By Brandon Caputo / The Armchair GM’s Sports Network

Ryan Strome has carved out a strong 13-year professional hockey career in the National Hockey League with four different teams, accumulating over 800 games played and just under 600 points, but the now 31-year-old alternate captain for the Anaheim Ducks still believes his years in Niagara with the IceDogs of the Ontario Hockey League were pivotal for his development and growth as both a man and a player.

“It’s what molded me as a player,” Strome said. “You look back to those times and it feels like you would do anything to kind of go through it again because it goes by so fast and it feels like a long time ago. I still keep in touch with a bunch of my buddies that were there and they’re still some of my best friends today and still talk to my billet parents and stuff which is great and see them in the summertime.”

“It was such a fun time in our lives back then and we had a great group of guys but it goes by super quick so those are fond memories that molded me as a person and as a player; just amazing thoughts and feelings looking back.”

Strome is still one of the most accomplished players in IceDogs franchise history during his time there from 2009-2013, sitting second in all-time points for the franchise with 281 in 191 games played, while also sitting second and sixth for the highest single point totals with 106 points in only 65 games as a 17-year-old in 2010-11; just six points shy of Luca Caputi’s all-time record of 111 in 2007-08. Strome’s 19-year-old season was equally as impressive with 94 points in an injury-shortened 53 games during the 2012-13 season, a higher point-per-game trajectory than he had during his previous 106-point season.

Read more on the development and career of Niagara IceDogs alumnus Ryan Strome at armchairsportsgm.com.