The Origin of Ryan Pulock
Born in the small town of Dauphin, Manitoba on Oct. 6, 2020, Ryan Pulock was the middle brother of three. His brothers, Derrick Pulock and Brock Pulock, were both avid hockey players just as he was from a young age. However, the origin of Ryan Pulock starts with a tragedy that struck the Pulock family.
The date was March. 29, 2010. Pulock, his youngest brother Brock, their mother, and their grandmother were driving to see Pulocks older brother Derrick play in a hockey game for their hometown team, the Grandview Comets. On their way to the game, the family got into a car crash that resulted in the death of Brock Pulock at the age of only 13 years old. Pulock was only 16 at the time of the crash.
Pulock always plays for his brother. Pulock said in an interview with SNY, “I want to make it as far as I can. That’s what he would want me to do. Try to make him proud. He’s in the back of my head in everything I do, all the time”. I think everyone would agree with me when I say he did not let his brother down.
Pulock started his junior career in 2009 playing for the Parkland Rangers Midgets AAA team. He spent one season for the team but did not leave without making a major impact. In his only season as a AAA player, Pulock scored nine goals and nine assists in 39 games for the club. Pulock was also crucial in Parkland’s playoff appearance.
Pulock then moved to the WHL’s Brandon Wheat Kings, where he would spend the rest of his junior career. Pulock would spend four seasons with the team. In just his first season with the team, Pulock scored eight goals and 34 assists for a total of 42 points in 63 games. He followed up his strong first season with an even stronger second, scoring 19 goals and 41 assists for a total of 60 points. Not bad for a defenseman.
His first two seasons with the Wheat Kings made Pulock a first round prospect, and with the 15th pick in the 2013 NHL Draft, the New York Islanders selected Pulock. Pulock would spend the next two years as the captain of the Wheat Kings before moving to the Sound Tigers.
Pulock played his first full year with the Sound Tigers during the 2014-15 NHL season where he would spend the next three seasons of his career. He did have some sporadic NHL call ups, but none that lasted more than a few games.
During his time in Bridgeport, Pulock would become a mainstay of the Sound Tigers defense, even becoming an alternate captain for the team. In 2017-18, Pulock finally got to play a full season in the NHL and his first round talent quickly became evident. Since then, Pulock has been a mainstay of the Islanders defense.
Ryan Pulock is undoubtedly one of the best Islanders defencemen today. He is a crucial part of the Barry Trotz system that has proven to be so effective. He has plenty of potential and I cannot wait to see what the rest of his career brings.
