Winterton Getting The Full First Year Experience With Firebirds

HERSHEY, Pa. - Ryan Winterton saw Coachella Valley's heartbreaking Calder Cup Finals Game 7 overtime loss last summer after joining the team on an amateur tryout contract in late May following his final season of junior hockey in OHL with the London Knights.

While he didn't suit up for any action during the Firebirds' 2023 Calder Cup Playoffs run, being with the team as a 'Black Ace' and going through that experience last summer set the standard and expectations for Winterton heading into his rookie season with Coachella Valley this fall.

He's getting his first taste of Calder Cup Finals action in this year's rematch against the Hershey Bears - meeting the challenge head-on thus far with a pair of goals in Friday night's Game 1.

"It kind of took me a while to get going [offensively] in the playoffs, so to score two tonight in the first game of the [Finals] it was great," Winterton said of the two-goal performance giving him a confidence boost at the perfect time.  "I like to pride myself on being fast and just trying to get in on the forecheck. And I enjoy putting in goals, so I enjoy playing with them two," he added of playing with Cameron Hughes and Logan Morrison. "They're just going to set you up."

Firebirds head coach Dan Bylsma has the first year pro as a key cog on the team's penalty kill, an opportunity that Winterton ended up earning with his play throughout the season.

"It's awesome, kind of worked [my way] into that," Winterton said of his increased role on the penalty kill. "At the start of the year, I was nothing and then I think I got a couple sniffs with it and I proved that I can do a good job [on the penalty kill]. They kind of stayed with me through it. [I'm] just thankful for the opportunity they gave me and just trying to run with it."

It appears that extra time spent with the Firebirds last year has more than paid off as Winterton put together a solid first season in the AHL with 22 goals and 13 assists in 58 games with Coachella Valley while also making his NHL debut with the Seattle Kraken on November 9th in Colorado against the Avalanche - appearing in 9 NHL games as a first year pro - with the final six of those NHL games coming in late March and early April leading into these 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs.

"You're learning a lot as you go. The start of the year was kind of learning process being a 20 year-old coming up but then, you know, the older guys have been great and then going up to Seattle you learn a lot there about what it takes to play at that level," Winterton explained of his first pro season thus far. "Then [it's] just kind of maintaining what you do all year - there's always gonna be ups and downs - but just getting through it."

Winterton, who was also a member of the 2021-22 OHL champion Hamilton Bulldogs team, is more than eager to help Coachella Valley obtain the franchise's first AHL championship in just their second year in the league.

The experience he's gaining playing into the middle of June is going to be invaluable as he continues his career.

"I've learned a lot. I mean, you learn a lot all season from the older guys," Winterton said of his growth in his first pro season. "They've done a great job teaching us you know, little things, how to be a pro and, you know, just treating your body the way it's supposed to. Coming to the rink every day is a grind. It's been a real learning experience, but it's been awesome," he added.