Ryan Oulahen

Ryan Oulahen (born March 26, 1985) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and current head coach for the North Bay Battalion of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). Oulahen was drafted in the fifth round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by the Detroit Red Wings. He previously served as the head coach of the Flint Firebirds of the OHL.

Ryan Oulahen
Born (1985-03-26) March 26, 1985
Newmarket, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position Forward
Shot Left
NHL Draft 164th overall, 2003
Detroit Red Wings
Playing career 2005–2009

Playing career

Junior

Oulahen was drafted in the fourth-round of the 2001 OHL Priority Selection by the Brampton Battalion. On September 20, 2004, Oulahen was named captain of the Battalion.[1] Oulahen spent three seasons with the Battalion, where he recorded 65 goals and 71 assists in 182 games. His 136 points ranked 16th on the club's career list, while he was ninth in goals, third all-time in power-play goals with 16 and tied for fourth with six shorthanded goals.[2]

Professional

On July 29, 2005, the Detroit Red Wings signed Oulahen to a three-year entry level contract.[3] During the 2007–08 season, Oulahen served as a co-captain of the Grand Rapids Griffins, where he recorded 14 goals and 16 assists in 75 games.[4] On July 23, 2008, the Red Wings signed Oulahen to a one-year contract extension.[5]

On March 27, 2009, Oulahen suffered a dislocated hip after getting his skate caught in a rut in the ice during his second shift of the second period, ending his season.[6] He finished the 2008–09 season with 19 goals and 12 assists in 73 games. On July 22, 2009, the Red Wings signed Oulahen to a one-year contract extension.[7] He attempted a comeback after two surgeries and months of rehabilitation, however, lingering soreness prevented him from ever taking the ice, thus ending his playing career. He finished his career with 53 goals and 54 assists in 302 career games for the Griffins.[8]

Coaching career

In January 2011, Oulahen was named an assistant coach for the Brampton Battalion of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), a position he held for five seasons.[2][9] In May 2016, Oulahen was named the head coach of the Flint Firebirds of the OHL.[6][10] On October 12, 2018, Oulahen announced he was stepping down as head coach of the Firebirds due to personal and family reasons.[11] On December 10, 2019, Oulahen was named the interim head coach of the North Bay Battalion of the OHL.[12] The was named the permanent head coach on March 24, 2020, after the season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[13]

Team Canada

Oulahen served as an assistant coach for Canada Red at the 2014 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, where the team finished in sixth place at the tournament.[14] In May 2015, Oulahen was named an assistant coach for Canada Black at the 2015 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, where the team finished in eighth place at the tournament.[15] In May 2017, Oulahen was named head coach of Canada White at the 2017 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, where the team posted a 2–3–1 record and finished in fourth place in the tournament.[16][17] In June 2018, Oulahen was named an assistant coach for Canada men's national under-18 ice hockey team at the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, and won a gold medal.[18][19]

Career statistics
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2001–02 Newmarket Hurricanes OJPHL 49 18 17 35 4 — — — — —
2002–03 Brampton Battalion OHL 61 21 22 43 6 11 2 1 3 2
2003–04 Brampton Battalion OHL 57 17 18 35 26 12 3 7 10 6
2004–05 Brampton Battalion OHL 64 27 31 58 22 5 1 4 5 4
2005–06 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 75 9 10 19 20 16 0 0 0 2
2006–07 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 79 11 16 27 42 7 0 2 2 4
2007–08 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 75 14 16 30 47 — — — — —
2008–09 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 73 19 12 31 31 — — — — —
AHL totals 302 53 54 107 140 23 0 2 2 6

References
  1. "Oulahen Named Battalion Captain". battalionhockey.com. September 20, 2004. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  2. "Oulahen Joins Battalion Coaching Staff". griffinshockey.com. January 11, 2011. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  3. "Red Wings Sign Oulahen and Quincey". griffinshockey.com. March 27, 2009. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  4. Zuidema, Michael (November 1, 2007). "With Ellis gone, Griffins select tri-captains". MLive.com. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  5. Hickok, Lisa (July 23, 2008). "Haydar, Oulahen sign one-year deals". NHL.com. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  6. "New Flint Firebirds coach Ryan Oulahen preaches hard work". freep.com. May 24, 2016. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  7. Hahn, John (July 22, 2009). "Wings re-sign McGrath, Oulahen to new deals". NHL.com. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  8. Zuidema, Michael (September 29, 2010). "Hip injury forces longtime Griffins player Ryan Oulahen to adjust to life after hockey". MLive.com. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  9. Zuidema, Michael (January 14, 2011). "Former Griffin Ryan Oulahen takes coaching job with Brampton Battalion". MLive.com. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  10. "An Inside Look at the Flint Firebirds: Meet Head Coach Ryan Oulahen". flintfirebirds.com. August 25, 2016. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  11. "Ryan Oulahen Steps Down as Flint Firebirds Head Coach". ontariohockeyleague.com. October 12, 2018. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  12. "Battalion announce changes to hockey operations". ontariohockeyleague.com. December 10, 2019. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  13. "Oulahen Named Head Coach". OurSports Central. March 24, 2020.
  14. "Oulahen, Poirier prove up to Challenge". battalionhockey.com. November 10, 2014. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  15. "Oulahen called again to Under-17 duty". battalionhockey.com. May 21, 2015. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  16. "Coaches selected for National Men's Summer Under-18 team and National Under-17 Teams". hockeycanada.ca. May 18, 2017. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  17. "Firebirds Excel at 2017 World Under-17 Challenge, Cavallin Earns Silver with Team Canada Red". flintfirebirds.com. November 13, 2017. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  18. "Firebirds' Oulahen named to Canada's National Summer Under-18 Team coaching staff". ontariohockeyleague.com. June 12, 2018. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  19. "Firebirds' Coach Oulahen Captures Hlinka Gretzky Cup Gold with Canada". flintfirebirds.com. August 12, 2018. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
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