February 19, 2022

By Fred Liggett
FredL@lstribune.net

The Kansas City Mavericks have just over 20 games left in the 2021-22 regular season and having a veteran presence around for a playoff push is what they have in Ryan Olson.

Olson is in his eighth year playing professional hockey and second season spent in the ECHL. Olson, a forward, previously played for the Colorado Eagles.

Mavericks head coach Tad O’Had says of Olson, “so nice to have him back, have his energy in the room.” Olson was returned to the Mavericks roster on Monday, Jan. 31 after a stint with the Stockton Heat of the AHL. Olly, as he is called by his teammates, has plenty of post-season experience having won a Kelly Cup with the Eagles.

Olson’s favorite pro sports team is the NFL’s Chicago Bears, this due to his favorite athlete as a youth was Bears All-Pro LB Brian Urlacher. Olly’s hometown is Delta, British Columbia where all his family members remain and root him on.

Olly’s favorite hockey memory so far was winning the Kelly Cup after the 2016-17 season while with the Colorado Eagles. Ryan enjoyed being on the ice for game seven of the championship series. Olson first put on a pair of skates at age three. Olly’s favorite website to visit daily is Hulu. If not in pro hockey today Olson feels he would be playing pro football either in the CFL or the NFL. Olly adds he would be playing the linebacker position.

Olson’s favorite food is a steak dinner and his favorite sports movie is “The Longest Yard.” Following his playing days Olly wishes to be remembered as someone who when they took the ice “every time made my teammates better which leads to wins.”

Get a closer look at Olly and the rest of the Mavericks when they host the Idaho Steelheads at a special Presidents Day afternoon game on Monday, Feb. 21. The fun begins inside Cable Dahmer Arena when the puck drops at 4:05 p.m.