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Ryan Ward RetiresNovember 11, 2014
One of the greatest players in Minnesota Swarm history, Ryan Ward aka Wardo announced his retirement from the NLL yesterday. Ward played eleven NLL seasons with the Philadelphia Wings to start and finish his career with the Minnesota Swarm and Edmonton Rush in between. He was going to be entering the second year of his two-year contract with the New England Black Wolves who moved from Philadelphia this summer. The Victoria, British Columbia native grew up playing in the Victoria Shamrocks system and went to Butler University to play collegiately. The Wings originally drafted Ward with the third overall pick in the 2003 NLL Entry Draft and he NLL All-Rookie status in 2004. He started the 2005 season in Philadelphia but on February 8th, the Swarm traded Shawn Nadelen and a 2005 NLL Entry Draft first rounder for Ward and a 2005 fourth rounder. Ward immediately became the Swarm's top scorer and righthanded threat on the first year expansion team. His signature game of the 2005 season came in Anaheim against the Storm when he became the first Swarm player to score five goals in a game including the game tying goal with two seconds left to send the game into overtime, which the Swarm won. In just eleven games with the team in 2005, Ward had 19 goals and 25 assists. With the start of the 2006 season, Ward was entrenched as the "quarterback" of the offense, getting everyone set up and often finding the open man for the goal. He led the team in points and assists playing in all sixteen games as the they made their first ever playoff appearance. In 2007, he continued his rise as he set new team single season records with 52 assists and 75 points. He got his first game winner for the Swarm against the Wings on March 18th and led the team to their second straight playoff appearance. He also earned his first NLL All-Star appearance in 2007. The 2008 saw the Swarm start a franchise best 6-0 as Ward had 16 goals and 16 assists in those first six. The team had good balance on both sides of the ball, so Ward had more opportunities to score in addition to setting up others. His and the team's fast start earned him his second straight NLL All-Star appearance. He finished the season with 33 goals which led the team and were the most he ever scored in a NLL season. The Swarm finished with a franchise best 10-6 record and earned their first ever home playoff game at The Hive. Even though the Swarm lost in that game to the New York Titans, the future of the team was looking bright. The Swarm started 2009, 2-0, but fizzled in a bad way the rest of year going 4-10 and missing out on the playoffs for the first time since 2005. Ward still put up 20 goals and 36 assists but like the rest of team, he struggled. Still, it was a quite a shock to Swarm fans that in July 2009, Ward was traded to the Edmonton Rush in the deal that brought Ryan Benesch to the team. Ward at the time was 27, in the prime of his career and had made Minnesota his home but the Swarm decided and it looks like they were correct that in order to improve they had to deal great talent to get great talent. Ward enjoyed four great years in Edmonton as help lead the Rush to the 2012 Champions Cup finals where the lost to the Rochester Knighthawks. It was the closest that Ward got to winning the Champions Cup in his career. During that 2012 playoff run, Ward had ten goals and eleven assists in three games. In 2013, Ward assisted on a career high 54 goals and tied for most points in his career at 75. Ward became an unrestricted free agent after the 2013 season and signed with his original NLL team, the Philadelphia Wings. In what appears to turn out to be his last NLL season, he had 14 goals and 46 assists in 17 games. The Wings moved to the Connecticut in August but Ward has decided not to move with them as he stated that his priorities have changed or maybe evolved over time to now that time with his family outweighs the passion he needs to prepare for another NLL season. Ward has made his mark in the NLL and during the summer playing the sport he loves. He finished his NLL career with 247 goals (28th all-time in the NLL after 2014) and 431 assists (15th) for 678 points (19th) in 170 games and he played in nine playoff games scoring 16 goals and 32 assists. He was a two-time All-Star, made NLL All-Rookie in 2004. Ward grew up playing in Victoria and that meant summer box which he also made his mark. In five seasons of WLA play, he played 64 games scoring 101 goals and 148 assists on his way to winning two Mann Cups with the Victoria Shamrocks in 2003 & 2005. He had spectacular junior career with the Shamrocks also in which he was the BCLA leading scorer in 1999 & 2000. He also was stellar outdoors where he played collegiately at Butler University from 2000 to 2003. He had 69 goals and 64 assists in his four years. The 64 assists were the most ever scored by a Butler player and his 133 points were fourth all-time in school history. He played one season in the MLL with the Rochester Rattlers in 2004 with 6 goals and 4 assists in 10 games. Ward probably acheived his greatest team success in his career as a member of Team Canada at the 2006 FIL World Field Lacrosse Championships in London, Ontario. As a midfielder on the team, Ward played all eight games with three goals and four assists as Canada beat the United States for the Gold Medal for the first time since 1978. He also won silver as a member of the Team Canada at the 1999 FIL U-19 World Field Lacrosse Championships. Ward is easily top ten all-time in greatest players in Minnesota Swarm history. How one ranks him may change from person to person but Ward is in the top ten for sure after ten seasons of Minnesota Swarm lacrosse. He played for the team from 2005 through 2009 appearing in 73 regular season (8th in team history) and three playoff games. He played in 41 straight games from February 11, 2005 through April 6, 2007. He was assistant captain from 2006 - 2009. He was the team's first ever star on offense as Ryan Cousins was on defense and set the bar for Swarm players following him. Ward was the first player to decide to make Minnesota his home just before the 2006 season. He moved here with his with Laurel and now have a son and daughter. He teaches and coaches at Eden Prairie High School and runs camps and clinics through his company, Twin Ciites Lacrosse. Even though he has retired from the NLL, Ward will remain a leader in lacrosse in Minnesota for many years to come. Who knows, maybe one day you may see Ryan Ward as Minnesota Swarm Head Coach? Career Stats with the Swarm
Season Stats with the Swarm
Game Stats with the Swarm
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