Hometown Paris Mounties captain Ryan Gardner-O’Keefe sets sights on championship in final junior season

Casandra Turnbull

Managing Editor

For Ryan Gardner-O’Keefe, hockey and Paris have always gone hand in hand.

Long before he became captain of his hometown junior hockey team, Gardner-O’Keefe was a two-year-old with a pair of boots, a stick and an outdoor rink.

“I first got involved in hockey from the day I could remember, it all started back on the old outdoor Syl Apps Arena with just my boots and a stick at 2 years old and the love for the game started then.”

Now 21, the Paris native and 2023 Paris District High School graduate is entering his final season of junior hockey as captain of the Paris Mounties, a role he has held for the past two seasons.

Of everything he has accomplished during his hockey career, wearing the ‘C’ for his hometown team ranks near the top.

“I’m definitely most proud of being named captain the past two years of my hometown team. As well as back-to-back years in Junior B hockey in Caledonia losing in the game 7 of the finals. And not being able to win a trophy has made me that much more eager to want to win in my last year in Paris.”

Gardner-O’Keefe’s path through hockey has largely been rooted in the community where it began.

He spent most of his minor hockey career playing for the Paris Wolfpack before moving to Brantford AAA for one season. He returned home to play for the Paris Mounties in 2022-23 and was named an assistant captain during his rookie season.

His play caught the attention of Jake McNeil, leading Gardner-O’Keefe to Caledonia, where he spent two seasons playing Junior B hockey.

Both seasons ended painfully close to a championship, with Caledonia falling in Game 7 of the finals in consecutive years.

Those experiences have only added fuel to Gardner-O’Keefe’s desire to finish his junior career on top - this time in a Mounties jersey.

On the ice, Gardner-O’Keefe describes himself simply.

“I would say I’m a hardworking team-oriented person, who loves to score points.”

That competitive nature also extends to looking out for his teammates. Gardner-O’Keefe likes to have fun on the ice, but when the game gets serious, so does he. As captain, he takes pride in standing up for the players around him and bringing the kind of intensity expected from a team leader.

His development hasn’t stopped just because he is now one of the veteran players in the dressing room. Gardner-O’Keefe continues to study the people around him and take lessons from coaches and mentors that can improve his game and potentially help him behind the bench someday.

“I’m always trying to work on picking things up from the mentors I have in place and finding good information to take from all sorts of great leaders.”

That includes new Paris Mounties head coach Zac Rinaldo. Gardner-O’Keefe said even in the short time they have worked together, he has already picked up lessons he could one day incorporate into his own coaching. He sees learning the game as something that extends well beyond his playing career.

His commitment also extends beyond games and practices. Gardner-O’Keefe believes competing at the junior level requires both physical preparation and the right mentality.

“Yes, it takes a lot of hard work and determination if you want to win, but in the end it’s all in your head. If you tell yourself, you can’t compete with guys at that level the only thing stopping you is yourself. Tell yourself you’ll be better than them and do the training off the ice to prove it. It doesn’t just take all on ice training to be a good hockey player!”

There are already signs that work could pay off during his final season.

The Mounties travelled to Niagara Aug. 28-30 for a preseason tournament, where Gardner-O’Keefe collected six points in four games, an early indication of the offensive contribution the captain is capable of bringing this season. Hockey wasn’t Gardner-O’Keefe’s only sport growing up. He also played baseball before deciding around age 13 or 14 that hockey would become his primary focus.

He credits baseball with helping keep him active, conditioned and motivated during hockey’s off-season. While competitive baseball eventually took a back seat, he hasn’t left the diamond entirely and still plays in a slo-pitch league in St. George with friends.

Behind all those years spent travelling between arenas, diamonds, practices and tournaments were Gardner-O’Keefe’s parents, who he identifies as the biggest influence on his athletic career.

“Definitely my parents for always being there with endless support no matter what and all the drives to and back from hockey and tournaments all over Ontario. Growing up playing baseball and hockey we travelled everywhere! They always made sure I was happy and playing the game I loved and I really appreciate them for that! They have shaped me to become a better man away from the arena from all the effort and everything!”

With his final junior season now underway, Gardner-O’Keefe knows exactly what he wants to accomplish before that chapter closes: win the Schmalz Cup with his hometown team.

But he isn’t necessarily ready for his playing days to end there. Gardner-O’Keefe hopes five years of junior hockey experience could open the door to playing professionally overseas. At the same time, the sport has already introduced him to another passion — coaching.

He previously spent two years coaching with the Paris District High School hockey team and this season will help his father, Gary, coach the U18 Brant Battalion.

It is a role that could become an even bigger part of his future once his playing career comes to an end.

“I look forward to when the time comes that I’ll be able to hopefully coach Junior hockey or use all the lessons I’ve been taught from it to display it elsewhere!”