Ryan Pulock is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenseman and alternate captain for the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Born on October 6, 1994, in Dauphin, Manitoba, he grew up in the small town of Grandview, Manitoba.
Pulock was selected 15th overall by the Islanders in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft and has established himself as a reliable, two-way defenseman known for his strong defensive play, physical presence, and powerful shot.
Standing at about 6’1″ or 6’2″ and weighing around 215-220 pounds, he shoots right-handed and has become a cornerstone of the Islanders’ blue line for over a decade.
Siblings
Ryan grew up in Grandview with his parents, Dave and Tannis, and his brothers Derrick and Brock.
The family faced profound tragedy in 2010 when Ryan, then 15, his mother Tannis, and grandmother were involved in a serious car accident while driving to watch Derrick play hockey.
The vehicle flipped, and 13-year-old Brock Pulock, the youngest brother, was tragically killed along with another boy.
Ryan sustained only minor injuries.
Brock had been a promising young defenseman himself, and the loss deeply affected the family.
Ryan has often spoken about how hockey helped them through the grief, and he has honored his late brother by inscribing Brock’s name or number on his sticks.
Derrick, the oldest brother, has remained close to the family; he works as a plumber and has a family in the Grandview area.
Career
Pulock developed his game in Manitoba minor hockey before joining the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League (WHL), where he played his entire junior career.
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Initially drafted as a forward, he transitioned to defense and emerged as a top offensive blueliner, posting impressive numbers such as 23 goals and 63 points in his final junior season in 2013-14.
He earned WHL East First All-Star Team honors in 2012 and 2014.
After signing his entry-level contract with the Islanders, Pulock spent several seasons developing with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in the American Hockey League (AHL), where he excelled offensively and earned All-Rookie Team honors in 2015 along with two AHL All-Star selections.
He made his NHL debut in 2016 and gradually became a full-time NHL player.
By the 2017-18 season, he was a regular, and under coach Barry Trotz, he formed a strong defensive pairing with Adam Pelech.
Pulock has contributed steadily on the Islanders’ back end, helping the team reach the playoffs multiple times, including deep runs in 2019 and 2020.
He signed a long-term extension in 2021 and has served as an alternate captain.
Accolades
In junior hockey, Pulock was named to the WHL Eastern Conference First All-Star Team in both 2012 and 2014.
In the AHL, he made the All-Rookie Team in 2015 and participated in the AHL All-Star Classic in 2016 and 2017.
Internationally, he won a bronze medal with Canada at the 2012 IIHF U18 World Championship.
While he has not yet captured major NHL individual awards, Pulock has been a key contributor on competitive Islanders teams and earned a lucrative long-term contract reflecting his value as a top-pair defenseman.
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