Alberta, Ryan win championship

The college freshman experience doesn’t normally include a national championship, but, then again, Derek Ryan was never labeled as typical.

Ryan, one of few Spokane natives to wear a Spokane Chiefs jersey during a successful Western Hockey League career, is fresh off winning the Canadian national title with the University of Alberta Golden Bears, whose 29-man roster included 24 Western Hockey League graduates.

The University Cup victory – which the Golden Bears captured Sunday in a 3-2 victory in Moncton, New Brunswick, over the defending champion University of Brunswick Varsity Reds – marked the University of Alberta’s 13th national title. Ex-Chiefs Chad Klassen and Tim Krymusa were also on the team. Ryan, who led the Chiefs in scoring last season with 59 points in 72 games, called the experience indescribable.

“Everyone who comes to the University of Alberta comes to win, and what we did feels amazing – words can’t describe it,” said Ryan, who graduated from Shadle Park.

The Golden Bears, who came out of a three-way tie in Pool B to advance to the gold-medal game, have won the University Cup in each of their last three tourney appearances. They were returning to the tournament after a one-year absence following back-to-back championships at home at Edmonton in 2005 and 2006.

“It’s huge,” said Ryan when asked how big of a deal winning the University Cup is in Canada. “The game was broadcast nationally on TV, and you really don’t realize just how big it is until you check your phone after the game and you’ve got 12 text messages and 12 new voicemails with people letting you know they saw it.

“Then when we got back (to Edmonton) there was media waiting at the airport, and you see the headlines in the newspapers – it was pretty big.”

Besides staying busy with labs and hockey in his freshman year, Ryan also found time to keep tabs on his former teammates.

“I talk to a few of the guys on Facebook and we send text messages,” said Ryan. “I couldn’t be happier for them. When I was there we wanted to win so bad, and we just didn’t have the kind of team they do now – it’s really awesome to see. I hope they can keep it going against Everett because (the Silvertips) beat us twice (while I played in Spokane) and a little revenge is always nice.

“Hopefully, they can get to the Western Conference final with Tri-City and I’ll come down and watch.”

– Jessica Brown