Ryerson_Leenders
Ryerson Leenders
Canadian ice hockey player (born 2006)
Ryerson Leenders (born June 1, 2006) is a Canadian ice hockey goaltender for the Mississauga Steelheads of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). He is considered a top goaltending prospect eligible for the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.
| Ryerson Leenders | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
(2006-06-01) June 1, 2006 (age 18) Nanticoke, Ontario, Canada | ||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) | ||
| Weight | 179 lb (81 kg; 12 st 11 lb) | ||
| Position | Goaltender | ||
| Catches | Left | ||
| OHL team | Mississauga Steelheads | ||
Leenders was selected in the second round, 32nd overall, in the 2022 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) priority draft by the Mississauga Steelheads.[1] He made his OHL debut in the 2022–23 season, posting his first win on October 16, 2022, against the Sarnia Sting.[2] In that year's playoffs, he established himself as their starting goalie, but he and the Steelheads were eliminated in game 6 of the first round against the North Bay Battalion.[3][4]
In the 2023–24 season, Leenders recorded his first career shutout, against the Erie Otters on September 29, 2023.[5] He was later chosen as a top draft-eligible prospect to attend the 2024 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.[3] Leenders was injured early the playoffs, playing only two games in a first round exit at the hands of the Sudbury Wolves.[6][7] Entering the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, his positioning, reflexes, and movement, as well as his success on a team with a struggling defence group, were among the qualities that led some scouts to project him as a first-round pick.[8][9]
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
Representing  Canada | ||
| Men's ice hockey | ||
| World U18 Championships | ||
 | 2024 Finland | |
| Hlinka Gretzky Cup | ||
| 2023 Czechia/Slovakia | |
Leenders played for Team Canada Black at the 2022 World U-17 Hockey Challenge.[2]
At the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, Leenders won gold with Team Canada, but as their third string goaltender he did not see any ice time.[10]
Leenders represented Canada at the 2024 IIHF World U18 Championships.[11]
Regular season and playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | W | L | T/OT | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | GP | W | L | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | ||
| 2022–23 | Mississauga Steelheads | OHL | 35 | 12 | 15 | 3 | 1,877 | 109 | 0 | 3.48 | .879 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 337 | 22 | 0 | 3.92 | .861 | ||
| 2023–24 | Mississauga Steelheads | OHL | 46 | 24 | 17 | 4 | 2,672 | 139 | 3 | 3.12 | .909 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 88 | 3 | 0 | 2.07 | .933 | ||
| OHL totals | 81 | 36 | 32 | 7 | 4,550 | 248 | 3 | 3.27 | .898 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 424 | 25 | 0 | 3.54 | .877 | ||||
International
- "Ryerson Leenders". gojhl.ca. Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
- "Karmiris and Leenders to represent Canada to 2022 World Under 17 Hockey Challenge". gtaweekly.ca. GTA Weekly. October 18, 2022. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
- Freitas, Mark (January 11, 2024). "Ryerson Leenders is showing why he is a Top Prospect". firedupnetwork.ca. Fired Up. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
- "Three Takeaways From North Bay's Series Victory Over Mississauga". 13thmansports.ca. 13th Man Sports. April 10, 2023. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
- Wood, Joelle (October 2, 2023). "Steelheads' Ryerson Leenders named OHL Goaltender of the Week". chl.ca. Ontario Hockey League. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
- Stockl, Joely (April 2, 2024). "Jack Ivankovic Performing in Relief for Mississauga Steelheads; Earns First Career OHL Playoff Win". thehockeynews.com. The Hockey News. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
- Sweetland, Josh (April 5, 2024). "Series HQ: Mississauga vs. Sudbury". chl.ca. Ontario Hockey League. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
- Kelly, Lauren (November 2, 2023). "OHL Stock Watch: Luke Misa lighting the scoresheet on fire for Mississauga". eprinkside.com. Elite Prospects. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
- Green, Lance (November 7, 2023). "Prospect Watch: Critiquing the top-rated goalies of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft". steelflyers.com. Steel Flyers. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
- Colpitts, Iain (August 8, 2023). "Mississauga Steelheads duo win gold with Canada at Hlinka Gretzky Cup". mississauga.com. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
- "MacDougall praises Leenders' performance: 'Outstanding goaltending'". tsn.ca. The Sports Network. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
- Biographical information and career statistics from Eliteprospects.com, or The Internet Hockey Database