Ryan Stoa Explained

Ryan Stoa
Caption:Stoa with the Nürnberg Ice Tigers in 2021
Birth Date:13 April 1987
Birth Place:Bloomington, Minnesota, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:3
Weight Lb:200
Position:Left wing
Shoots:Left
League:DEL
Team:Nürnberg Ice Tigers
Former Teams:Colorado Avalanche
Washington Capitals
Metallurg Novokuznetsk
Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk
Spartak Moscow
Traktor Chelyabinsk
Örebro HK
HV71
Djurgårdens IF
Ntl Team:United States
Draft:34th overall
Draft Year:2005
Draft Team:Colorado Avalanche
Career Start:2009

Ryan James Stoa (born April 13, 1987) is an American professional ice hockey left wing who is currently playing under contract with the Nürnberg Ice Tigers of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL).

Playing career

Amateur

Stoa was drafted in the 2nd round (34th overall) in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft by the Colorado Avalanche. Prior to being drafted, Ryan played high school hockey at Bloomington Kennedy High School, earning All-Lake Conference Honorable Mention honors during the 2002–03 season.[1] He was then selected to the U.S. Development Program playing in the Under 17 and 18 National Team from 2003–2005.

Stoa committed to play collegiate hockey for the University of Minnesota in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. In 2005–06, his freshman year, Stoa finished second to Phil Kessel in freshman scoring with 25 points for the Golden Gophers. At the start of the 2007–08 season, in his junior year, Stoa was redshirted when he suffered a season-ending knee injury.[2] In the following season, Stoa returned as the Gophers captain to lead the WCHA in scoring with 46 points in 36 games to be named the Gophers Most Valuable Player.[3] Stoa was also selected to the WCHA First All-Star Team and named first-team All-American by the American Hockey Coaches Association, College Hockey News and Inside College Hockey.[4] On March 27, 2009, Stoa forwent his senior year and signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Colorado Avalanche.[5] [6]

Professional

Despite making an impression with the Avalanche in the pre-season,[7] Stoa was assigned to the Avalanche's AHL affiliate, the Lake Erie Monsters to begin the 2009–10 season.[8] On October 13, 2009, he scored his first professional goal with Lake Erie against the San Antonio Rampage in a 4–1 defeat.[9] Stoa made his NHL debut with the Avalanche against the Calgary Flames on December 13, 2009.[10] In his fifth recall to the Avalanche, Stoa scored his first NHL goal in a 5–2 defeat to the Chicago Blackhawks on April 9, 2010.[11] Stoa finished the season scoring 40 points with the Monsters, co-leading the AHL with 23 goals among rookies.[12]

On July 7, 2012, Stoa signed as a free agent to a one-year deal with the Washington Capitals.[13] Assigned to AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears, for the 2012–13 season, Stoa missed two-months to injury before returning to finish with 19 points in 46 games.[14] On April 15, 2013, Stoa was re-signed by the Capitals on a one-year extension.[15]

For a second successive season within the Capitals organization, Stoa was assigned to the Bears to begin the 2013–14 season. In 67 games, Stoa matched his career high 40 points from his rookie campaign and was recalled by the Capitals in the latter half of the season. He made his debut with Washington, marking a return to the NHL after a two-year absence, in a 6–4 defeat to the Philadelphia Flyers on March 5, 2014. In his three-game stint with the Capital, Stoa was scoreless.[16]

On July 15, 2014, Stoa opted to sign abroad as a free agent on a one-year deal with Russian club, Metallurg Novokuznetsk of the KHL.[17] In his debut season, Stoa established himself amongst the forwards, contributing with 15 goals and 30 points in 60 games. He was signed to a one-year extension during the 2014–15 season on February 27, 2015.[18]

In the following 2015–16 season, Stoa was elevated to the leadership group amongst Metallurg. Despite the club languishing in the standings, he was leading the club with 15 goals in just 33 games before he was traded to Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk for financial considerations on November 21, 2015.[19] Following the 2015–16 season, he transferred from Nizhnekamsk to fellow KHL team HC Spartak Moscow.[20]

Following the 2017–18 season, his second with Spartak, Stoa left as a free agent to sign a one-year contract with his fourth KHL club, Traktor Chelyabinsk on May 23, 2018.[21]

After five well travelled seasons in the KHL, Stoa left Russia as a free agent, opting to continue his career in Sweden by agreeing to a one-year contract with Örebro HK of the SHL on July 15, 2019.[22]

As a free agent heading into the start of the 2020–21 season, Stoa opted to remain in the SHL, signing with HV71 on December 2, 2020.[23] After 11 scoreless games with HV71, Stoa was released from his contract and transferred to fellow SHL club, Djurgårdens IF. He made 13 appearances, posting 3 goals and 8 points, before leaving the club following a first-round playoff exit.

On June 30, 2021, Stoa left Sweden and signed a one-year contract with German club, Nürnberg Ice Tigers of the DEL.[24]

International play

A part of the U.S. development program, Stoa was named to the United States Team for the 2005 U18 World Championships.[25] Using his imposing frame, Stoa recorded 3 assists in 6 games to help the U.S. capture Gold.[26] Stoa was also named to the U.S. Team for the 2007 World Junior Championships in Mora, Sweden.[27] Stoa played a checking role with the Americans, and scored 2 points in 7 games to help earn Bronze.[28]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
2002–03Bloomington Kennedy High SchoolHS-MN142236
2003–04U.S. NTDP U17USDP189817
2003–04U.S. NTDP U18NAHL4210122226
2004–05U.S. NTDP U18NAHL1510132320
2004–05U.S. NTDP U18USDP234111516
2005–06University of MinnesotaWCHA4110152543
2006–07University of MinnesotaWCHA4112122444
2007–08University of MinnesotaWCHA21122
2008–09University of MinnesotaWCHA3624224676
2009–10Lake Erie MonstersAHL5423174042
2009–10Colorado AvalancheNHL12213010002
2010–11Lake Erie MonstersAHL481617335571014
2010–11Colorado AvalancheNHL2522420
2011–12Lake Erie MonstersAHL7516203665
2012–13Hershey BearsAHL46118194341010
2013–14Hershey BearsAHL6716244051
2013–14Washington CapitalsNHL30000
2014–15Metallurg Novokuznetsk6015153040
2015–16Metallurg NovokuznetskKHL 331582312
2015–16Neftekhimik NizhnekamskKHL 20336820110
2016–17Spartak MoscowKHL 5722143660
2017–18Spartak MoscowKHL 531515303640000
2018–19Traktor ChelyabinskKHL 5911162730
2019–20Örebro HK5219183734
2020–21HV71SHL110004
2020–21Djurgårdens IFSHL13358430000
2021–22Nürnberg Ice TigersDEL4615183336
2022–23Nürnberg Ice TigersDEL32144181820002
2023–24Nürnberg Ice TigersDEL521713302020220
NHL totals404372010002
KHL totals282817115218660110

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2005United StatesWJC1860332
2007United StatesWJC71128
2018United StatesOG7th50000
Junior totals1314510
Senior totals50000

Awards and honors

AwardYear
College
WCHA First All-Star Team2008–09
AHCA West First-Team All-American2008–09

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ryan Stoa profile . . 2010-09-08. 2010-09-08.
  2. Web site: Stoa to miss remainder of season. gophersports.com. 2007-10-15. 2010-04-30.
  3. Web site: Stoa and Bostrom Each Collect Three Team Awards. gophersports. 2009-03-29. 2010-04-30. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090414092513/http://www.gophersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=8400. 2009-04-14.
  4. News: Schroeder selected top rookie; Stoa picked for WCHA first team. Star Tribune. 2009-03-20. 2010-04-30.
  5. News: Avalanche sign college star Stoa . . 2009-03-27 . 2010-04-30 . Adrian . Dater.
  6. News: Roster shift gives Stoa early chance . . 2009-07-11 . 2010-04-30 . Adrian . Dater.
  7. News: Rookie Stoa shines in debut with nifty goal . Denver Post . 2009-09-18 . 2010-04-30 . Mike . Chambers.
  8. News: Stoa cut . . 2009-09-21 . 2010-04-30.
  9. Web site: Monsters outshoot but don't outscore Rampage . . 2009-10-13 . 2010-04-30.
  10. Web site: Avalanche hold off Flames, take over first place in Northwest Division . . 2009-12-13 . 2010-04-30.
  11. Web site: Blackhawks win sixth straight, closer to clinching top seed in West . . 2010-04-09 . 2010-04-30.
  12. Web site: 2009-10 Lake Erie look back . . 2010-04-14 . 2010-04-30.
  13. Web site: Capitals sign Ryan Stoa . . 2012-07-07 . 2012-07-07.
  14. Web site: Hershey Bears Winger Ryan Stoa eyes return to lineup . pennlive.com . 2013-01-04 . 2013-01-04.
  15. Web site: Capitals re-sign Ryan Stoa . . 2013-04-15 . 2013-04-15.
  16. Web site: Flyers find a way to control Capitals' comeback . . 2014-03-05 . 2014-03-05.
  17. Web site: July 15 transfer news . . Russian . 2014-07-15 . 2014-07-15.
  18. Web site: Metallurg re-sign American Ryan Stoa . . 2015-02-27 . 2015-02-27.
  19. Web site: Forward Ryan Stoa will play for Nizhnekamsk . championat.com . 2015-11-21 . 2015-11-21 . Russian.
  20. Web site: Хоккейный клуб "Спартак" Москва. https://web.archive.org/web/20160808052521/http://www.spartak.ru/press/news/item25843/. dead. 2016-08-08. www.spartak.ru. 2016-05-11. 2016-05-10.
  21. Web site: American Ryan Stoa joins Traktor . . 2018-05-23 . 2018-08-12 . Russian.
  22. Web site: . American center signs for Orebro HK . July 15, 2019 . July 15, 2019 . Swedish.
  23. Web site: December 2, 2020. Ryan Stoa förstärker HV71. January 19, 2021. HV71. Swedish.
  24. Web site: . Center Ryan Stoa arrives to Ice Tigers . June 30, 2021 . July 1, 2021 . German.
  25. Web site: Team USA roster. . 2005-03-20 . 2010-04-11.
  26. Web site: U.S. beats Canada; Win U18 Championship . . 2005-04-24 . 2010-04-11.
  27. Web site: 2007 U.S. National Junior Team Roster Named . WCHA. 2006-12-06 . 2010-04-30.
  28. Web site: USA Beats Sweden To Earn Bronze At World Junior Championship. WCHA. 2007-01-05 . 2010-04-30.