Ryan Blair's Linkedin Analytics

I grew up in Canada with stops in Halifax, Montreal, and Toronto. At sixteen, my family and I packed our bags and headed South to Northern Virginia - a crazy transition for any teenager. It was during this challenging time that I discovered my true passion for hockey, and it has been an essential part of my life ever since. After completing high school, I decided to take three gap years to pursue my love for hockey. It was a difficult choice to make, as it meant spending time away from family and friends. But my goal was clear - to earn a spot on a division 1 Hockey team and fulfill my dreams of playing college hockey. And that's exactly what happened. I earned the opportunity to study and play for UMass Lowell, and it was an unforgettable four-year experience. The lessons I learned on, and off ice have stayed with me to this day. Following graduation, I spent three seasons playing professionally in the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL). When my playing days came to an end, I knew I wasn't done with hockey just yet. In 2015, I became a coach. I had the privilege of serving as an Assistant and Head Coach at the amateur levels, returned to UMass Lowell as a director of hockey operations and was fortunate to coach at the minor professional level in the ECHL. Now, I'm on to a new chapter as the Hockey Director at the Carolina Ice Palace. I am extremely excited about the chance to contribute to the sport I love and positively impact the growth of hockey in Charleston.