OHL linesperson and 2004 OHL Champion Ryan Card returns to Memorial CupFrom playing in the 2004 Memorial Cup with the Guelph Storm 20 years ago to now being a linesperson in Friday’s semi-final matchup between the Saginaw Spirit and Moose Jaw Warriors, Ryan Card has the great honour of once again skating at this prestigious event.
“Being on the ice as a linesperson is one of my biggest accomplishments. For the last five, six years… the Memorial Cup has been on my radar of where I want to get to. It’s a great accomplishment and something that I will never forget”, said Card.
Reflecting on his time as a player in the tournament, Card shared some of his fondest memories of the Memorial Cup.
“It’s crazy to think it was 20 years ago; it doesn’t feel like it. The group of guys that I played with, to be able to watch them and the careers they had was great. Some guys keep playing, some don’t, some get involved in officiating, some don’t. Everyone has their own journey in life, and when I look back, it’s hard to wrap my head around how much time has passed”.
“One of the biggest memories is being there as a team and playing hard. Obviously, we didn’t get the results we wanted, but just the memory of even getting there is a huge accomplishment.”
Reflecting on the 2004 OHL Champion Storm team, North Bay Battalion General Manager Adam Dennis, who was a goaltender for the winning squad, shared his thoughts on his former teammate and his accomplishments.
“He’s a pro. I mean, I get a bit of a chuckle watching him now because his warm-up routine is probably very similar to when he played hockey,” said Dennis. “He takes care of himself, he’s dedicated to his craft, he was a great teammate. We know we’re going to get a fair game every time he’s reffing. He’s very professional, and he loves the game. He’s a great contributor to it.”
As he prepares to take the ice with officials from across the CHL, Card, who played three seasons of U SPORTS men’s hockey at St. Thomas University, spoke on the camaraderie among the selected group of linespeople and referees.
“The camaraderie is huge. There are guys here in this tournament that we’ve never worked with before. But as a group of officials, we always come together.”
Reflecting on his decision to become an official, Card is proud of where he’s gotten to now and the level of performance he has reached as he officiates in his 11th season.
“When I got the decision that I was coming back to the Memorial Cup, it was just a huge excitement. I was very excited about the opportunity. Maybe I don’t want to say a sigh of relief, but I took a big breath and thought, okay, I did it. I finally got to where I’ve been working towards. And then the nerves set in shortly after that because it’s like, okay, we’re going to a pretty big stage. But just pure excitement and gratitude for the opportunity and honour. So many emotions started pouring in over the following hours and days. The support from everyone, from family, friends, and other officials, shows that I’m not alone in this. There are so many people behind the scenes that provide support and encouragement to keep working and to do well. And when you get there, it’s acknowledged.”
