Not many players can say their first NHL training camp happened at 28 years old, but Derek Ryan can. Derek’s road to the NHL was not typical. It was so far from typical you might think it was made up. However, that is one of my favorite things about sports… it’s real.  Derek never got drafted. Derek never signed as free agent out of junior. He played Canadian University hockey for 4 years. Doc played 3 seasons in a mediocre Austrian league. Then he moved to Sweden for 1 year. Then signed a 2-way NHL contract at 28 years old. Derek recently signed a 3 year contract for over 9 million dollars with the Calgary Flames. You can’t make this stuff up! Lots of lessons in this one and you will hear some familiar themes: professionalism, trust, character, relationships, mental toughness, perseverance.