Interview with SHS Hockey Player Ryan Pohlkotte

Welcome back to Off the Reels! To wrap up the Winter Edition, I am featuring an athlete I’ve watched grow up on the ice. 

Meet SHS Hockey Player Ryan Pohlkotte…

Hockey story:

When Ryan was young, his friend Keegan’s mom invited him to watch Keegan’s hockey practice, and there was no going back. He said, “when I went, I just fell in love with the sport, and the next season, I signed up to play.” Now, Ryan is nearing the end of his junior season with the Panthers where he plays defense. 

Ryan’s preseason injury:

In a preseason game in November, Ryan took an illegal hit from behind and to the head that left him with a bad concussion. He missed a month of the season and returned to the ice for the Mayor’s Cup in December. I asked him about what it was like to start the season like that and how he was able to come back from the serious injury. Ryan explained that it was difficult to watch his team play, knowing that he wasn’t able to be on the ice, helping them out. Instead, Ryan focused his energy on coming back from his injury. He kept in mind something one of his football coaches said during the COVID pandemic: “be ready when the lights come on,” and Ryan applied this advice to his recovery, knowing that he wanted to be ready to step back on the ice as soon as he was cleared to play. Ryan considers his recovery a success. In his first game back, Ryan helped the Panthers defeat Alter in the fourth time they faced each other this season. He said, “I would say that I was ready to come back, and I’m glad that I was.”

Ryan’s favorite thing about playing for the Panthers:

Ryan’s favorite thing about playing for the Panthers is the environment and the energy. He loves walking out of the tunnel with his team before a game. Ryan said that this experience with his team, the energy surrounding them, and his resulting mindset are unique to playing with the Panthers. 

Pros and cons to being a two-sport athlete:

In addition to playing hockey, Ryan also plays football for the Panthers. He told me that the only con to playing both sports is the lack of time to rest between seasons. However, the pros outweigh the cons. Ryan loves both groups of teammates and enjoys spending lots of time with them and forming good relationships. 

Ryan’s goals for his senior season:

I asked Ryan about what he is looking forward to in his senior season. Ryan has a simple plan that many athletes can relate to. He wants to have as much fun as possible to enjoy his final season, and he wants to work hard and hopefully make a good run in the state playoffs. 

Ryan’s pregame routine:

I originally asked Ryan what his pregame routine was with a more specific question about his favorite pump-up music. If you have ever walked past a hockey or football locker room before a contest and heard how loud the music is blaring, you might be surprised to hear that music is not an essential part of Ryan’s pregame routine. For home games, he chews mint gum during warm-ups, and for away games, he drinks an energy drink before the game. Home and away, the final part of his routine is a knee spin on the ice. Ryan said, “that just gets me locked in, ready to go.”

Ryan on being a defenseman:

Ryan is a key player on the Panthers’ defense, and he doesn’t get many breaks during the game. Ryan loves defense because he can see almost everything that is happening on the ice. He likes protecting the goalie, hitting people, and supporting his teammates. Ryan rarely sits out for more than a shift, so I asked him about how he keeps playing at his best. For Ryan, it’s all about keeping the energy high. He works to set the tone by making a big play, giving himself and his teammates a boost of energy. 

Significance behind #22:

Whether you were a Ryan fan when he first started hockey, or you’ve become one over the years, you have probably noticed that he has always been number 22. Ryan’s friend Keegan who first introduced him to hockey wore number 23, and since Ryan was a year younger, he chose 22. Interestingly, this means that Ryan and Keegan have always played wearing each other’s graduating years. 

Ryan’s advice for hockey players/athletes:

Based on Ryan’s goals for next season and his personality, it is clear that Ryan is easy-going and loves to have fun with hockey. But if you have ever seen him play, it’s also evident that he is a hard worker. A balance of hard work and fun is essential to any sport, and Ryan advises other athletes to find that balance. In his words, “put in the work when nobody’s watching…be a good teammate on and off the ice…and just have fun with the sport.”

Good luck to Ryan and the Panthers in their final tournament next weekend! 

Thanks for following along for the Winter Edition of Off the Reels! Follow @offthereelsblog on Instagram for updates on the Spring Edition.