Ryan O’Reilly, the Rink Rat
Ryan O’Reilly before the Burgundy and White Game
Rhino is typically one of the first players on the ice, and one of the last off. It’s clear he loves the sport of hockey.
Ryan and his brother Cal actually put out a Youtube video awhile back showcasing some of their off-season training. There’s a whole lot of running. There’s also this sequence when Rhino jumps up the steps at a boardwalk– no mild running for him, he actually uses explosive strength to propel himself up the wooden stairs.
At one point he’s standing on a stability ball while going, er, all out with heavy rope training. There’s also a sequence during which he’s working his lateral movements on a stack of unstable wrestling mats… suffice it to say, Rhino really does have the thighs of a rhino.
Lots of rink work, too. Here’s a look at Ryan O’Reilly during the March 16, 2015 Avalanche practice:
In other words, all that hard work pays off.