Panthers Sign Van Ryn

**RichardGraham** · 08-20-2003, 02:23 PM

The Florida Panthers re-signed Mike Van Ryn, a free-agent defenseman -- and former inline hockey player -- on August 19.

Van Ryn was acquired in March from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for right wing Valeri Bure. Van Ryn had three assists in 20 games with the Blues last season. He added 11 assists and two goals in two separate AHL stints last year.

Sincerely,

Richard Graham
Editor
Inline Hockey Central

**ggriffaw** · 08-23-2003, 08:50 PM

Where/when did Van Ryn play roller hockey?

**SpeedDemon** · 08-24-2003, 03:40 AM

I could be mistaken, but I believe he played NARCh a number of years back with a Canadian Mission sponsored team..... don't remember the name. Maybe it was the Mission Canadiens.....

Again, just off the top of my head, I could be completely wrong.

**icehog** · 11-07-2003, 10:07 PM

I saw Van Ryn play in Worcester for a while. He was pretty good, hated to see him go.

Dave
www.EMRHL.com

Please check out www.HockeyTournaments.com
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**johnny2suede** · 11-09-2003, 12:04 AM

Van Ryn played a few years at NARCh for Team Rival out of Detroit. He played junior and D1 I believe. He also played a few years ago for Team Canada in the IIHA World Championships. He played major junior at Sarnia. He was a good inline player but far from a standout. Played defense but was over shadowed by a lot of other flashier players on Team Rival like Ernie Hartlieb and others whose names I can't remember.

**RichardGraham** · 11-09-2003, 02:57 AM

Defenseman are usually overshadowed by forwards. It's the nature of the game.

Sincerely,

Richard Graham
Editor
Inline Hockey Central

**johnny2suede** · 11-09-2003, 03:04 AM

The overshadow thing is true in ice but in inline not so. The 4 skaters are pretty interchangeable.

Ernie Harleib is a defensemen.

**RichardGraham** · 11-09-2003, 08:46 PM

Hi,

I don't take anything away from Ernie. I've met him and like him. But Mike Van Ryn has more than proved himself. [img]/wtimages/icons/wink.gif[/img]

Sincerely,

Richard Graham
Editor
Inline Hockey Central

**John_S_Osborne** · 11-10-2003, 09:19 AM

Question.. how do you pronounce his name?

The Florida Panthers announce crew is using Van Rhine, like the river in Germany. But, when he was with the Blues, they used Van Rin, like as in Rin Tin Tin. I find this happens frequently in hockey, for example, the seemingly weekly changes to Jose Theodore's pronounciation, and Patrick Roy's early in his career.

- john

**Falcons77** · 11-11-2003, 08:16 AM

How about GREAT an inline player made the NHL and is getting PAID to play hockey. Just more proof that inline is growing.

**AndrewT** · 11-11-2003, 09:14 PM

VanRyn played college ice hockey for the University of Michigan as well.

**tcmc8** · 11-13-2003, 10:09 PM

Mike started out playing for the Sarnia Roadrunners in Narch. Then the team changed their name to the Mission Junior Canadians. Mike played forward for inline hockey, not defence like he does on the ice.