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LD Ryan Pilon - Brandon Wheat Kings, WHL (2015, 147th, NYI) -early retirement

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Lots of people seem to forget that playing hockey at a high level isn't just about lacing up the skates and scoring goals. There's a LOT of off-ice stuff that must be maintained almost every day of a pros life.

Some people love hockey, but wouldn't want to make it a profession.
 
You got to think Brandon is Praying that Kylington ends up on their roster this year. Losing Pilon and potentially Provorov would HURT!


Anyone think there could be more to it, I'm specifically thinking depression issues or something ? A young kid who is seeing everything go right for him, and decides his heart isn't in it anymore ? Always seems very strange to me. Maybe I look to much into it. Either way, hope he doesn't regret this decision one day and has a good life. I actually wanted the Flames to draft him, dodged a bullet there.
 
Eh. I wouldn't worry about Provorov not being with the Wheaties. He has to jump Morin and Ghost to make the team, and both have a serious leg up on him. I see Hex sending Prov back with the intention on chasing the Memorial Cup. Hopefully Calgary does the same with Kylington. >_>
 
DespoticNewt said:
Eh. I wouldn't worry about Provorov not being with the Wheaties. He has to jump Morin and Ghost to make the team, and both have a serious leg up on him. I see Hex sending Prov back with the intention on chasing the Memorial Cup. Hopefully Calgary does the same with Kylington. >_>
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Agreed, Provorov and Sanheim can go back to chase the MemCup after WJC lead roles. Lots of good development for them while they fill out. They both could legitimately contend for NHL spots next year though.
 
Monahan For Mayor said:
You got to think Brandon is Praying that Kylington ends up on their roster this year. Losing Pilon and potentially Provorov would HURT!


Anyone think there could be more to it, I'm specifically thinking depression issues or something ? A young kid who is seeing everything go right for him, and decides his heart isn't in it anymore ? Always seems very strange to me. Maybe I look to much into it. Either way, hope he doesn't regret this decision one day and has a good life. I actually wanted the Flames to draft him, dodged a bullet there.
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No, I don't think there's anything unusual at all about a teenager deciding to explore different career options. That actually sounds completely normal, and I'm surprised it doesn't happen more often. He had a talent for hockey, but it obviously stopped being fun for him at some point and he didn't see it being something he wanted to pursue as a career. Good for him for knowing what he wants and having the courage to step away.
 
Highlander23 said:
This. Actually there were some rumors before the draft that he wasn't into pro hockey
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Yeah I think his biggest knock was uninspired play and a lack of intensity at times so I guess it was bigger than it seemed. Good for him for backing out if his heart wasn't in it but I hope there isn't a mental health issue behind it.
 
Jake Virtanen said:
Wow, maybe this was one of the reasons behind his massive slide in the draft.
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I also think him requesting a trade out of Lethbridge hurt him. Then again I also wouldn't be shocked if his experience with the Hurricanes also helped strip him of his passion for the game
 
LilySmoov said:
I think we all know the real reason he quit.

Can't say I blame him.
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Well played :laugh::laugh:

Monahan For Mayor said:
You got to think Brandon is Praying that Kylington ends up on their roster this year. Losing Pilon and potentially Provorov would HURT!


Anyone think there could be more to it, I'm specifically thinking depression issues or something ? A young kid who is seeing everything go right for him, and decides his heart isn't in it anymore ? Always seems very strange to me. Maybe I look to much into it. Either way, hope he doesn't regret this decision one day and has a good life. I actually wanted the Flames to draft him, dodged a bullet there.
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I think this improves the chances Kylington goes to Brandon, this will immediately increase his ice time with the Wheat Kings
 
Constant struggle by the Wheat Kings staff last year to get him to play. Just isn't in to hockey like you would think with all that talent.

Hey it happens and good luck to him
 
M.C.G. 31 said:
That was the first thing I thought of, too. If he steps away in his late-20s or early-30s, then what? At least now he's just 19 years old and can easily step back into school and pursue something he'll enjoy and make a good career out of.

All respect to him for making this decision.
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You know people in their late 20's-30's do go back to school and earn a degree/career skill quite often
 
Monahan For Mayor said:
You got to think Brandon is Praying that Kylington ends up on their roster this year. Losing Pilon and potentially Provorov would HURT!


Anyone think there could be more to it, I'm specifically thinking depression issues or something ? A young kid who is seeing everything go right for him, and decides his heart isn't in it anymore ? Always seems very strange to me. Maybe I look to much into it. Either way, hope he doesn't regret this decision one day and has a good life. I actually wanted the Flames to draft him, dodged a bullet there.
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To your second point, no. I doubt any mental health issues were the reason why he quit. If it was the team would have been able to give him a lot of support.

If I had to guess he just didn't like what his life would be like. Constant travel, constant physical work, constant dieting, constant attention, constantly being monitored, constantly a role model and constantly sleeping right. Its a 24/7/365 job. Being a professional athlete is literally the only profession like it.

Honestly what I listed above is a large reason why a lot of us are where we are now and not in the pros or juniors. The amount of work, attention, and dedication that these young athletes do starting at a young age is insane. For the most part the most dedicated and hardest workers will keep moving on. There are very few who get by with just natural skill.

Often times the athletes who aren't interested in doing it as a career slowly weed themselves out during their AAA/AA years. Some continue on for fun while others just quit for a couple years.

Imagine leaving home at 15 after putting years of your life already into becoming the player you are and you would still have to be in the top % to even make a living career out of it. It can be a great or a terrible life with a lot of rough patches. Being a pro athlete looks and sounds a lot better then most would probably believe.
 
I really liked this guy. Took skating lessons with a buddy in a small town called Aberdeen about an hour from where we live. Trach power skating.

Can't help but feel his parents might've pushed him to hard early on causing him to just not care anymore. Good on him to do what he wants. I hope he has no regrets and accomplishes a lot in his life.
 
I am the Liquor said:
Very talented. I was a fan. He could have been in the NHL and made millions. Gotta be true to himself. Wish him the best of luck going forward.
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Yup. Takes some real guts and maturity at that age to forego potentially millions of dollars to choose a different path. Best of luck to this kid, hope he finds what he's looking for.
 
Can't force yourself to be passionate about something you're not. Even if he had the talent and saw the $$$ signs he still wouldn't have made it off talent alone so better stop now then ride the buses in the A

I wonder what are some other examples of this besides Daigle
 
R S said:
Me too.

His points/size combination point to future success based on past drafts but there are just other things about his game that I have seen over the last couple of years which I don't like.

He lacks intensity in his game both defensively and physically.

Unless he picks that up, I don't see him being a future NHL player.
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Damn good prediction.

Feel for the kid and hope he comes around, making the NHL is a great accomplishment.
 
Lord of Light said:
Can't force yourself to be passionate about something you're not. Even if he had the talent and saw the $$$ signs he still wouldn't have made it off talent alone so better stop now then ride the buses in the A

I wonder what are some other examples of this besides Daigle
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Agreed. It's simply not worth the mental anguish/stress to do something you don't enjoy. Not for any reasonable amount of money.
 
This situation kind of sounds like a friend of mine that did the exact same thing in the WHL, and could have been a Bottom 6 forward in the NHL if he kept playing. But due to the excessive concussions and the loss of passion for the sport, he is now devoting his life to another passion that he finds way more rewarding than hockey, and I TOTALLY respect his decision. I cannot name him since he doesn't want to be named, but I can say he played with some of the NHL greats of today and they all look up to him for his big decision.

So if Ryan is retiring because he has another passion, all to him. Good luck and I hope you find what you are looking for! :handclap:
 
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