As a student at Taft, Ryan played varsity lacrosse and hockey, served as captain of the hockey team, and won the Coaches Award for most valuable player. After graduating from Taft in 2001, Ryan attended Boston College, where he received a BA in economics. There, Ryan was a captain, NCAA All-American (Second Team), recipient of the Paul Patrick Daley Student-Athlete Scholarship, and winner of the John “Snooks” Kelley Award.

After graduating from Boston College, Ryan went on to a career in the NHL, playing for the Anaheim Ducks, Vancouver Canucks, Ottawa Senators, and Tampa Bay Lightning. In 2007, he won the Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks. Ryan also played in the AHL and NLA, with the Zurich Lions. He played for Team USA in the 2003 World Junior Championships, and in the 2009 and 2011 World Championships.

Ryan returns to Taft with his wife, Jessica (Goldmark) Shannon ’01, and their two children, Emma and Owen. Ryan is an assistant director of admissions, serves as the head coach for boys’ varsity hockey, and junior varsity boys’ lacrosse.