Tales of a First-Round Nothing: My Life as an NHL Footnote

Allow me to preface by saying that this is probably not a book for a non-hockey fan or even a casual "let's go be seen at a game" fan. But if you were or are a player, or if you are a major fan of the sport, this is an honest, rough and tumble look at the ups and downs of trying to make a career out of professional hockey. I've heard my share of T-Bone Terry Ryan stories from the horse's mouth, so I, for one, am hoping for a sequel because I know he has a lot more to share. But what he has here is gold. Well worth the read.

Terry Ryan takes you on a wild ride revealing some of his tales in his rise and fall from hockey stardom. The stories are entertaining, sometimes temple tapping narratives that lend themselves to some of the best and grittier realities of competitive hockey. Arranged in chronological order from his the inception of his hockey career in Newfoundland to the junior ranks in Quenelle, B.C and later Tricities of the WHL to the pro ranks of the famed Montreal Canadiens and a collection of minor league teams, the reader is subjected to amusing stories, but is left to ponder how such stories shaped the development of of Terry Ryan as a person. Readers should be aware of Ryan's colloquial writing style and luxated grammar, but for some reason any alternative would seem less authentic. On the whole, however, I'd take a guy like this on my team any day of the week, even with a bum ankle.

3/4 the way through it and it's pretty damn great! Stories you can see. Should be a movie

Terry Ryan spares no one in his tell-all memoir of being a top-10 NHL draft pick (and subsequent bust) and his journey from a youngster in Newfoundland to Western Canada where he starred in the WHL circuit of major junior before ultimately becoming a hockey nomad in multiple farm leagues after just 8 career big league games with the Montreal Canadiens. Ryan or "Newf" has become a hockey draft footnote (he was selected three spots before future Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla), but with an easy, self-deprecating style, he takes you back in time with him and sheds light on why a promising career never evolved into what it could have been.Ryan is a gifted storyteller, and he takes no edge off the fast ball whatsoever. He targets several noted hockey figures (Montreal Gazette icon Red Fisher for particular scorn, but is toughest on himself- revealing his own character, flaws, and disappointments for all to see. His chapter on current Montreal Canadiens bench boss Michel Therrien, who coached Ryan in the AHL in the late 90's is particularly interesting.With his rapier wit and a knack for detail, Ryan reveals the highs and lows of his hockey career and reputation as a noted prankster who tested the limits of his coaches' patience, but loved the game and wanted to win.Some of the stories are NC-17 rated, and he makes no effort to censor his language or some of the details of his personal encounters as a player (one particular tale about an exotic dancer in Detroit is not for the squeamish), but he does so to provide an understanding of the lifestyle of young pro players, many of whom are in their late teens or very early 20's, and have left home at young ages to be a part of an elite athletic culture without having received a lot of the life lessons from their families that many of their peers get.One issue with the book is that the chapters/topics are a bit disjointed in that he jumps around and does not follow a linear timeline, but it did not detract from the overall success of the narrative and why it earns a 5-star rating.

I have a strong desire to heavily criticize this book, but it’s difficult to do so. Partially it’s because Terry Ryan portrays himself as a thoroughly happy, contented, outgoing, worry-free individual who loves life, has an absolute blast and is never down. In light of this ultra-happy, super-positive demeanor, what’s to criticize? Sure, he threw away a possible NHL career, but who knows – maybe it would have made him miserable, if a lot more wealthy. So I guess, heck, if you want, this book is the story of a happy-go-lucky guy who couldn’t care less if he squandered his potential. He’d be just as happy – maybe more—flipping burgers and getting wasted and naked at a backyard barbecue every second night of the week.Getting wasted and naked (or near-naked) is one of the book’s most recurring themes. The book could practically be titled Wasted and Naked: Tales of a Guy Who Had Better Things to Do than Play Pro Hockey. And those better things were: going to bars, drinking, picking up broads, getting naked (anywhere, anytime), pranks and goofing off. To me, the book is one long cautionary tale about…… everything.Ryan’s response to almost every life situation is to get drunk and act outrageously (often involving clothes being removed). It’s one of the favorite response mechanisms of young men who don’t know how to act properly because they’re too young and too immature for the situation that they’re in. And that, I’d guess, was Ryan’s problem starting early in his hockey career, as evidenced by the events of the book.Red flags were all over the field (or the ice) in the very first pages, as 14-year-old Terry moves with his father from Newfoundland to Alberta so Terry can play in the Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League (or somesuch – pretty sure the name has changed since then). This is because some WHL team wants to draft him in a year but can do so only if he’s out west. And his first game features a huge brawl centred around the hot shot kid rookie and it all just goes downhill from there. After getting ejected with a scad of other beaten-up, bloodied players, Ryan is in the dressing room, crying and laughing at the same time, and his father comes down and gives him a beer. You’re a man now, son.Great.I just finished reading and reviewing Jamie McKinven’s two books about being a minor-leaguer, and my conclusion from those books is that hockey desperately needs to grow up and drag its grotesque carcass up into the 20th century at least, if not the 21st. Terry Ryan’s book does not challenge that view. Poor Terry Ryan, thrust into situations he couldn’t handle at a ridiculously young age. Situations where he had to improvise as best he could with few life skills and little maturity. No wonder he fell back on that young man’s crutch: alcohol and outrageous behavior. No wonder he looked to fighting in hockey as a sure-fire attention-grabber and route to the top. He was young and strong and drunk half the time and had little real judgement. What a waste. Anyway, he’d disagree completely with that analysis, given what he writes, and hey, I’m just an Internet gasbag who read a book, and he lived it, so he’s probably right.As I said up top, Ryan appears to still be having a blast, so godspeed. But he completely glosses over what might be less-happy bits. For example, he mentions just once, and only in passing, that his first marriage crumbled. What? First marriage? Where did that come from? We didn’t get to read anything about that! Seems to me that’s a subject worthy of inclusion to tell the full story.But we get plenty about Red Fischer and especially Michel Therrien. Those stories were priceless, as Ryan knew they would be. He’s got a flair for story-telling, no doubt.Anyway, three stars.

I am based in the UK and have no particular knowledge of hockey. I do love reading sports biographies and autobiographies though and know a good one when I see one (they can draw you in regardless of your knowledge of the sport). This is not a good one. I am thoroughly bored halfway through. For those who know hockey I am sure it is a little more entertaining, but really the book is a series of anecdotes and stories about his life in hockey, some of which are great and most of which are pretty banal and tedious. He does not have a very engaging writing style, and I am tired of him banging on about what a storyteller he is and how he is a tough cookie who likes a scrap. It's harmless enough but I wouldn't recommend it.

I have heard Terry Ryan's podcast, and his appearances on Spittin' Chitlets. He is a very articulate man, and it comes across in his writing. Extremely open and honest view into his life as a professional hockey player.

A great surprise and probably will fly under the radar as Terry Ryan is not as big a household name as Jarome Igilnia or the numerous other NHLers he was drafted alongside of in 1996.However, there are some real nuggets of genius and an excellent flow of the theme of redemption and being at peace with he direction life takes you in this book. I particularly enjoyed the behind the scenes descriptions of a young athlete struggling to find his place in the game when the options start to limit and the leagues start to lean more towards the Beer than the Pro type.Self deprecating and honest. You may not agree with some of the decisions the author has made in his life but after reading it I'll guarantee at you respect his ability to string a yarn as well as feel for him as an individual who appears genuine in professing the value of teamwork, friends, and family over individual accolades.Well written and honest. A great read, particularly for any teenage hockey prospect in he country or anyone that cares about one.

Well this was a unique hockey book. A good humorous biography written by a guy who is able to see the bright side to what many would consider a failed career. Sure Terry Ryan did not have the career most would expect from a high draft pick but he still had a career that left him with a lot of crazy,fun memories. Highly recommended to serious hockey fans.

One of the finest, most entertaining and truthful books on Pro (and Amateur) Sports. If you LOVE Hockey and wish to know what it really takes to survive a Life in North American Hockey, look no further. This was an Excellent ride. Terry Ryan Jr. IS a Star! Just not (only) as a hockey player but also as a writer of a book that is a BLAST to read! ENJOY!!!