Freshman Friday: Joakim Ryan
The following article featuring Cornell defenseman Joakim Ryan appeared November 11 on the Cornell Web site.
Joakim Ryanjoins the Big Red after winning the Clark Cup with the USHL's Dubuque Fighting Saints last season, where he led defensemen in scoring with 32 points on three goals and 29 assists. He's wasted no time showing that offensive prowess with the Big Red, scoring a pair of goals in the opener against Mercyhurst before adding a short-handed goal last Saturday at Brown. A dual citizen of the United States and Sweden, Ryan has also represented played on Swedish junior national teams.
Q: How was your experience last year playing in the USHL?
A: It was the best hockey experience I've had in my life so far. My team won the whole thing. That was the first championship team I've been a part of, so it was new and it was so much fun. I'll always be best friends with some of the guys on that team, and I'll never forget them. It was a great experience.
Q: Can you talk a bit about your Swedish lineage?
A: Well, my mom's Swedish. She was born and raised there, then married my dad, who is American — he's from New Jersey. I used to live in Sweden, too. I lived there for a couple of years. So I have dual citizenship with here and Sweden. I also speak Swedish fluently.
Complete article can be accessed via the Cornell Web site by clicking here.
