NEWS

(pictured - Buffalo Jr. Sabres captain Ryan Kuhn has helped lead the club's resurgence in the second half of the season and hopes to earn a post season spot - photo credit:  Shawn Muir/OJHL Images)

After two years of unprecedented success for the Buffalo Jr. Sabres program at the OJHL level fans knew that this season was going to be a transition year. With head coach Mike Peca leaving the bench to concentrate on GM duties and a plethora of talent leaving for the NCAA, including captain Ryan Schmelzer, Nolan Sheeran and Nick Desimone many wondered how this team would perform. 

I for one was still bullish on their potential with former NHLer John Tucker stepping in behind the bench. Returning forwards Nico Gonzalaz, Josh Gabriel and Ryan Kuhn ready to take on bigger roles up front and Nate Skidmore coming from the CCHL.  I still had them pegged as a second place team in the division.

Things however didn’t start off as planned for Buffalo as they were sporting a record of 2-8 after the Govenors' Showcase and the troubling results continued from there. Nico Gonzalaz was traded to the Toronto Patriots and the team was left searching for an identity.

The team needed a turning point and it needed someone to take charge and lead them in an uphill battle for a playoff spot.

On November 18, Buffalo’s home game against St. Michael's was called off due to the massive lake effect snow storm that was battering the city. What emerged from that week was a team ready to right the ship and the man who would help carry the load was wearing the 'C' and his name was Ryan Kuhn.

Following the snow storm the Jr. Sabres picked up points in 8 straight games and 11 of their next 13 sporting a record of 9-2-1-1 with 4 wins coming in overtime. Over that period Ryan Kuhn has a 12 game point streak with 12 goals and 9 assists with 2 of those goals being overtime winners, plus a helper on an overtime winner.

While talking to an assistant coach during a recent Buffalo road trip to Milton it became clear that Ryan is more to Buffalo than just his on-ice production. “Great leader does a good job with the kids, he a does everything we ask of him in the locker room, takes a lot of things off of our shoulders in terms of getting ready for games and he does everything a captain needs to do.”

In a time when they were struggling and needed to turn things around it seems as though Ryan was a steading force in the locker room. One who made sure the little things were done right and the team was on the same page. One who trusted the process of making a winner and didn’t sweat the results. The results of course have come and Buffalo is now thriving.

Another bonus to have Ryan Kuhn around that the average OJHL fan may not know, is that he has come up through the Buffalo Jr. Sabres minor hockey system having played for the U16 and U18 teams before joining the big club. A fact that isn’t lost on Ryan who told me, “It is an honour, especially with some of the past guys who have worn it.”

From the coaches perspective having a guy wear the 'C' who has come up through their program is a boon for when new call ups make their OJHL debut. “What's nice is a lot of the young kids from the younger teams come in and he helps them adjust to the team and the schedule. They come out of the program and follow his lead because he sets that example. It just helps the transition.”

For Ryan making sure the younger guys know what to do just seems to come naturally to him. “Leading isn’t just how you play. It is a lot off the ice how you act, how you carry yourself and how you prepare. A lot of little things like that I have learned to do to set the example for the younger kids in the room.”

It is something he says he learned from last seasons captain Ryan Schmelzer and it is something he is instilling in the next wave of Buffalo Jr. Sabres stars. The Christopher Berger’s, the Justin Cmut’s and others who will follow in his footsteps.

While the Buffalo Jr. Sabres have developed an enviable development program that has allowed them to thrive the last few years in the OJHL and develop talent like Ryan Kuhn. It his his leadership both on and off the ice that not only helps him succeed but allows the program to achieve it’s goal of not only achieving on ice success, but pump out Division I scholarships.

The strong leadership skills mixed with a work ethic that allows him to thrive on and off the ice is something that will endear him to University of Niagara hockey fans where he will take his talents next season. An example of how to succeed at this level that will help pave the way for more Jr. Sabres to achieve their NCAA aspirations like those before Ryan did for him.

Peter Kneulman covers the OJHL West Division for In The O... and more articles by the author can be found at intheoradio.com. In The O...goes beyond conventional coverage of junior hockey providing unprecedented coverage of Minor Midget, OJHL, CCHL and the OHL.