Ryerson Leenders
{{Short description|Canadian ice hockey player (born 2006)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox ice hockey biography
| name = Ryerson Leenders
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2006|6|1}}
| birth_place = Nanticoke, Ontario, Canada
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| weight_lb = 179
| position = Goaltender
| catches = Left
| league = OHL
| team = Brantford Bulldogs
| draft = 219th overall
| draft_year = 2024
| draft_team = Buffalo Sabres
}}
Ryerson Leenders (born June 1, 2006) is a Canadian junior ice hockey goaltender for the Brantford Bulldogs of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). He was selected 219th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2024 NHL entry draft.
Playing career
Leenders was selected in the second round, 32nd overall, in the 2022 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) priority draft by the Mississauga Steelheads.{{cite web |title=Ryerson Leenders |url=https://www.gojhl.ca/stats/player/17735/75/ryerson-leenders |website=gojhl.ca |publisher=Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League |access-date=January 16, 2024}} He made his OHL debut in the 2022–23 season, posting his first win on October 16, 2022, against the Sarnia Sting. In that year's playoffs, he established himself as their starting goalie, but he and the Steelheads were eliminated in game 6 of the first round against the North Bay Battalion.{{cite web |last1=Freitas |first1=Mark |title=Ryerson Leenders is showing why he is a Top Prospect |url=https://firedupnetwork.ca/Features/Hockey/Ryerson-Leenders-is-showing-why-he-is-a-Top-Prospect- |website=firedupnetwork.ca |publisher=Fired Up |access-date=January 16, 2024 |date=January 11, 2024}}{{cite web |title=Three Takeaways From North Bay's Series Victory Over Mississauga |url=https://13thmansports.ca/2023/04/10/three-takeaways-from-north-bays-series-victory-over-mississauga/ |website=13thmansports.ca |date=April 10, 2023 |publisher=13th Man Sports |access-date=January 16, 2024}}
In the 2023–24 season, Leenders recorded his first career shutout, against the Erie Otters on September 29, 2023.{{cite web |last1=Wood |first1=Joelle |title=Steelheads' Ryerson Leenders named OHL Goaltender of the Week |url=https://chl.ca/ohl/video/steelheads-ryerson-leenders-named-ohl-goaltender-of-the-week/ |website=chl.ca |publisher=Ontario Hockey League |access-date=April 11, 2024 |date=October 2, 2023}} He was later chosen as a top draft-eligible prospect to attend the 2024 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game, where he made 19 saves on 20 shots.{{cite web |last1=Reimer |first1=Dayton |title=Ryerson Leenders – 2024 NHL Draft Prospect Profile |url=https://thehockeywriters.com/ryerson-leenders-2024-nhl-draft-prospect-profile/ |website=The Hockey Writers |access-date=June 18, 2024 |date=June 12, 2024}} After finishing the season with 24 wins, a .909 save percentage, and three shutouts, Leenders was injured early the playoffs, playing only two games in a first round exit at the hands of the Sudbury Wolves.{{cite web |last1=Stockl |first1=Joely |title=Jack Ivankovic Performing in Relief for Mississauga Steelheads; Earns First Career OHL Playoff Win |url=https://thehockeynews.com/ohl/players/jack-ivankovic-performing-in-relief-for-mississauga-steelheads-earns-first-career-ohl-playoff-win |website=thehockeynews.com |publisher=The Hockey News |access-date=April 11, 2024 |date=April 2, 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Sweetland |first1=Josh |title=Series HQ: Mississauga vs. Sudbury |url=https://chl.ca/ohl/article/series-hq-mississauga-vs-sudbury/ |website=chl.ca |publisher=Ontario Hockey League |access-date=April 11, 2024 |date=April 5, 2024}} Entering the 2024 NHL entry draft, his positioning, reflexes, and movement, as well as his success on a team with a struggling defence group, were among the qualities that led some scouts to project him as a first-round pick.{{cite web |last1=Kelly |first1=Lauren |title=OHL Stock Watch: Luke Misa lighting the scoresheet on fire for Mississauga |url=https://eprinkside.com/2023/11/02/ohl-stock-watch-luke-misa-lighting-the-scoresheet-on-fire-for-mississauga |website=eprinkside.com |publisher=Elite Prospects |access-date=January 16, 2024 |date=November 2, 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Green |first1=Lance |title=Prospect Watch: Critiquing the top-rated goalies of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft |url=https://steelflyers.com/prospect-watch-critiquing-the-top-rated-goalies-of-the-2024-nhl-entry-draft/ |website=steelflyers.com |date=November 7, 2023 |publisher=Steel Flyers |access-date=January 16, 2024}} He would be selected in the seventh round, 219th overall by the Buffalo Sabres, their final pick of the draft.{{cite news |last1=Lysowski |first1=Lance |title=Sabres use their final pick of 2024 draft on goalie Ryerson Leenders |url=https://buffalonews.com/sports/professional/nhl/sabres/sabres-use-their-final-pick-of-2024-draft-on-goalie-ryerson-leenders/article_f93c87e4-364a-11ef-937d-03d2ef48fd1c.html |access-date=July 1, 2024 |work=Buffalo News |date=June 29, 2024 |language=en}}
On August 29, 2024, Leenders was traded from the Steelheads to the Brantford Bulldogs in exchange for eight draft picks, including three in the second round.{{cite news |last1=Duthie |first1=Reed |title=Bulldogs acquire Ryerson Leenders From Steelheads |url=https://chl.ca/ohl-bulldogs/article/bulldogs-acquire-ryerson-leenders-from-steelheads/ |website=chl.ca |publisher=Ontario Hockey League |access-date=August 29, 2024 |date=August 29, 2024 |language=en}}
International play
{{MedalTableTop|name=no}}
{{MedalCountry|{{ih18|CAN}}}}
{{MedalSport|Men's ice hockey}}
{{MedalCompetition|World U18 Championships}}
{{MedalGold|2024 Finland|}}
{{MedalCompetition|Hlinka Gretzky Cup}}
{{MedalGold|2023 Czechia/Slovakia|}}
{{MedalBottom}}
Leenders played for Team Canada Black at the 2022 World U-17 Hockey Challenge.{{cite web |title=Karmiris and Leenders to represent Canada to 2022 World Under 17 Hockey Challenge |url=https://www.gtaweekly.ca/karmiris-and-leenders-to-represent-canada-at-2022-world-under-17-hockey-challenge/ |website=gtaweekly.ca |publisher=GTA Weekly |access-date=January 16, 2024 |date=October 18, 2022}}
At the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, Leenders won gold with Team Canada, but as their third string goaltender he did not see any ice time.{{cite web |last1=Colpitts |first1=Iain |title=Mississauga Steelheads duo win gold with Canada at Hlinka Gretzky Cup |url=https://www.mississauga.com/sports/local/mississauga-steelheads-duo-win-gold-with-canada-at-hlinka-gretzky-cup/article_b9fcf395-e6fc-5e3a-b72c-a27468e00edd.html |website=mississauga.com |access-date=January 16, 2024 |date=August 8, 2023}}
Leenders represented Canada at the 2024 IIHF World U18 Championships.{{cite web |title=MacDougall praises Leenders' performance: 'Outstanding goaltending' |url=https://www.tsn.ca/hockey-canada/video/macdougall-praises-leenders-performance-outstanding-goaltending~2912206 |website=tsn.ca |publisher=The Sports Network |access-date=May 10, 2024}} In his lone start at the event, a 7–1 victory over Switzerland, he made 25 saves on 26 shots.
Career statistics
= Regular season and playoffs =
| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:75%; text-align:center;" | |||||||||||||||
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! colspan="9" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | Regular season ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! colspan="8" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | Playoffs | |||||||||||||||
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! Season ! Team ! League ! GP !! W !! L !! T/OT !! MIN !! GA !! SO !! GAA !! SV% ! GP !! W !! L !! MIN !! GA !! SO !! GAA !! SV% | |||||||||||||||
| 2022–23
| OHL | 35 | 12 | 15 | 3 | 1,877 | 109 | 0 | 3.48 | .879
| 6 | 2 | 4 | 337 | 22 | 0 | 3.92 | .861 |
| bgcolor="f0f0f0"
| 2023–24 | Mississauga Steelheads | OHL | 46 | 24 | 17 | 4 | 2,672 | 139 | 3 | 3.12 | .909
| 2 | 0 | 1 | 88 | 3 | 0 | 2.07 | .933 |
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" | OHL totals ! 81 !! 36 !! 32 !! 7 !! 4,550 !! 248 !! 3 !! 3.27 !! .898 ! 8 !! 2 !! 5 !! 424 !! 25 !! 0 !! 3.54 !! .877 |
=International=
| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:75%; text-align:center;" | ||||||||
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! Year ! Team ! Event ! Result ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! GP !! W !! L !! T !! MIN !! GA !! SO !! GAA !! SV% | ||||||||
| 2022
| Canada Black | U17 | 4th | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 172 | 15 | 0 | 5.23 | .847 |
| bgcolor="f0f0f0"
| 2024 | Canada | U18 | {{gold1}} | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 1 | 0 | 1.00 | .963 |
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="4" | Junior totals ! 4 !! 1 !! 3 !! 0 !! 232 !! 16 !! 0 !! !! |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Ice hockey stats|elite=597709|hockeydb=262589}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Leenders, Ryerson}}
Category:21st-century Canadian sportsmen
Category:Brantford Bulldogs players
Category:Buffalo Sabres draft picks
Category:Canadian ice hockey goaltenders