Ryan Schmelzer
Ryan Schmelzer | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 28, 1993 Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
| Occupation | Professional ice hockey player |
| Known for | Captain of the Utica Comets (AHL) |
Ryan Schmelzer (born July 28, 1993) is an American professional ice hockey center serving as captain of the Utica Comets in the American Hockey League (AHL). He is currently under contract with the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Although he was not selected in the NHL Draft, Schmelzer competed for four seasons with the Canisius College Golden Griffins while pursuing a degree in management. During the 2016–17 season, he was honored with the Atlantic Hockey Best Defensive Forward award and earned a spot on the NCAA Second All-Conference Team. Following his senior year, Schmelzer signed with the Adirondack Thunder of the ECHL, where he set franchise records for goals and points during the Kelly Cup playoffs. His impressive performance secured him a professional contract with the Binghamton Devils in the AHL.
Personal life
Schmelzer was born in Cleveland but grew up in Buffalo, New York. His parents are Roger and Pam Schmelzer. Ice hockey runs in his family, as both his father and younger sister Holly have played the sport.
Amateur
Raised in Buffalo, Schmelzer played youth hockey for the Amherst Knights while attending Williamsville East High School. After completing the 2009–10 season, he spent one year with the Wheatfield Blades Junior 'B' team competing in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League. He then advanced to play for the Buffalo Jr. Sabres. During his tenure with the Blades, Schmelzer tallied 15 goals and 22 assists, totaling 37 points over 50 games. His production increased with the Jr. Sabres, finishing the 2012–13 season with 11 goals and 30 points across 41 contests. For this performance, he received South-West Conference Player of the Month and CJHL First Star of the Month accolades. Schmelzer’s contribution of 67 points helped guide the Jr. Sabres to win both the OJHL West Division and South-West Conference regular-season titles. Additionally, he led postseason scoring as his team advanced past its initial playoff round. At season’s conclusion, Schmelzer committed to play NCAA Division I hockey with the Canisius College Golden Griffins for the 2014–15 season. He was also recruited by coach Trevor Large of the Army Black Knights, who would later become his coach at Canisius.
Returning as captain for the Jr. Sabres in 2013–14, Schmelzer recorded 17 goals and 24 assists for a total of 41 points in 35 games despite a slight decline in regular-season scoring. In the playoffs, he and teammate Michael Ederer led their team with three goals and five assists during their first-round matchup against the Mississauga Chargers. Over three OJHL seasons, Schmelzer concluded his junior career with totals of 52 goals and 86 assists, amounting to 138 points.
Collegiate
Schmelzer spent four years competing for Canisius College (2014–2018) while studying management. He registered his initial collegiate point via an assist on October 31 and netted his first goal on November 8. Quickly establishing himself as a pivotal center on Canisius’s top line alongside wingers Shane Conacher and Ralph Cuddemi, he tied a program plus-minus record on January 24 by posting two goals and one assist during a victory over Niagara University. This performance earned him Atlantic Hockey Rookie of the Week honors. Completing his freshman campaign, Schmelzer led all Canisius newcomers with five goals and nine assists (14 points) across 36 games, was selected to the Atlantic Hockey All-Academic Team, and received Canisius College's Male Rookie of the Year award.
In his sophomore season, Schmelzer continued to anchor one of college hockey’s most productive offensive lines despite Canisius finishing seventh with a 12–22–5 record. He ranked third on the team by accumulating 32 points (10 goals, 22 assists). The Griffins advanced past Niagara in their opening playoff round but were eliminated by Air Force in the quarterfinals.
Following Cuddemi’s and Conacher’s graduation after the 2015–16 season, Schmelzer elevated his individual output to 12 goals and 30 points during his junior year. In December, he earned Atlantic Hockey Player of the Week recognition as Canisius held a record of 6–8–3 at that time. The team concluded with a winning record of 21–11–7 and secured its first-ever regular-season championship. For his efforts, Schmelzer was awarded Atlantic Hockey Best Defensive Forward as well as inclusion on the NCAA Second All-Conference Team.
Elevated to captain for his senior year (2017–18), Schmelzer guided Canisius to a second-place finish during regular season play while producing 13 goals and 17 assists (30 points). He was named to the All-Atlantic Hockey Third Team and received Canisius’s Dr. David B. Dietz Hockey Booster Award. Additionally, Schmelzer became just the fourth player in program history to be honored with the Senior Class Award All-American distinction for exemplary contributions both on and off the ice.
Professional
Upon completing his senior collegiate season, Schmelzer secured an amateur tryout agreement with the Adirondack Thunder of the ECHL for the remainder of the 2017–18 campaign. He made an immediate impression, concluding the regular season with two goals and five assists across seven games. During the Kelly Cup playoffs, Schmelzer participated in all 17 contests, establishing franchise marks by scoring nine goals and accumulating 17 points—the highest totals ever recorded in a single postseason for the team.
After the Thunder's playoff exit, Schmelzer inked a one-year deal with the Binghamton Devils of the American Hockey League (AHL) and took part in the 2018 Buffalo Sabres Prospects Challenge representing the New Jersey Devils. Following training camp, he was assigned back to Binghamton for the 2018–19 AHL season. Schmelzer debuted in the AHL on October 13, 2018, notching his first assist four games later and netting his initial goal on November 2. In his first eight appearances, he compiled two goals and one assist. After receiving a two-game suspension in December due to an illegal check, he wrapped up the season with 14 goals and 16 points over 55 games. The Devils finished at the bottom of the North Division with a 28–41–7 record. Following his rookie year, Schmelzer agreed to a one-year contract extension within the AHL.
During the 2019–20 season, Schmelzer once again participated in New Jersey's training camp but spent the season competing in the AHL. Despite playing fewer games because of the COVID-19 pandemic, he matched his prior season’s total of 24 points. Early March saw him honored as CCM/AHL Player of the Week after registering six points in three matches. When play was suspended, he maintained fitness at home using makeshift weights. On July 13, 2020, Schmelzer committed to another one-year contract extension with Binghamton.
For the 2020–21 AHL season, pandemic-related restrictions led New Jersey to relocate their affiliate’s home games to Newark. Following that season, Binghamton ceased operations and New Jersey partnered with the Utica Comets as their new affiliate. On July 20, 2021, Schmelzer signed with Utica and was appointed team captain ahead of the 2021–22 season. Under his guidance, the Comets achieved a historic start by winning their first 12 games—setting an AHL record—before suffering their initial loss in game thirteen. Schmelzer reached personal bests with 18 goals and 32 points over 64 games, ranking sixth in team scoring. The Comets secured the North Division title and earned a bye for the Calder Cup playoffs.
Concluding the 2023–24 AHL season with career-high numbers of 18 goals and 34 assists, Schmelzer agreed to a two-year, two-way contract with the New Jersey Devils on April 30, 2024.
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2010–11 | Wheatfield Jr. Blades | GOJHL | 50 | 15 | 22 | 37 | 34 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | ||
| 2010–11 | Buffalo Jr. Sabres | OJHL | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2011–12 | Buffalo Jr. Sabres | OJHL | 41 | 11 | 19 | 30 | 26 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 10 | ||
| 2012–13 | Buffalo Jr. Sabres | OJHL | 51 | 24 | 43 | 67 | 54 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 2 | ||
| 2013–14 | Buffalo Jr. Sabres | OJHL | 35 | 17 | 24 | 41 | 22 | 11 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 4 | ||
| 2014–15 | Canisius College | AHA | 36 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2015–16 | Canisius College | AHA | 38 | 10 | 22 | 32 | 58 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2016–17 | Canisius College | AHA | 37 | 12 | 18 | 30 | 43 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2017–18 | Canisius College | AHA | 32 | 13 | 17 | 30 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2017–18 | Adirondack Thunder | ECHL | 7 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 17 | 9 | 8 | 17 | 24 | ||
| 2018–19 | Binghamton Devils | AHL | 66 | 14 | 10 | 24 | 42 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2019–20 | Binghamton Devils | AHL | 52 | 7 | 17 | 24 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2020–21 | Binghamton Devils | AHL | 15 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2021–22 | Utica Comets | AHL | 64 | 18 | 14 | 32 | 26 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2022–23 | Utica Comets | AHL | 68 | 6 | 29 | 35 | 35 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | ||
| 2023–24 | Utica Comets | AHL | 72 | 18 | 34 | 52 | 38 | — | — | — | — | |||
| 2024–25 | Utica Comets | AHL | 72 | 23 | 21 | 44 | 57 | — | — | — | — | |||
| AHL totals | 409 | 88 | 130 | 218 | 218 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 2 | ||||