Ryan Walter

Ryan William Walter (born April 23, 1958 in New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada) is a former professional centre who played fifteen seasons in the National Hockey League.

Walter was drafted 2nd overall by the Washington Capitals in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft. He was the captain of the Capitals before he was traded to the Montreal Canadiens in a blockbuster trade in 1982. He went to Montreal along with Rick Green in exchange for Doug Jarvis, Rod Langway, Craig Laughlin and Brian Engblom. He won a Stanley Cup with the Canadiens in 1986, though was injured for most of the playoffs. In the 1989 Stanley Cup Finals, he scored in the second overtime period of game three to give the Canadiens a 2–1 series lead. However, the Calgary Flames came back to win the series and the Cup. In 1991 he signed as a free agent with the Vancouver Canucks, where he played the final two seasons of his career and won the Bud Light NHL Man of the Year award. He was known as a tough, hard-working player who was excellent in the face-off circle.

From 1993–94 until 1997–98, he worked for The Sports Network (TSN) as the network's secondary hockey colour commentator. In this role, he worked on NHL, CHL, and IIHF broadcasts. He worked five Memorial Cups, one World Junior Hockey Championship, and four World Hockey Championships. From 1996–97 until 2001–02, he was the colour commentator on Vancouver Canucks television broadcasts on BCTV, Rogers Sportsnet and VTV. He also occasionally filled in on radio when Tom Larscheid had football duties.

On June 17th, 2008, Walter was named an assistant coach to Alain Vigneault of the Vancouver Canucks. He was let go in 2010.

On September 14, 2010, Walter was named as the head coach of the Canadian national women's hockey team for the 2010 4 Nations Cup tournament in November.

His son, Ben Walter, was Boston Bruins' 5th round choice (160th overall) in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft and played his first NHL game versus the Los Angeles Kings on January 12th, 2006. He was traded to the New York Islanders in September, 2007. His son Joey spent 2006–07 and 2007-08 with the Langley Chiefs of the BCHL, and other son, Ryan Jr., played for the TWU Titans in 2006-07 and 2007-08.