30

So it is true, Ryan is old! And I am soooo happy that I am still in my twenties!  I am such a cruel creature, because every year around January 29^th I get uber excited about being YOUNG, well YOUNGER than Mr. Aschaber that is!

Ryan always plays the, ‘I am cool with being old’ card, but I know that he, like many people, probably looks back and thinks, ‘at 30 I was supposed to be so much more?!’

Well my love, you have done soo much in your life already and you are still, okay I will say it, YOUNG!  

Ryan moved away from home to pursue hockey at such a young age.  He was only 16 years old when he left the Aschaber house hold leaving Mumma Aschaber in tears (a regular scene at the Aschaber house, but we would never change it for the world!) to move to Bancroft.  There he lived with a wonderful family who taught him about hunting, snowmobiling, spirituality and friendship. He, ‘minded the net’ for the Bancroft Hawks in the OPJHL for the 1998-99 year before making an even bigger move South, down the 401 to Windsor, ON where he entered his first year of OHL action.

Windsor contained much fun, which I am sure Ryan can only remember, but a few things that I can recall about his OHL career include, the Paulins, Selfer, John and Judy, the Bu (Club Malibu), Johnny Shots, Rush, Curfew call-ins, Chicken Delights, Spy’s sub shop, The barn, 1990 Dodge Shadow, St. Joe’s, Rookie parties, Rye n’ cokes, Skol... to name a few.  There are names and other things that come to mind, that make even me become a bit misty eyed.  Ryan’s OHL career remained in Windsor for his entire 4 years.  Ryan charmed the Windsor crowds with his patience in net, and continued to make tending look easy.

Ryan never flashed the leather, and always left the Windsor fans on the edge!  On more than one occasion I have witnessed Ryan calm the Barn to a complete silence.  Fans would be puzzled with Ryan’s unique saves, you could hear the speculation, did he catch it?  Because Ryan resembled the most humble goal minder style ever, the crowd would never know whether the puck crossed that ever so holy goal line.  The fans would be left in suspense until Ryan would toss the puck to the linesman.  Indicating that yes once again Ryan had what it takes to be a solid tender.  During his OHL stint, Ryan had the once in a life time opportunity to shine his skills on Bruin territory.

Ryan shared his unique saving skills at the Boston Bruin camp in 2000, and received feedback stating that his style was ‘unorthodox’.  This was only because they were not used to seeing a goaltender be so patience and not overconfident in net.  To think at this time, he was only a baby, at the age of 17 he was granted an opportunity that only goes to a select few.  After the camp he continued his OHL career ranking in many records, such as, most assist by a goalie in a single season, and continued to shine bright with receiving numerous first star game titles.  After the OHL, he continued on with his hockey career and entered into the UHL.

He shared his first year between the Columbus Stars and the Muskegon Fury.  Ryan was introduced to a new world while playing in this league, no billet families, just roommates, where many parties went down and new faces and friendships were made.  Ryan spent the rest of his UHL career in the Southern state of Richmond Virginia.  After sharing his talents with the Uhal.. Ryan moved back to Canada and began college.  

Ryan attended Sir Sanford Fleming, where he tackled the ‘career work counselling’ course with flying colours.  Ryan took his studying skills to the next level by applying to St. Francis Xavier University, Dalhousie, and Brock.  It was Danny Flinn from St. FX that welcomed him to Nova Scotia, where Ryan continued on with his hockey skills while beginning his finance undergraduate degree. 

St. FX offered living with a girlfriend for the first time, meeting many new amazing lifelong friends and practicing and learning real life skills.  Such things that will forever be remembered from X, bleeding blue and white, Ohio, homecoming games, Pipers pub, Sean Riley, X ring, Lupo, Flyner, Peck, Case, Big Bruce, Reeder, snow, Julia(the aveo), airports, Statistics, Economics, corporate finance, German, Fras Lade, I wanna win Bobby, The wheel, Lavallee, Peddle, Dr. Phil, M&M’s, this list could go on for days... so I shall stop here.

Ryan successfully earned his undergraduate degree in finance and landed a cosy job with Toronto Dominion Canada Trust bank as a financial planner.  For a year he delved into the women dominated ‘bank branch world’ where he wore green on Fridays and learned so much about customer financial needs.  After his short couple of years back in Ontario, he headed across the pond and landed in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.

England has offered so much surprise and shock to life that only your memory, I am sure, can provide for us.  Ryan has travelled to Scotland and Holland while being here and shares in the wonder of Geordie life.  He has entered into a ‘bro-mance’ with Mr. Alecks and continues to enjoy the lifestyle of never ending football games and pint drinking!

He is currently working with Barclays, England bank learning more about the financial world and moulding what he wants to do next year.  Ryan has already begun the hunt to travel back to the wonderful homeland, Canada where he will prepare to write his CFA and continue to be loving brother, son, grandson and fiancée.

I have to say Mr. Aschaber... you have done soooo much in your short time that I cannot wait to spend the rest of my life with you xoxo.