From U SPORTS roots to the PWHL spotlight, Troy Ryan’s coaching journey comes full circle

Troy Ryan’s path in hockey has taken him from small-town Nova Scotia rinks to the international stage and, most recently, behind the bench of the PWHL’s Toronto Sceptres. Along the way, the long-time coach has built a career grounded in community, opportunity and the lessons he first learned in U SPORTS.

“I grew up primarily in a single-parent family home, so sports gave me a lot of opportunities my family life didn’t provide,” said Ryan. 

“I got to meet other families, I got to travel a little bit. Hockey was the avenue that got me to university. I don’t know if I would have gone otherwise.”

Those opportunities led him to U SPORTS, first with the University of New Brunswick and later Saint Mary’s, where he finished his playing career. Along the way, he discovered a passion for coaching — sparked by future NHL bench boss Mike Johnston, then his coach at UNB.

“I wasn’t necessarily the best player at the university level, so I started to look at the game differently,” said Ryan. 

“Mike gave me a whole different appreciation for the job a coach does. That’s when I first started to dive into it.”

His first chance came with UNB’s women’s student run club, where he helped out at a handful of practices. Soon after, former Saint Mary’s assistant Darren Burns offered him a spot on his staff at Acadia.

“It was his first year coaching, and it was fun to kind of rebuild a program together,” said Ryan. 

“Acadia and the whole athletic department just set me up for great success to start my career.”

From there, Ryan’s path zigzagged through nearly every level of Canadian hockey. He guided Saint Thomas University’s men’s team, returned to junior hockey to gain head coaching experience, then found his stride at Dalhousie with the women’s program.

“Coaching at Dal during COVID was a really difficult time, but I absolutely loved it,” he said. 

“I made such great connections with the staff and athletes. It was one of the hardest decisions I’ve had to make to step away for the PWHL.”

Those U SPORTS experiences remain central to Ryan’s philosophy.

“The connection with athletes is so important, especially when you’re bringing in someone in their first year of university and helping them through that transition,” he said. 

“That experience makes it more natural for me to build relationships at the professional and international level.”

Ryan has done just that. Named head coach of Canada’s women’s team for the 2022 Beijing Olympics, he guided the squad to gold. The moment he walked into the opening ceremony remains etched in his mind.

“I just heard over the PA system, ‘Welcome to Canada,’ and it was a pinch-me moment,” he said. 

“I’ve always treated every job like it was the Olympics. Coaching at Saint Thomas was my NHL at the time. That’s how I prepared for the pressure when I finally got there.”

A year later, he added another milestone when the PWHL launched in 2023. As head coach of Toronto, Ryan became a central figure in the growth of women’s professional hockey.

“It’s honestly bigger than anything I’ve ever been a part of, including the Olympics,” he said. 

“This league is going to change the game forever. It’s really cool to have a front row seat to it all.”

Ryan also notices how the PWHL’s impact reaches beyond aspiring female players.

“I’ll see a U15 boys’ team watching us practice, and they’re not looking at it any different than the NHL,” he said. 

“It shows what proper funding and showcasing can do. Young athletes now can look up to women’s hockey, and that changes dynamics in classrooms and communities.”

For Ryan, true success means making a long-lasting impact with the players.

“I want them in 10 years to respect the work I did and that I helped them achieve their goals,” he said. 

“If I’ve done that, then I can live with the decisions I made.”

As for advice to young coaches hoping to follow in his footsteps, Ryan stresses patience and perspective.

“There’s no set path. My journey was windy,” he said. 

“Volunteer as much as you can, expose yourself to as many good people as possible. Take your time, make mistakes in safe environments, and be ready when the pressure comes.”