We use cookies to personalize content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyze our traffic, as described in our Privacy Policy.
SMAAAHL: Ex-SMAAAHL Seahawks Punter Jon Ryan And TE Luke Willson Talk Puck*
- Submitted by

With the NHL season officially underway as of this past Wednesday, we thought it would be nice to chat with the Seahawks' own pair of hockey aficionados - Jon Ryan and Luke Willson - to get their take on the upcoming season.

As it turns out, it wasn't as bright of an idea as we would have hoped. The Seahawks veteran punter and second-year tight end, both natives of Canada who spent their childhoods playing and following the sport, admitted they don't keep tabs on the league like they once did.

"After going to school in Texas for five years and spending the past year-and-a-half in Washington, it sounds bad, but I don't follow it as closely as I used to," said the La Salle, Ontario native Willson, who played left-winger through his senior year of high school and saw action in the Midget AAA League before playing collegiate football at Rice. 

Willson did say he's a fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs, who missed the playoffs a season ago. 

"They're an Original Six team," Willson said, referring to Toronto's place among the Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, and New York Rangers as the group that made up the NHL for 25 seasons (1943-67). "I grew up about four hours from there and my dad liked to root for them, too."

Ryan can relate with Willson's take on today's NHL. The Regina, Sask. native and former Midget AAA League goalie noted he's also a fan of the Maple Leafs, but struggled when asked to offer up a prediction for the NHL’s 2014 campaign. 

"It's hard to follow in the U.S.," Ryan said. "In Canada, the first 15 minutes of every SportsCenter were dedicated to hockey, so it was a little easier. I went to the Stanley Cup final with my girlfriend last year and the L.A. Kings looked pretty good, but I have no idea what to expect this year."

We'll give Ryan and Willson a pass on their lack of NHL predictions. But Ryan did offer up one more nugget worth sharing, crediting his goalkeeping background on the ice to aiding his outlook on the football field.

"They’re similar,” Ryan said. "They’re both high-pressure positions. As a goalie, you're kind of on your own back there most of the time, and the same thing goes for being a punter. It's the same mentality."


Recent Headlines
(4/9/2018) Humboldt Broncos: Fans Pay Tribute To Crash Victims With Moving Tribute
(1/26/2018) SMAAAHL: Mintos' Long Undefeated Streak Ends On Thursday Vs Trojans*
(1/9/2018) HEO: The Cornwall Connection*
(1/8/2018) NBPEIMML: Flyers End Wild Winning Streak*
(1/8/2018) SMAAAHL: WHL Blazers Trade For Tisdale's Kalen Ukrainetz*
(12/18/2017) SMAAAHL: Hockey Day In Saskatchewan Set For Balcarres*
(12/13/2017) SMAAAHL: Pat Candians Dureau Recalled By WHL Portland Winterhawks*
(12/11/2017) BCMML: Goal-Scoring Record Is Within Reach For Valley West Hawks*
(12/8/2017) SMAAAHL: Contacts Alum Kole Lind Named To World Junior Selection Camp*
(12/7/2017) GNML: Sudbury, Nickel City Vote To Form Single AAA Association*
Go To Archives
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
MORE VIDEOS »
NATIONAL TEAM AND PLAYERS OF THE MONTH


NATIONAL COMMUNITY SPONSOR PARTNERS - Check them out!






MORE NEWS
April 9, 2018
Humboldt Broncos: Fans Pay Tribute To Crash Victims With Moving Tribute
January 26, 2018
SMAAAHL: Mintos' Long Undefeated Streak Ends On Thursday Vs Trojans*
January 9, 2018
HEO: The Cornwall Connection*
January 8, 2018
NBPEIMML: Flyers End Wild Winning Streak*
January 8, 2018
SMAAAHL: WHL Blazers Trade For Tisdale's Kalen Ukrainetz*
FEATURES

NHL Sr. Vice President Jim Gregory
MidgetAAACanada.com Supporter and Friend
@ 2008 MidgetAAACanada.com Cup


FEATURED TOURNAMENTS



 

JOIN THE CONVERSATION
COOL STUFF



 


 


PROUD SPONSORS




 




 



© 2024, MIDGET AAA CANADA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Design, Hosting, Online Registration & Administration Tools By:

esportsdesk.com

Admin Login