Ryan Ellis

Ryan James Ellis (born January 3, 1991) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman currently under contract for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Joining the Cambridge Hawks at the midget level, he won an Ontario Alliance championship with the club in 2007.

Ellis was selected in the second round, 22nd overall, by the Windsor Spitfires in the 2007 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Draft.

Establishing himself as a top defenceman in the League during his rookie campaign, he scored 15 goals and 63 points over 63 games.

His points total and +30 plus-minus rating led all OHL rookie defencemen.

Individually, he was named to the CHL and OHL All-Rookie Teams in 2008, the First OHL All-Star Team in 2009 and 2011 and the Second OHL All-Star Team in 2010.

He was awarded the OHL's Bobby Smith Trophy as the League's scholastic player of the year in 2008, the Max Kaminsky Trophy as the top defenceman in 2009 and 2011 and the Red Tilson Trophy as the most outstanding player in 2011.

Ellis began his international career with Canada by winning three gold medals in 2008 at the World U17 Hockey Challenge, IIHF World U18 Championship and Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament.

In the 2008 playoffs, Ellis added five points in five games as the Spitfires were eliminated by the Sarnia Sting.

He was named to the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) and OHL All-Rookie Teams, along with Spitfires teammate Taylor Hall.

Ellis was further recognized for his academic performance, maintaining an 81 percent average in university preparation courses at St. Anne Catholic High School in Belle River, earning him the League's Bobby Smith Trophy as scholastic player of the year.

He received the award over fellow nominee Steven Stamkos of the Sting, who had won it the previous year.

Ellis was named OHL Defenceman of the Month for October 2008 the following season.

During the season, he represented the OHL in the 2008 ADT Canada-Russia Challenge.

Improving to 22 goals, 67 assists and 89 points in 57 games in 2008–09, Ellis led all OHL defencemen and finished second in team scoring to Taylor Hall.

He ranked first in the league in assists, seventh in points and second in plus-minus rating (+52).

As a result, Ellis was named to the OHL First All-Star Team and awarded the Max Kaminsky Trophy, beating fellow nominees P. K. Subban and Cameron Gaunce as the League's top defenceman.

The distinction made him a finalist for CHL Defenceman of the Year, but he lost to Jonathon Blum of the Western Hockey League (WHL)'s Vancouver Giants.

Ellis was additionally voted the smartest player, hardest shot and best offensive defenceman in the Western Conference in an annual poll of OHL coaches.

Ellis later cited the smartest player selection as his most rewarding recognition to that date.

Ellis was drafted eleventh overall by the Nashville Predators in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, and played with them for nine seasons.

After his second season in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), Ellis was selected 11th overall by the Predators in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

During his junior career, he was key in guiding the Windsor Spitfires to back-to-back Memorial Cups as Canadian Hockey League (CHL) champions in 2009 and 2010.

At the under-20 level, Ellis has made three appearances at the World Junior Championships, winning gold in 2009 and silver in 2010 and 2011.

He is the tournament's all-time leading scorer among defencemen and Canada's all-time assists leader.

He earned the distinction twice more over the course of the campaign in February and March 2009.

On November 3, he was chosen as OHL Player of the Week, having scored seven points in the previous two games.

Ellis his second such distinction on April 20, 2009, registering two goals and five assists in three games.

He also competed for the Western Conference at the 2009 OHL All-Star Classic and participated in the 2009 CHL Top Prospects Game.

Windsor entered the 2009 OHL playoffs as the top-ranked team in the OHL West.

Ellis added 31 points in 20 games, tying for third in post-season scoring while helping the Spitfires to a J. Ross Robertson Cup as OHL champions.

Earning a berth in the 2009 Memorial Cup, the Spitfires went on to win the national major junior championship over the Kelowna Rockets.

Ellis recorded four points in six games to be named to the Tournament All-Star Team.

Going into the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, he was listed by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau as the 16th best prospect (fifth among defencemen) in North America.

Serving as the Spitfires' team captain in 2010–11, he became the franchise's all-time leading point-scorer among defencemen.

On a national basis, he was named CHL Defenceman and Player of the Year in 2011.

He was selected in the first round, 11th overall, by the Nashville Predators.

He also won gold with Team Canada at the 2016 World Championships.

Ellis played minor hockey throughout Ontario, beginning with a club from Belmont, Ontario, at age four.

Playing for teams from Mississauga, he won a silver and gold medals at the peewee and bantam provincials, respectively.