Ryan P. Suter (born January 21, 1985) is a professional ice hockey defenseman and alternate captain with the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League (NHL). Ryan’s father, Bob, was a member of the historic gold medal-winning 1980 United StatesOlympic hockey team that defeated the Soviet Union in the famous “Miracle on Ice” game.[2] Ryan’s uncle Gary Suter was a long-time standout in the NHL.[3] Ryan was alternate captain for the US team, earning a silver medal in the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.[4][5]
Playing career
Suter played for the Madison Capitols, Culver Military Academy and then on to USA Hockey’s National Development Team in Ann Arbor, Michigan before he was drafted 7th overall by the Nashville Predators in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.[6] He then played one year with the Wisconsin Badgers (Western Collegiate Hockey Association in NCAA Division I)[7] before joining the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League during the 2004–05 season.[8] He played his rookie season in the NHL with the Predators in 2005–06.[9]
On June 16, 2008, Suter signed a four-year contract extension with the Predators, worth $14 million. The contract kicked in with the2008–09 NHL season.[10]
He agreed to terms with the Wild for a 13-year contract on July 4, 2012 which is worth $98 million. He and fellow free-agent signeeZach Parise were introduced to the media on July 10, and were announced as alternate captains under current captain Mikko Koivu.[11][12]
[edit]International
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men’s ice hockey | ||
Competitor for the  United States |
||
| Olympic Games | ||
| Silver | 2010 Vancouver | |
| World Junior Championships | ||
| Gold | 2004 Helsinki | |
| IIHF World U18 Championships | ||
| Gold | 2002 Trnava | |
| World U-17 Hockey Challenge | ||
| Gold | 2002 Manitoba | |
In international play, he has represented the U.S. hockey team in ten tournaments, and has won three gold medals. He says that,
- “I feel it’s an honor to wear the Team USA Jersey and every time I’m on the ice I play my hardest and give everything I have. Playing for Team USA is one of those things you look forward to. When I got the call and was asked to play on this team, it was an easy answer. It didn’t matter who was on the team or who the coach was. It’s just an honor to wear the jersey and compete for your country.[13]
On January 1, 2010, Suter was selected for the United States at the 2010 Winter Olympics. He was one of the team’s alternate captains.[14]
[edit]Personal life
Suter resides in Madison, Wisconsin in the off-season. He is married to Becky Suter (née Palmer), who is from Bloomington, Minnesota.[15]