Ryan Stoa Player Profile
Despite an early-season demotion to Lake Erie (AHL) and a shoulder injury at Dallas, the Avalanche expect great things from young Master Stoa in coming seasons.
Position: Center
Shoots: Left
Drafted: 2005 NHL Entry Draft, 34th Overall
Vital Stats: 6’ 3”, 213 lbs, born April 13th, 1987
The Colorado Avalanche made Ryan Stoa their third rookie Center call-up of the ’09-’10 season in December, but Stoa’s first year has not panned out as nicely as that of fellow rooks Ryan O’Reilly & Matt Duchene. He was demoted back to the AHL, returned to the NHL, and then succumbed to a shoulder injury January 29th at Dallas that placed him on injured reserve indefinitely.
Stoa was back in Lake Erie with Colorado’s AHL affiliate Monsters a week after his first call-up, but returned in January due to injuries in the Avalanche lineup. He has played well enough in his time in the NHL this season, but his success in the AHL and NCAA suggest that Ryan is due for a breakout season in coming years.
Ryan Stoa spent three full seasons with the University of Minnesota after being drafted by the Avalanche in 2005. A fourth year (’07-’08) was cut short by injury after two games. After Ryan’s final season in 2009, he was named a First-Team All American by the American Hockey Coaches Association, College Hockey News and Inside College Hockey. That season, Stoa rounded out what had been above-average offensive numbers with solid defensive play, and was named the Captain of his Minnesota Gophers.
In his 41 games with Lake Erie during their ’09-’10 campaign, Ryan logged 18 goals. At the time he was recalled to the Avalanche, Stoa led the Monsters in that category. Unfortunately, his success in the minors never translated to success in the majors, and Stoa has yet to score his first NHL goal. He did record an assist for his first NHL point on January 22nd against Nashville in Denver.
Ryan Stoa also played considerable time with the US National Under-18 Team from 2003-2005. He scored 10 goals in 42 games his first year with the team, and then exploded for 10 goals in just 15 games played (plus 13 assists) in his second season.
Expect to hear see name ‘Stoa’ in Avalanche box scores next season, as Ryan should be ready to join O’Reilly & Duchene in forming a trifecta of young Avalanche Centers.
