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| Photo by: USHL |
In his first season in the United States Hockey League, Ryan
Blankemeier has proven to be a huge asset for the Chicago Steel. After suiting
up for the Chicago Young Americans, the Oak Park native was selected in the
first round of the 2014 Phase II draft by the Steel. Blankemeier burst onto the
scene this season, and ranks among the team leaders with 13 goals and a
plus-five on-ice rating. Following his USHL career, Blankemeier will continue
playing hockey at Dartmouth College, a school with not only a historic hockey
program but also outstanding academics. We had a chance to chat with the Steel
forward and get his perspective on his hockey career and his bright future,
both on and off the ice.
Q: You have been
a huge contributor offensively in your first season with the Steel. Can you
talk about your play this season and how you’ve been able to come in and be so
effective right away?
A: Yeah, at the
beginning of the year it was tough to learn a new game. The game is faster and
you have to make plays a lot quicker but you are also playing with guys that
are a lot better. I found that once I was able to adjust to the pace, guys
would find you. Scoring is harder because it’s a faster pace but it’s also
easier to make plays with better guys, so once I found that groove everything
was easier.
Q: What was the
adjustment like jumping from the Chicago Young Americans to the USHL?
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| Photo by: MJB Images |
A: It’s just a
lot of details that you have to pay attention to. In U-18 hockey, you can get
away with a lot of things that you can’t here, like going easy on the back
check, not finishing hits, not getting pucks out or making slow plays. Here,
every shift you have to bear down because you are playing against a lot better
guys. So the focus was a big adjustment. Also, the length of the season is a
lot different and something I had to adjust to. You have to be durable and
ready to practice every day.
Q: How has
playing for the Steel, and in the USHL, affected your development as a player?
A: It’s been
huge! Being on the ice every day and playing with a lot better players forces
you to get better and get stronger or you’ll get left behind. I’m able to come
in and be around great hockey players who are working hard and it has forced me
to become a better player.
Q: What do you
enjoy most about playing for the Steel?
A: I’ve really
enjoyed being with the guys on road trips. Also playing in front of crowds has
been exciting. The USHL really does a good job with the whole junior
experience. It’s been a fun season.
Q: How long have
you been playing hockey for and when did you decide that it was a large part of
your future?
A: I started
playing organized hockey when I was five years old. I played other sports,
mainly baseball, until my first year of high school. After my freshman year though
I decided I was going to drop the other sports and really focus on hockey.
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| Photo by: MJB Images |
Q: You’re
committed to play at Dartmouth College at the conclusion of your USHL career. What
were some factors that led to your commitment to the Big Green?
A: Yeah, it was an easy decision for me. I have
family members that went to Dartmouth and I have known about the school for a
while. I love the campus, I love the location, I love the hockey and obviously
the academics were a plus too. So just that whole combination and my family
history there made it an easy choice for me.
Q: You have also been selected as a National Merit Finalist. Can
you talk about the process and what the recognition means to you?
A: Yeah, my brother was actually a finalist too so he set the bar
high. My parents have always pushed the education along with hockey. I made
sure to focus on school my first three years of high school which put me in a
great spot. Now that I am a senior, I’ve had a little less school too worry
about so I’ve been able to balance school and hockey. For the National Merit, I
took the PSAT and based on my score I was selected as a semifinalist. I had to
write a paper and answer some questions and I recently received the news that I
was a finalist. It’s an honor and it reinforces what my family has been all
about and it shows that I can focus on both school and hockey.
Q: This weekend, you guys face Omaha and Dubuque at home before
heading to Dubuque on Sunday. In January, you scored a game-winning overtime
goal against the Fighting Saints. What are your thoughts on the three games
this weekend?
A: Both Omaha and Dubuque are high-skill teams. We only had one
game last weekend so we should be fresh and able to use our speed against both
opponents. It’s three big games with a possible six points. Being well rested,
we’re hoping to come into the weekend strong, play our game and come away with
points.
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Photo by: MJB Images
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