Antonio Rampage San Antonio Rampage The San Antonio Rampage are an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League based in San Antonio, Texas. They are the top affiliate of the Florida Panthers of the NHL. Their home arena is the AT&T Center.-History:... |
AHL | 63 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 33 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2009–10 | Houston Aeros Houston Aeros The Houston Aeros are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. The team plays in Houston, Texas, at the Toyota Center. They are the AHL affiliate of the NHL's Minnesota Wild.- History :... |
AHL | 27 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010–11 | Lake Erie Monsters Lake Erie Monsters The Lake Erie Monsters are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They began play in the 2007–08 AHL season at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio... |
AHL | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010–11 | Worcester Sharks Worcester Sharks The Worcester Sharks are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League . The franchise is located in Worcester, Massachusetts and play their home games at the DCU Center in Downtown Worcester. The Sharks and the city of Worcester hosted the 2009 AHL All-Star Classic.-History:On... |
AHL | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010–11 | KalPa KalPa The Kalevan Pallo is an ice hockey team in the SM-liiga. They play in Kuopio, Finland at the Niiralan monttu.-Team history:Established in 1929, the full name of the company that runs the representative team is KalPa Hockey Oy. The majority of the company is owned by NHL players Sami Kapanen and... |
SM-l SM-liiga The SM-liiga is the top professional ice hockey league in Finland. As of March 2008, it is ranked by the IIHF as the second strongest league in Europe. It was created in 1975 to replace the SM-sarja, which was fundamentally an amateur league. The SM-liiga is not directly overseen by the Finnish Ice... |
15 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||
| AHL totals | 317 | 6 | 45 | 51 | 222 | 45 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 24 | ||||