IceDogs lock up speedy forward
The Niagara IceDogs have added Ryan Struthers to the fold, signing the forward to a standard player agreement.
Struthers, who was selected by the IceDogs with the 82nd overall pick in the 2020 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection, played the 2019-20 season with the Ontario Minor Hockey Association’s (OMHA) Oakville Rangers U16 AAA. He played one game with the Rangers U18 AAA and the Ontario Junior Hockey League’s (OJHL) Oakville Blades this past season.
In 29 games played, the Milton native scored 13 goals and collected 17 assists. He helped the Rangers finish third in the OMHA playoffs, and was preparing for a wildcard game to secure a spot in the 2020 OHL CUP when the season came to a close due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Struthers, whose speed and creativity are his greatest assets, is the younger brother of Matthew Struthers, who recently concluded a five-year Ontario Hockey League career split between the Owen Sound Attack and North Bay Battalion.
“This is another exciting addition for us,” IceDogs general manager Joey Burke said. “Ryan does everything at a fast pace and is one of the better skaters from this April’s draft. He just adds to our already great (2004) depth. We were shocked and thrilled to get him in the fifth round.”
Struthers is looking forward to beginning his OHL career.
“I couldn’t be more excited to sign with such a storied organization,” he said. “I’ve worked hard to get to this point but this is just the beginning. The real hard work starts now. Over the last couple of years, watching my brother play at the Meridian Centre, including a playoff series, the fans and atmosphere are like no other. I can’t wait to get going and play in front of the best fans in the OHL.”
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