Ryan Caldwell

GM Garth Snow Makes First Deal

October 25, 2006: GM Garth Snow pulled off his first deal today, a minor one. RW Eric Boguniecki, a New Haven/West Haven, Conn. native, was acquired by the Bridgeport Sound Tigers' parent club, the New York Islanders on Wednesday, and will join the Sound Tigers this week. Boguniecki, who was born in New Haven and grew up in West Haven, was acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for defenseman Ryan Caldwell.

The 31-year old Boguniecki has played 167 games in an NHL career with Florida, St. Louis and Pittsburgh. He has 32 goals and 44 assists for 76 points in 167 games. His best season was in 2002-03, when the 5-8, 195-pound center was 22-27-49 in 80 games with the Blues. Last season he had five goals and six assists in 36 games with the Penguins. This season he was scoreless in six games with the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League. Boguniecki won the AHL's Les Cunningham Award as the league's MVP after compiling 84 points (38 goals and 46 assists) in just 63 games with the Worcester IceCats in 2001-02. He signed in August as an unrestricted free agent with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He didn't make the team and was assigned to Syracuse in September.

"Eric Boguniecki is a high-intensity player who gives us veteran depth at the forward position," said Islanders general manager Garth Snow. "You can never have enough players like Eric in your organization."

The 25-year old Caldwell was in his third season with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Originally selected by the Islanders in the seventh round of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, the 6-3, 200-pound Caldwell played four years at the University of Denver.

islesinfo.com comment: Some fans may raise eyebrows over this deal. After all, the Islanders dealt a prospect in Caldwell for Boguniecki who is 31. While I would like to have seen Caldwell molded into a player by the Islanders organization, the reality is he may be a longshot at best to make the NHL. The knock on him is he's too frail to stay in the NHL. He has also been injured a lot during his Sound Tiger career. In fact he hasn't seen action yet this season after suffering a shoulder injury in Sound Tigers camp. It may be that the Islanders figured they have Bruno Gervais pushing for a regular job and they have prospects coming in next year like Dustin Kohn and Wes O'Neill. As for this year, besides a few veterans like Mark Wooten, Rick Berry and Allan Rourke, the only other borderline prospect the Islanders have in Bridgeport is Johan Halvardsson. Will Boguniecki ever make it to Long Island? We'll wait and see. If the Islanders ever decide to sit Andy Hilbert, who is on a one way contract, Boguniecki may get a look. But most likely he will remain in Bridgeport for now. Boguniecki does have some speed which will help the Sound Tigers. Right now, I'd have to say this trade won't have much of an impact for either NHL club.

2005-06 Update:

May 1, 2006 Update: Caldwell went scoreless in 6 games played for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers during the month of April. On the season he scored 3 goals which was a career high after scoring 2 during his rookie season of 2004-05. He was called up to the New York Islanders and played in his first NHL game vs. the Pittsburgh Penguins on April 15th. Caldwell took part in a home and home series with the Penguins, seeing action at Pittsburgh on April 17th. He took a penalty in the game for hooking and was a -2. Overall he played well, particularly in the first game at the Nassau Coliseum. He showed confidence with the puck and didn't seem out of place. The reason he was called up was to replace Allan Rourke in the lineup who suffered a groin injury. Caldwell was returned to Bridgeport on April 18th. He missed Bridgeport's final regular season game while with the Islanders.

Snippet from Connpost.com: Monday, Caldwell played against a buddy, Ryan Malone of Pittsburgh. He was often paired with Bridgeport pal Bruno Gervais, which helped the comfort level.

"It's what we all work for," Caldwell said. "It's something you'll look back on and remember the rest of your life, those couple of games. It was a lot of fun. The goal now is to get better. I found out I could play at that level, but I've got a lot of things to work on."

Playoffs: Caldwell returned to Bridgeport for the Sound Tigers playoff series against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. In the series he went 1-1-2 in 7 games played and was a +2. Caldwell scored a power play goal in Game 5 of the series with Bridgeport trailing the game 2-0. His goal sparked a comeback and the Sound Tigers went on to win the game 3-2 in overtime. Unfortunately they lost the series 4 games to 3. His assist in the series came in Game 6, a 3-2 overtime loss.

April 1, 2006 Update: Caldwell had his best month of the season going 1-5-6 in 12 games played. Caldwell was credited with a goal from Feb. 3rd so now he has 3 on the year. He had two multiple point games in March. He recorded 2 assists on March 18th and a goal and an assist on March 28th. Caldwell recorded 4 points(a goal and 3 assists) in a 4 game span from March 24th to 29th. Returned to the Bridgeport lineup on March 2nd after missing 8 games in February with a shoulder strain.

March 1, 2006 Update: Caldwell recorded an assist in 4 games played during the month of February. The assist came on Feb. 3rd, 2006 in a 4-3 loss at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Caldwell missed eight games in February from the 12th to the 26th. In Bridgeport's 5-2 win at the Hershey Bears on February 11th, Caldwell left the game in the first period with an injury. He was hit into the boards in the game and suffered a shoulder strain.

February 1, 2006 Update: Caldwell plays a quiet stay at home defensive game. He missed the Sound Tigers 3-1 win vs. the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on January 8, 2006. In January he recorded 2 assists in 12 games played. The assists came in back to back wins January 20th in a 2-1 win at the Lowell Lock Monsters and a 7-0 win at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on January 21st.

December 1, 2006 Update: Ryan Caldwell missed 8 games in November with a sprained knee.

SHELTON — When Dave Karpa left and Joel Bouchard went up to the NHL, their departures meant a shuffling for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers' defense.

The new deal found old partners Cole Jarrett and Bruno Gervais back together, and veterans Allan Rourke and newcomer Harlan Pratt on another pair. And that put Ryan Caldwell and Vince Macri together on a pair featuring two maturing players, both two years out of college, who complement each other. "I like it," Macri said. "We've been communicating well. ... We've been holding back for each other when one of us looks to step up."

The pair coalesced three games ago, when Macri returned after missing a game with a swollen foot. They'll likely be together tonight when the Sound Tigers begin three games in three nights at home against Lowell. Each has an assist and a plus-1 game in those three nights. And each has improved his game. Caldwell's plus/minus had dipped as low as minus-9 in mid-December, and he was benched a few times in the games leading up to that. But his confidence has rebounded, and he says he has worked hard to earn more ice time. "Ryan's making smarter plays, better decisions with the puck," coach Dave Baseggio said. "When he jumps up into the play, I think he's figured out, if he keeps things a little simpler, the chances will come. Early on, I think he was forcing plays."

Macri has worked hard on one-on-one coverage, something Baseggio praised him for. He's also happier with his skating and his reading of opponents' rushes. "He's a mobile D. He's pretty physical out there," Caldwell said. "He plays his game, and that makes my game a lot easier."

Caldwell's and Macri's continued improvement shores up a group that also includes Paul Flache, who's temporarily skating at forward.

"You go in, and your partner's up on the board before the game, you might end up playing two or three shifts with everybody," Caldwell said. "I don't think it matters whether we play left, right. We can all play together."

Caldwell has drawn coach's ire -12/9/05
by Michael Fornabaio - Connpost.com

BRIDGEPORT — In his last three Bridgeport Sound Tigers shifts, in a way, Ryan Caldwell is 1-for-3. Wednesday, in his first shift of the game, Caldwell stepped up from the point around a defender and helped draw a penalty. It wasn't a bad start to the day, considering the way his Sunday ended. Then came Shift 2. They don't come much more painful than that shift and his last Sunday shift.

On Sunday, he overskated the puck, which led to the game-winning goal for Hartford. And Wednesday, he not only let Joey Tenute blow by him on the rush, but Tenute also beat him to the rebound for the first goal of a 4-1 Bears victory. "I feel like I've got to play with more responsibility. The last two games at home, I've let my teammates down with a couple of mistakes," Caldwell said."

Caldwell didn't play again in either game. "(Caldwell has to) compete one-on-one," coach Dave Baseggio said after Wednesday's game. "Last game, turnover and winning goal. Tonight, first goal. The guy beat him wide, beat him to the rebound and scored. It's unacceptable. Unacceptable."

Since returning from a sprained left-knee ligament, Caldwell has no points and is minus-4 in six games. That has dropped him to minus-7 overall in 16 games.

"It's not the knee. I just came back and I haven't really got in a rhythm," Caldwell said. "(Wednesday) I thought I had a good first shift, and I'm minus-1 in two shifts. I can't have that. I'm not a rookie anymore."

Caldwell said he felt he had let 18 other players down in the last two games.

"Some guys are hopefully looking in the mirror and saying the same thing. It's myself the last two games," Caldwell said.

Caldwell certainly isn't the only one to struggle with consistency this year. The team itself has been streaky.

Since going loss-win-loss-win to start the season, the Sound Tigers have had a five-game losing streak, a six-game winning streak, a six-game losing streak, a two-game winning streak and now a two-game losing streak going into tonight's game at Norfolk, Va., against the Admirals.

"When we're good, at times, we're making good, simple, safe plays," Caldwell said. "When we're on losing streaks, we're turning the puck over, and teams are capitalizing."

SHELTON — Of all the rules changes in the AHL, Bridgeport Sound Tigers defenseman Ryan Caldwell figures one of the least noticeable to fans is one that he loves.

The blue lines have been moved back four feet this year, making the offensive zone 64 feet from goal line to blue line and adding space out at the point. It's great for a playmaking defenseman and a little more difficult for defending forwards.

"It's four more feet that the forward has to come out and pressure you," Caldwell said. "If you can get it down low to (your own) forwards, that's four more feet for them to make a play.

"You win the faceoff back, if you're positioned well, it really should be a scoring chance," Caldwell added. Not only are the angles a little different at the point, but, as Bruno Gervais said, it gives the defenseman a little more time.

2004-05 Update:

Ryan Caldwell's rookie season in Bridgeport could definitely qualify as a success. He started off a little bit slow and head coach Greg Cronin was rotating seven defensemen on the blueline, which didn't really help either. But Caldwell came on strong and played very well defensively. He chipped in 21 points, two of which were goals(including one on the powerplay). Unfortunately with Bridgeport struggling for most the season, Caldwell finished with the worst plus/minus on the team at -16. He had a three game point scoring streak in Febraury 2005 in which he notched 1 goal and 2 assists.

Excerpt from an NHL.com article by John McGourty, March 16, 2005:

Caldwell was taken with the Islanders' seventh pick, 202nd overall, in 2000. He then spent four productive years at the University of Denver, winning an NCAA championship last spring. Caldwell is doing well for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers and the Islanders are pleased with his progress.

Caldwell was selected to the 2004 NCAA West First All-America team and the NCAA Championship All-Tournament team. He was sixth in team scoring with 15 goals and 12 assists and ranked second, for the second-straight season, in Pioneer penalty minutes. He was the second-leading goal scorer for the national champs.

"He had a good college career and played a leading role for Denver last season," Feltrin said. "He has more of a defensive puck-moving style. He won't lug the puck end-to-end. He's basically a stay-at-home, first-pass defenseman who was feeling his way through the AHL the first half of the year. He's a work in progress."

Prospect Profile: Ryan Caldwell
November 3, 2004 - by Patrick Williams - theahl.com

The highs and lows of hockey, Ryan Caldwell has experienced them in 2004.

Bridgeport’s much-touted rookie defenseman captained the University of Denver to the 2004 NCAA National Championship last April in Boston.

Bridgeport has put together a mostly solid four years in the AHL, something that Caldwell enjoyed as well during his four-year stay in Denver with the Pioneers. Along with this past spring’s NCAA title, Denver captured the 2002 WCHA championship.

Then there are the nights like Oct. 27, when Caldwell’s Sound Tigers found themselves on the short end of a 5-0 rout in Philadelphia to the division rival Phantoms. Granted, the defeat is a one of the AHL’s many learning experiences that Caldwell and his teammates will move on from quickly in all likelihood, but the night was a definite valley in Caldwell’s young career.

Like any rookie on an AHL blue line feeling his way through the league for the first time, Caldwell has had his ups and downs in the early part of the season. That night against the Phantoms was a low point, the 6-foot-3 Manitoba-born defenseman admits.

On the whole, though, the New York Islanders’ 2002 seventh-round pick has managed to hold his own in the AHL so far.

“Not too bad,” is how Caldwell describes the first few weeks of his career, which is about all any rookie AHL defenseman can hope for in the first month of his pro career.

Though most of the Bridgeport squad has struggled of late -- losing three straight shutouts entering November -- Caldwell does have a solid crew of AHL experience that surrounds him on the Bridgeport blue line.

Coming off Bridgeport’s defensively stellar 2003-04 campaign in front of holdover goaltenders Wade Dubielewicz and Dieter Kochan, veterans Keith Aldridge and Richard Seeley have come aboard to help make up for a summer that saw the Sound Tigers lose Brandon Smith to Rochester and former captain Alan Letang to Germany.

Along with Caldwell, Seeley and Aldridge are promising rookie Chris Campoli, plus returnees Jody Robinson and Cole Jarrett.

Bridgeport head coach Greg Cronin has elected to let the Sound Tigers’ defensive mix sort itself out, scratching one regular defenseman a night. Even Aldridge, the team captain, has found himself a healthy scratch.

In Aldridge and Jarrett, the Sound Tigers do have some offensive skill on the back line, and Campoli has opened some eyes with his play on the puck so far. So, although Caldwell displayed something of an offensive upside last season with the Pioneers in scoring 15 goals and adding 12 assists in 42 games, the main objective for him this will be learning the defensive side of the pro game.

A solid defensively responsible game is Caldwell’s main asset. The WCHA thought so, too, making him the conference's Defensive Player of Year for 2003-04. Cronin stresses a defensively responsible system to the hilt, which will be a good fit for Caldwell’s brand of hockey.

But the AHL is a big leap forward for any defenseman, and Caldwell is no different. Obviously, the speed and skill level in the AHL are a jump from the lower levels of hockey, and talent is a given one step away from the NHL.

But hockey smarts become a serious factor in the AHL. Playing against veteran know-how and savvy, young defensemen can sometimes find themselves in trouble on a nightly basis if they don’t grow wise to the wily ways of the league’s veterans and do so quickly, especially this season when most teams possess serious offensive depth.

More than raw talent, Caldwell has observed that AHL players are “a lot smarter."

"If you have a weakness, they’ll pick it apart.”

So, recent thumpings aside, Caldwell already has learned one of the AHL’s biggest lessons.

Ryan Caldwell Signs Contract with the New York Islanders
Star defenseman inks two-year deal

Sept. 13, 2004

Former Pioneer defenseman Ryan Caldwell (Deloraine, Manitoba) has signed a two-year contract with the National Hockey League's New York Islanders. Caldwell, who helped Denver to its first NCAA national championship since 1969, was a seventh round selection of the Islanders in 2000. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

"We are extremely proud of Ryan," head coach George Gwozdecky said. "He did an outstanding job of leading our team last season and played through a series of injuries all season long. Ryan showed an ability to score big goals for us last season and is one of the toughest hockey players I have had the pleasure to coach."

Caldwell, who was named the WCHA Defensive Player of the Year and a second-team All-WCHA honoree this past season, earned his first JOFA AHCA All-America honor after leading the Pioneers to their first NCAA title in 35 years. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound, senior captain scored 27 points on a career-best 15 goals and 12 assists in 42 games. Caldwell's 15 goals led all WCHA defensemen. He earned all-tournament honors at the Frozen Four, West Regional and Wells Fargo Denver Cup.

He ranks among Denver's career defensemen leaders in points (7th), goals (7th) and assists (9th) and his 304 career penalty minutes rank fourth all-time at Denver.

Caldwell will report to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, the Islanders' American Hockey League affiliate, at the end of September.

- Caldwell, who was named the WCHA Defensive Player of the Year and a second-team All-WCHA honoree this past season, earned his first JOFA AHCA All-America honor after leading the Pioneers to their first NCAA title in 35 years. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound, senior captain scored 27 points on a career-best 15 goals and 12 assists in 42 games. Caldwell's 15 goals led all WCHA defensemen. He earned all-tournament honors at the Frozen Four, West Regional and Wells Fargo Denver Cup.

"Ryan is a very strong prospect, the kind of young player this organization is proud to bring into the fold," said Islanders general manager Mike Milbury. "He's a smart, skilled player, but what we like most about him is that he plays with a lot of heart. We're looking forward to him beginning his development as an Islander."

Manitoba's Pioneers still revel in title  
by David Larkins  
Local Sports BRANDONSUN Friday, August 28, 2004

  591 Some four-plus months after it all went down, Deloraine's Ryan Caldwell and Brandon's Brett Skinner are still not quite digesting it.

A magical run through the NCAA Division 1 hockey tournament. A coveted national championship. A visit to the White House and a conversation with arguably the most powerful politician in the world.

Not bad for a couple of kids from southwestern Manitoba.

"You'd find yourself sitting there and all of a sudden you're at the (Colorado) Avalanche game on the ice and the fans are cheering for you," Skinner said from his home in Brandon this week just a day before he was to make the road trip back down to the University of Denver, the campus that made history this spring when the Pioneers scored a 1-0 win over Maine for the first men's hockey championship in the school's history. "All this stuff is happening and you can't even believe it's happening. I kind of had to come home for it all to sink in, to be able to reflect on it."

Caldwell, who got to throw out the first pitch at a Colorado Rockies game, says he's just now coming to appreciate the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

"It's pretty amazing, everywhere I've been this summer, everyone's known about it and really thought it was a great story," he said from Minneapolis where he is attending a camp put on by his agent, Neil Sheehy. "To have a lot of people recognize like that makes me think about it a little bit more."

Shortly after the historic championship win, the Pioneers made their way to the home of other pioneers - Washington, D.C. - and had the chance to meet with U.S. president George W. Bush as the White House honoured all of this year's collegiate national champions, including the Connecticut Huskies men's and women's basketball teams and the Minnesota Golden Gophers women's hockey team.

"It was an unbelievable experience," Skinner said. "The chancellor of our school made a decision to make a trip out of it, so we actually spent three days there. To just have a chance to actually go in the White House ... and I got a chance to shake (Bush's) hand.

"We have this one Czech kid on our team and it's kind of notorious throughout our league that he runs his mouth off but no one can understand him. (Bush) said it was kind of a lot like him at the press conferences."

The future, for both, remains somewhat cloudy. Skinner will enter his junior year in Denver and says he'll play it by ear after this season but hopes the Pioneers will make a run at a repeat.

Skinner had surgery in the off-season to repair bone degeneration from a shoulder separation he suffered early in the year. While that surgery put a crimp in some of his summer plans, it actually helped him have a chance to enjoy some time off and catch up with family, his younger sister's graduation and working hockey schools in Denver and Brandon.

"I had to rehabilitate (the shoulder) for about eight weeks after the season was done," said Skinner, who was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in the third round (68th overall) in 2002. "That kind of took a big chunk out of my season, not being able to do much ... I found it made me, once I could, want to get back out on the ice even more. It's actually been one of the more relaxing summers I've had. So I've just tried to enjoy it as much as I can."

Caldwell, meanwhile, is in limbo with the impending NHL labour doom and a potential contract with the New York Islanders still hanging in the balance.

"We're still in negotiations with the contract, so we're day-to-day on that," Caldwell, who scored a game-tying goal in the national semifinal against Minnesota-Duluth, said. "And looks like there's going to be no season, so I'll just end up in Bridgeport (the Islanders American Hockey League affiliate)."

On the verge of making the jump to the bigs, Caldwell says he looks back fondly on the environment of camaraderie of college hockey and says that's one reason why he's adamant that his choice - to play college instead of junior - was the best option and one he would recommend to other young players.

"It's probably the last team you'll have where it's all about the team," said Caldwell, who was picked by the Islanders in the seventh round (202nd overall) in 2000. "(The championship) is starting to give more recognition to college hockey in Manitoba and maybe it can open up some doors for kids that don't know about college hockey and that it is better than the WHL.

"A lot of guys play junior hockey and come out of that and don't have a degree and have to go to school for another four. It's a great way to start your life off. I'm 23-years-old and have a business degree from a great university and played four years of hockey the same as guys in major junior would, so I think I've got a step on them."

2003-04 Update:

Besides winning the NCAA Championship with Denver and being named a second team All-American by Inside College Hockey, Caldwell was named the WCHA Defensive Player of the Year and to the NCAA All Tournament Team following the Championship Game.

It was reported by Newsday leading up to the week of the Championship game that Caldwell would sign with the Islanders about a week after the game and report to Bridgeport for their playoff run. But then it was reported that Caldwell needed surgery to repair both his knees after suffering with injuries all season long. If and when he does sign with the Islanders, he will be reunited with former Denver teammate goaltender Wade Dubielewicz.

Interesting story: It was reported during the NCAA Final game that Caldwell, just having been named the Captain of the Pioneers for the 2003-04 season, blackened the eyes of his roommate during training camp after picking a fight because he felt his teammates were not showing enough intensity. 

O Pioneers!
April 11, 2004

by Scott Weighart/Hockey East Reporter/USCHO.com

BOSTON — Tonight they're gonna party like it's 1969.

Led by lionhearted captain Ryan Caldwell, the Denver Pioneers survived one of the most harrowing final two minutes in NCAA championship history to bring the trophy back to Colorado's capital for the first time since Keith Magnuson and company pulled off the feat 35 years ago.

Clinging to a 1-0 lead, Denver endured penalties by Matt Laatsch (hooking) and Gabe Gauthier (delay of game for grabbing the puck before throwing it out of the zone). When Maine pulled Jimmy Howard, the Pioneers had to win this championship the hard way — defending a rare six-on-three attack.

"[Ryan Caldwell is] going to have surgery on both knees in the next couple of days," Denver coach George Gwozdecky said. "His knees are shot. He probably practiced with us twice in the last two months, and those practices were today and yesterday. You talked about the ultimate warrior: he couldn't practice; he couldn't get on the ice. He had to rehab from Sunday through Friday afternoons so Friday night he could step on the ice. He gave it his all."

Caldwell recalls the final two minutes: "On that five-on-three, anything went: I was just swinging, diving, trying to get hit with the puck, hit somebody ... I was just looking for something to do out there. The puck squirted out at the end, and I don't even remember the last ten seconds of the game. I was just going nuts. I think Adam[Berkhoel] deked me out — didn't want to be on the bottom of the pile. It was just amazing."

Boston Globe - 4/11/04

Caldwell, who helped bring Denver back with the game-tying goal against Minnesota-Duluth in the Pioneers' 5-3 win Thursday, was particularly valiant, playing on two gimpy knees that required a week of rehab and will be surgically repaired now that the season is over.

"Your best penalty killer is always your goalie," said Caldwell. "He's 90 percent of it and it was fun hanging on behind him and letting him go. Killing those last penalties, everything went. I was diving. I wanted to get hit with the puck. It worked out that the puck squirted out at the end and I don't even remember the last 10 seconds out there."

Pioneers rediscover path to Frozen 4 with Caldwell's help
by Andy Gardiner, USAToday - April 7, 2004

"We coached better, and the players responded. When things were at their worst, our seniors stepped up, especially Ryan Caldwell." said Denver coach George Gwozdecky.

Caldwell, a team captain, had been part of the 2002 Denver team that was ranked No. 1 much of the season and favored to win the school's sixth title. But the Pioneers had to play at Michigan in the regionals and lost.

"That was pretty tough on us because we were supposed to win that year," Caldwell said.

"We ran into a hot team on its home ice then, but that has made this year so much sweeter."

Caldwell garners honor

April 5, 2004
by Mike Chambers - Denver Post

Despite playing hurt most of the season, University of Denver captain Ryan Caldwell has been named a second-team All-American by Inside College Hockey.

Caldwell, a senior defenseman, has 14 goals and 26 points in 40 games. His goal total is tops in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and second nationally.

A former standout with Thunder Bay of the U.S. Hockey League, Caldwell was previously named WCHA defensive player of the year. He is DU's first All-American since 2002, when former goalie Wade Dubielewicz made the second-team Titan West squad.

"Running the ship from the players' standpoint, Ryan Caldwell has done an absolute outstanding job," said DU coach George Gwozdecky, whose team will depart Tuesday for Boston to prepare for its Frozen Four semifinal game Thursday against Minnesota-Duluth. "What he has had to deal with, not only with injuries to himself but with this team, I think he has done as good of a job as captain as I've ever experienced in my 25 years of coaching."

Caldwell, 22, overcame a midseason concussion and injuries to both legs. He rarely has practiced in pads since Christmas, and wears two knee braces.

"Since the early part of January, I can count the number of full practices he has made with us on one hand," Gwozdecky said.

Caldwell's injuries haven't deterred him from maintaining his warrior role. In effective balance, he has amassed a career-high 94 penalty minutes this season. His 304 career penalty minutes are fourth-most in 55 years of the program.

"The things he has gone through with his knees and not being able to practice, and yet always has been ready to play in games, has been amazing," DU senior goalie Adam Berkhoel (Twin Cities) said. Berkhoel has seen Caldwell from both sides, playing against the senior defenseman in the U.S. Hockey League.

Caldwell registered three goals, 20 assists and 152 PIM with Thunder Bay in 1999-00 and was subsequently selected by the New York Islanders with a seventh-round pick in the NHL Entry Draft. He could reunite next season with Dubielewicz, who regularly plays for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, the Islanders' American Hockey League affiliate.

April 2, 2004
NCAA Frozen Four
INCH Measures Up Denver's Ryan Caldwell

By Mike Eidelbes, from insidecollegehockey.com

Spend a few minutes on the phone with Denver senior defenseman Ryan Caldwell, and you can easily figure out why his teammates voted him captain for the 2003-04 campaign. He's insightful, honest, quick to praise teammates and has the ability to lighten up a conversation.

Basically, Caldwell as versatile off the ice as he is on it. The DeLoraine, Manitoba, native ranks second among Pioneer skaters with 14 goals. Four of those have come on the power play and two are of the shorthanded variety, proof of his skill on the special teams. Inside College Hockey caught up with Caldwell after the Pioneers wrapped up practice earlier this week.

Inside College Hockey: The Denver sports scene is always crowded with the Avalanche, Broncos, Nuggets, Rockies and all the area colleges, but I imagine you’ve managed to carve out a niche for yourself after last weekend?

Ryan Caldwell: We’re getting great support from the campus – the students and the faculty – and we’re finally getting a little bit of media coverage. We thought they forgot about us about halfway through the year. They’re starting to come around, and we’re giving those four pro sports teams a run for their money right now.

INCH: The Avs are battling the Canucks for the Northwest Division title, yet you’re the hockey team everyone’s talking about.

RC: We can’t really believe it. It’s been kind of hectic around the rink with all the media, but it’s good. All the guys deserve the credit right now and deserve all the attention, because halfway through the year it didn’t look like we’d still be playing right now and because everyone came together so well, we are.

INCH: You’ve mentioned being disappointed with your team’s showing at the season’s halfway mark. Was there a turning point that sent you guys in the right direction?

RC: The big turning point for us as a team was a 1-1 tie we had at North Dakota [Jan. 31]. It wasn’t a win, but we got beat 6-3 or 6-2 (note: the score was actually 6-1) the night before. We came out and played an unbelievable game up there and we felt we should’ve won the game but ended up with the tie. After that, I think we went unbeaten in our next eight games.

INCH: How did that 1-1 tie in Grand Forks help your team in the West Regional final?

RC: They’re an outstanding team and they really handed it to us the first three times we played them this year. I’ve always loved playing against North Dakota – they’re a great team and they’re well coached. I think that maybe that 1-1 tie gave the younger guys some confidence that we could beat the No. 1 team in the nation, and they were undoubtedly that for the majority of the season. That…and the play of Adam Berkhoel last weekend. He was a bigger reason why we beat North Dakota.

INCH: The guys in front of him played pretty well, too. As a whole, your defensive unit doesn’t seem to have any glaring weaknesses.

RC: We’ve got a good mix of size, speed and skill. I think a big part of our development as a defensive corps this year was [junior] Nick Larson solidifying that sixth spot. He’s come in and battled through a lot of injuries and he’s made us a great group of six. We can put any two guys out there at any time and we’re going to do pretty well. It’s a mix of a different bunch of styles, but I think Nick Larson really brought it all together for us.

INCH: There’s a Pioneer tradition that takes place at the end of the practice prior to game day called the orange-lemon contest. It’s basically a shootout drill that ultimately plays down to one ultimate winner and one ultimate loser. The winner gets the orange, and the loser has to take a big bite out of a lemon and wear an ugly yellow helmet until the next go-round. Will we see that at the Fleet Center Wednesday?

RC: For sure. Every week it’s something we look forward to. Coach Gwozdecky told us two years ago when we were supposed to go to the Frozen Four that if we got there, he’d do it. So rumor has it that he might be in the orange-lemon contest this week. It should be pretty fun to watch.

INCH: Naturally, you guys would love to have Coach Gwozdecky be the big loser.

RC: I think I’d pay money to see him wear that helmet.

Oct. 6, 2003

Pioneer Profile from denverpioneers.fansonly.com

11 Questions with Ryan Caldwell

 

1. How long have you been playing hockey and what/who got you to start?

   I started playing hockey when I was 5 years old. My dad was the one who got me started in hockey. He was a prolific goal scorer in his day and wanted me to carry on the Caldwell legacy on the ice.

    

2. What would you say is your best skill on the ice?

   I would say that I am good at moving the puck, taking penalties, and punishing opposing forwards.

    

3. What part of your game needs the most improvement?

   My physical strength. I have never been mistaken for "The Rock" or any other huge, strong man.

    

4. Why did you choose the University of Denver?

   I loved the weather, the coaches, and the hockey tradition.

    

5. What is your favorite movie and why?

   My favorite movies are Fletch and Usual Suspects.

    

6. What is your favorite singer or musical group and why?

   Eminem and Tragically Hip. My favorite song "The Land Down Under" an amazing song by Men at Work.

    

7. What is your favorite book?

   Killing Pablo and Ghost Soldiers.

    

8. If you were a WWE wrestler what would your name be and why?

   I really don't have the build to be a professional wrestler, but I could be a manager in the WWE. I would represent wrestlers like Sergeant Butch Bull, Jimmy the Giraffe, and if I was lucky, maybe even Catfish McConnell (he is a huge, scary, scary man).

    

9. What is your nickname given to you by your teammates?

   Caldsy, which is pretty self explanatory and Captain Ron.

    

10. If you had one million dollars what would you do with it and why?

    I would blow at least $100,000 dollars on my boys. The rest would be invested in low risk money markets. I would just sit back and let that lump sum grow (I love compounding interest).

     

11. What do you enjoy doing outside of hockey?

    I like to golf, beat my roommates in playstation and lay in my bed.

     

12. Who do you think of as a role model and why?

    I think of my parents as huge role models. They sacrificed a lot for me. I also admire Bobby Orr and Wayne Gretzky for what they did for the game of hockey. Will Ferrell would also have to be considered a role model because he is really funny and does the best Harry Carey impression ever!

Caldwell Named Captain for 2003-04 Pioneers

May 28, 2003

DENVER - University of Denver senior defenseman Ryan Caldwell (Deloraine, Manitoba) has been named captain for the 2003-04 season, it was announced today by head coach George Gwozdecky.

Caldwell has scored 11 goals and 50 assists for 61 points in 114 career games as a Pioneer. The two-way defenseman scored four goals and 13 assists for 17 points last season. Caldwell led the Pioneers with a +18 plus-minus rating and scored his first career four-point game against Alabama-Huntsville on Oct. 25. Caldwell, a former WCHA All-Rookie team member, is the Pioneers most experienced defenseman returning in 2003-04. He was a seventh-round draft pick of the New York Islanders in the 2000 NHL Draft.

Islanders Scouting Report:

Former Islanders chief scout Gordie Clark says Caldwell needs to fill out more. He has good height at 6'2" but needs to bulk up. Clark says the Islanders took a flier on him. Caldwell has good instincts in the defensive zone. The team will follow his progress the next few years. Ryan had a very good freshman season with the Denver Pioneers in 2000-01. So good that he was named to the WCHA's All-Rookie Team. He finished the year tied for the team lead in assist with 20 helpers and led all Denver blueliners in assists and points (23). Caldwell ranked seventh in the WCHA in defenseman scoring - while leading the league among freshman defensemen - and finished seventh in the conference in rookie scoring. Was ranked 106th in Central Scouting's final report. Wears number 21 for Denver. 

Personal: Majoring in real estate and construction management at Denver… aspires to obtain a degree from the University of Denver and play professional hockey… son of Bob and Vicki Caldwell… also enjoys playing baseball and golf… born June 5, 1981.

Before Denver: Played in 46 games during the 1999-00 season for Thunder Bay of the United States Hockey League… posted three goals and 20 assists from his defensive position… had 152 penalty minutes… named to the USHL all-star squad… drafted by the New York Islanders… prior to Thunder Bay, played for Shattuck-St. Mary's Prep School and coach Andy Murray, who is currently the head coach of the NHL's Los Angeles Kings… recorded 24 goals, 55 assists and 202 penalty minutes and helped Shattuck to the Midget National Championship in 1998-99.

2000-01: One of Denver's most talented freshman defenseman in a long time… named to the WCHA all-rookie team following a breakthrough rookie campaign… tied for the team lead with 20 assists and led all Denver blueliners in scoring with 23 points… finished eighth among WCHA defensemen and sixth among league rookies in scoring… added a career-best five-game point streak and never went more than three games without a point in his first season… closed the season with five assists and two goals in his last six games, including a three-helper night against Alaska Anchorage (Feb. 23)… scored two of his three goals in Denver's last two games at Wisconsin in the first round of the WCHA playoffs… was second on the team in special teams scoring, adding 11 power play assists and one power play goal… also led the team in penalties (34) and penalty minutes (76). Longest Point Streak: five games (Nov. 3-17).

2001-02 Update

Caldwell helped the Denver Pioneers compile a 32-6-1 record on their way to being the top seed in the West Region for the 2002 NCAA Hockey Tournament. Ryan led the team in penalty minutes with 76 and finished the season with a Plus/Minus rating of +11. He scored the game-winning goal in a 3-1 victory over Minnesota-Duluth in Dec 2001. His stock among Islander prospects is growing.

2001-02: Played in 40 of 41 games… was second among defensemen with 19 points on three goals and 16 assists… was plus-9… matched his career-high of three goals set last season… opened the season with two assists in Denver's 4-3 victory over defending national champion Boston College (Oct. 12)… added a goal and an assist in the Pioneers' 3-1 victory at Minnesota-Duluth (Dec. 1) and again in Denver's 6-1 win at MSU-Mankato (Dec. 14) … led the Pioneers for the second straight season in penalties (37) and minutes (74)… named to the Nye Frontier Classic All-Tournament team (Oct. 13) and earned WCHA Defensive Player of the Week (Feb. 18) after posting an assist and a plus-2 rating in Denver's road sweep over Wisconsin… snapped his career-long scoreless streak of seven games with his third two-point game of the year, notching two assists in Denver's 8-1 victory over Michigan Tech (Mar. 9), clinching the first round win in the WCHA playoffs … named to the Dodge WCHA Final Five All-Tournament team. Longest Point Streak: five games (Nov. 3-17).

WCHA Defensive Player of the Week ( 2/18/02)
Ryan Caldwell, D, Denver

University of Denver sophomore Ryan Caldwell, who was strong at both ends of the ice in a two-game conference road sweep at Wisconsin last weekend, has been named the WCHA Defensive Player of the Week for Feb. 18-24.

A 6-3, 185-pound defenseman from Deloraine, Manitoba, Caldwell and his Pioneer teammates posted 5-2 and 3-2 victories over the host Badgers last Friday and Saturday to hold on to first place in the WCHA race with two weeks to go. DU allowed just three even-strength goals combined in the two wins and held Wisconsin to shot totals of 25 on Feb. 15 and 21 on Feb. 16. As one of his team¹s top defenders, Caldwell earned a +2 plus/minus rating over the weekend in addition to setting up an insurance goal in the series opener.

Through games of Feb. 17, Caldwell ranks among the league¹s top scoring defensemen overall with three goals, 12 assists and 15 points in 31 games. Denver, now 26-5-1 on the season, next hosts St. Cloud State on Feb. 22-23 in what could be a showdown for the WCHA¹s MacNaughton Cup.

Follow his progress here: Denver Pioneers

2002-03 Update( 12/01/02 )

Junior defenseman has already equaled his career high in goals with 3. Having his best season offensively with Denver so far.

2002-03: Played in 38 of Denver’s 41 games • scored five goals and 14 assists for 19 points • has scored 11 goals and 50 assists for 61 points in his three-year Denver career • led team with a +18 rating • led team with 29 penalties and was second on team with 58 penalty minutes • scored two goals and two assists for first career four-point game in Denver’s 7-2 win over Alabama-Huntsville (Oct. 25) • tallied two assists in Denver’s 5-1 win over Mercyhurst (Nov. 29) • added two assists in Denver’s 4-3 win over Michigan Tech (Feb. 22) • scored game-winning goal in Denver’s 5-2 win at Michigan Tech (Nov. 16) • scored two points in Denver’s three games at North Dakota (March 14-16) in the WCHA First Round Playoffs • scored lone power-play goal in Denver’s 7-2 win over Alabama-Huntsville (Oct. 25) • tallied one power-play goal and six power-play assists for seven power-play points • missed two games at St. Cloud State (Dec. 13-14) with knee injury • netted three multi-point games in 2002-03 and six in his three-year Denver career • longest point streak: three games (Nov. 16-29).