PROFILE
RYA N
R E AV E S
THE ENFORCER
BY CARTER BROOKS
Photos by James Carey Lauder
1 1 2 | G AME O N | D EC EM BER 2017
RYAN REAVES is a monstrous
individual. With biceps
bulging, shoulders swelling,
and an incomparably delineated
jawline, it becomes quite easy to
agree with Don Cherry’s recent
suggestion that Reaves is, “By far,
the toughest player in the game”.
Throw in the fact that Reaves’
father, Willard, is a former four-
time Canadian Football League
all-star running back with the
Winnipeg Blue Bombers, and
Reaves’ is clearly on hockey’s list
of greatest current enforcers.
However, it should also be
stated that the apple clearly
did not fall far from the
tree, when one suggests that
Ryan’s work ethic, perfectly
sculpted frame, and nose-to-
the-grindstone mentality have
all come from his father.
Willard Reaves, now 58 –
who also spent time with the
Washington Redskins and
Miami Dolphins of the National
Football League – is adamant
that his son has the potential to
be the best athlete in the family.
“He’s bigger than me, tougher
than me and may already be a
better athlete than me,” Willard
told Game On Magazine. “Ryan
is fast, has good hands and
the kid is huge. He’s becoming
a really good NHL player.”
These words hold significant
weight, considering they
come from a former Grey Cup
champion, recipient of the
CFL’s Most Outstanding Player
award, three-time CFL rushing
leader, and three-time all-star.
Although Ryan Reaves will
never lead the NHL in goals
or points, he will definitely
come close to finishing atop
the leaderboard in the penalty
minute department this year.
Through 18 games of the
2017-18 hockey season, Reaves
has collected a whopping 64
penalty minutes – an average
of 3.6 minutes in the sin bin
nightly. If this pace continues,
he will blow his career high of
126 penalty minutes (set in
2013-14) out of the water.
Already known as a tough
guy, Reaves’ role changed
dramatically in the 2017
off-season, as the enforcer
found himself dealt to the
defending Stanley Cup
champion Pittsburgh Penguins