Chris Ott

Lore & Background

Ryan Reaves is the son of former gridiron football player Willard Reaves, who played in the CFL and NFL. He began playing hockey at age five and football at age eight. As a youth, he played in the 2000 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the Winnipeg South Monarchs. He was drafted 36th overall by the Brandon Wheat Kings in the 2002 WHL bantam draft. Reaves was drafted by the St. Louis Blues 156th overall in the 2005 NHL entry draft. He made his NHL debut on October 11, 2010, with the Blues. He has played for the Minnesota Wild, St. Louis Blues, Pittsburgh Penguins, Vegas Golden Knights, New York Rangers, and Toronto Maple Leafs. Reaves scored the series-winning goal over the Winnipeg Jets that qualified the Golden Knights for the 2018 Stanley Cup Final.

Reader's Guide

Reaves has been described in the NHL as an enforcer, known for fighting, protecting teammates, and intimidating the opposition. He is often used on checking lines for aggressive forechecking. He has been suspended four times during his NHL career for a total of eleven games (including three playoff games), and fined an additional three times. He organized demonstrations of support for the Black Lives Matter movement after the murder of George Floyd in 2020, including locking arms with teammates during the anthem and kneeling alongside Tyler Seguin, Jason Dickinson, and Robin Lehner.

Did You Know?

• He has made the claim he is a descendant of Bass Reeves, a former slave who was an early Black deputy U.S. marshal.
• Reaves and his wife Alanna have two children named Kane and Kamilla.
• His brother Jordan Reaves is a player with the Edmonton Elks.