Strengths: Hockey IQ, Puck Control, Opportunistic
Development Opportunities: Size, stride length

I think Ryker is one of the most efficient hockey players this season and ended up leading the offensive charge for Delta to multiple tournament wins by scoring goals from poor angles and in tougher spots. The reality of Ryker is that he knows how to read pressure, can counter it with outlet passes and lead passes, and loves to pick off passes in the neutral zone and join the rush as a fourth forward. Ryker plays a style similar to past players like Tristen Doyle and Jonas Woo with a fearlessness in their approach and a determination to create offense out of seemingly nothing. The harder reality is that it will be harder to find those offensive leverage spots as competition throws less wild passes away and others around him out grow him to negate some of his skating threat moments. Where he goes in the draft will be determined by a projection of longer down the line. There is no doubt that he has the puck skills and IQ to win the day, but it’ll just come down to the length of stride to determine pacing.

It was clear that he was the driver of offense for his team which led to lots of good things but also turnovers with him putting the load of things on his back. It meant that at 5’8, he was looking to attack into the zone even on a 1 on 4 in moments to try and create. He’s a first round talent for sure but how high he goes will come down to a growth projection for him. His hockey sense, puck control, and high-danger chance creation are evident in both league play and at this event. On the PP, you could see the team’s strategy at times was to give Ryker the puck and then see what he can do. I saw flashes of skill with give and go attempts to the flank, dashing to the slot, one on one dangles, fakes with rehandles, stick swipes with good timing, physical pressure on the exterior, and end to end puck rushes where everyone on the ice is completely focused on him. He’s someone who showed his understanding of drawing pressure to create space for others, he tried to get as close as possible before shot releases, and really only got himself into trouble when trying to do everything which led to pucks behind poked away from bigger defenders or being physically pushed off routes. He’s an offensive creator who will need a bigger and stronger defense first partner to fully allow him to lean into his strengths. Overall, I thought he showed what makes him such a premier point producer at the U15 level.

His game is predicated on being aggressive both with and without the puck to carve into better scoring areas and manage the puck. In games against Shattuck and Bishop Kearney, he was the top offensive catalyst for Delta by spurring the rush with breakout passes or simply carrying through the neutral zone and attacking wide with speed. There were moments he dumped and chased his own puck, can stop to curl back and assess, or continuing to shift on his edges in order to make defenders bite one way or another. He’s constantly surveying with his head up, finds consistent shot lanes through, and settles passes on his backhand as well as his forehand. The natural deterrents to his success were also there as his physical status allows guys to sometimes walk around him down low after getting him to bite on a shot block or when under pressure for outlets he tries riskier outlet passes or clears that get picked off. Overall though, he’s one of the most confident, aggressive, and smart offensive creator. Even if he doesn’t grow another inch, he’s still going to create offense through flow.

You could really see his fearlessness come out in the game against PCHA as he was dangling wide and holding onto pucks for as long as necessary to make plays along the outside. Against a team like OHA, it worked less often but he’s still got the habit of leaning into the physical pressing and understanding that it will come. That allows him to protect the puck away from the stick and sometimes draw a penalty or just keep the habit of not passing against early pressure. I think this will help him down the line when he’s bigger and faster. He doesn’t back down against bigger players either by stepping up for hits at the offensive zone blueline or getting into feisty battles net front. This is a player you have to do a bit of growth projection on but his instincts and skill set is top notch.

As Ryker gets bigger and stronger, it only opens up more space to the quality decision making and his ability to read space and adapt. He’s such a strong stickhandler and threw in some toe drags through transition in times to flash his high end puck control. Those same elements come out in backhanded saucers, the weight of his passing, and his ability to really confidently control the flow of the offense from the backend. Most of the reasons for plays breaking down still came through players out muscling him or pinning him to the boards in moments but all the rest of the elements worked out in his favor. If I asked myself what more he could have done to impress in this one, I’d have a hard time coming up with things. I love his intelligence, his approach, and how he truly quarterbacks the offense in a number of ways. His goal on the PP to sneak in a bit closer and fire a wrist shot over the goalie's shoulder was terrific. He will succeed as far as his physical growth lets him.