Ryan Lin

Last updated

Ryan Lin
Born (2008-04-18) April 18, 2008 (age 17)
Richmond, British Columbia, Canada
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 176 lb (80 kg; 12 st 8 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Right
WHL team Vancouver Giants
NHL draft Eligible 2026

Ryan Lin (born April 18, 2008) is a Canadian ice hockey defenceman for the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League (WHL). He is considered a top prospect eligible for the 2026 NHL entry draft. [1]

Contents

Playing career

Lin played youth hockey with the Delta Hockey Academy (DHA) in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League. During the 2022–23 season with the DHA U15 Prep Green team, he recorded 17 goals and 24 assists in 27 games. He was also called up to the DHA U17 Prep team during the season, with 4 assists in 4 games. [2] On May 11, 2023, Lin was drafted sixth overall by the Vancouver Giants in the 2023 WHL Prospects draft, signing with the Giants on the 18th. [3] After signing with the Giants, Lin was assigned back to the DHA, playing with their U18 prep team.

During the 2023–24 season, he was selected to play for Canada at the 2024 Winter Youth Olympics. At the time of his roster selection in December 2023, he ranked third across all CSSHL U18 prep defencemen in points with 25 in 19 games. [4] By the end of the season, Lin had 10 goals and 22 assists in 28 games, while also playing a game each for the Richmond Sockeyes of the Pacific Junior Hockey League and the Vancouver Giants. [2] [5]

Entering the 2024–25 WHL season, Lin was added to the Giants roster and quickly became a core piece, being placed on the first power play line and being on the first overtime line. [2] With Lin recording over twenty minutes of ice-time each game, his unexpected performance with thirteen assists in thirteen games, the fourth highest in WHL rookie scoring at the time, led to him being named the best Giants defenceman since Bowen Byram in his 2017–18 season and one of the best seasons from a 16-year-old in Giants history. [6] [7] Lin continued to impress throughout the season, earning WHL rookie of the week honors for the January 12–19 week, recording four points in two games. By the time Lin earned his rookie of the week honours, he had already broken the record for most points by a 16-year-old Giants defenceman, breaking David Musil's 32-point season in the 2009–10 season. [8] By the end of the season, Lin recorded 5 goals and 48 assists in 60 games, becoming one of three rookie defenceman to record over 50 points in a season along with Scott Niedermayer and Landon DuPont. [9] He was named one of six WHL players in contention for the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy; DuPont won the award on the April 24. [10] He was also named to the 2024–25 CHL All-Rookie team. [11]

Entering the 2025–26 WHL season, as a projected top-15 pick in the 2026 NHL entry draft, Lin had considered going the NCAA route but stuck with the Vancouver Giants. [1] Prior to the season beginning, he was named to the 2025 CHL USA Prospects Challenge. [12] Lin began the season with two goals and eight assists through ten games. [13]

International play

In December 2023, Lin was selected to the Canada under-18 team roster for the 2024 Winter Youth Olympics. [4] He contributed one goal and four assists in four games, placing in fourth after losing to Finland 4–5 in shootout. [2]

During the 2024–25 season, Lin was selected to the Canada White U17 roster for the 2024 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, recording one goal and one assist in five games. He was also selected for the 2025 IIHF World U18 Championships, recording one goal and one assist in seven games. [5]

Throughout the 2025 offseason, he joined Canada's roster along with top 2026 prospect Keaton Verhoeff and top 2027 prospect Landon DuPont for the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. [1] He had two goals and three assists in five games. [5]

Career statistics

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
2023–24 Vancouver Giants WHL 1000030004
2023–24 Richmond Sockeyes PJHL 10110—————
2024–25 Vancouver GiantsWHL60548531450226
WHL totals615485314802210

Awards and honours

AwardYearRef
CHL
CHL All-Rookie team 2025 [11]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Ewen, Steve (August 9, 2025). "Vancouver Giants star Ryan Lin: 'I really think I have another gear'". The Province . Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Ewen, Steve (October 2, 2024). "Vancouver Giants rookie D-man Ryan Lin drawing rave reviews — including from Kelowna Rockets GM". The Province. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  3. ↑ "GIANTS SIGN 6TH OVERALL PICK RYAN LIN". Vancouver Giants . May 18, 2023. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  4. 1 2 "Giants prospect Ryan Lin named to Team Canada at 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games". Langley Advance Times . December 23, 2023. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  5. 1 2 3 "Ryan Lin". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  6. ↑ Ewen, Steve (October 30, 2024). "Vancouver Giants notebook: Defencemen shuffle as star rookie Ryan Lin heads to Under-17s Worlds". The Province. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  7. ↑ Kierszenblat, Adam (November 3, 2024). ""I Want To Win A Gold Medal": Vancouver Giants Ryan Lin Ready To Impress At The 2024 U17 World Challenge". The Hockey News . Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Vancouver Giants Lin named rookie of the week". Langley Advance Times. January 22, 2025. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Vancouver Giant a contender for league's rookie title". The Abbotsford News . April 7, 2025. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  10. ↑ Kepke, Cami (April 24, 2025). "Exceptional-status defenceman DuPont wins Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy as WHL Rookie of the Year for 2024-25". Western Hockey League . Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  11. 1 2 Séguin, Christopher (June 20, 2025). "CHL Announces 2024-25 All-Star and All-Rookie Teams presented by CCM". Canadian Hockey League . Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  12. ↑ "Lin, Roobroeck and Villeneuve named to Team CHL for Prospects Challenge". TSN.ca . September 23, 2025. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  13. ↑ Kirshenblatt, Adam (October 8, 2025). "Vancouver's Lin welcomes pressure, experience ahead of draft season". TSN.ca. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
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