Game On Magazine 2017 December 2017 | Page 112

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