Vancouver, B.C. – Vancouver Canucks General Manager Mike Gillis today announced that Ryan Walter has been named an Assistant Coach with the club. Walter joins Head Coach Alain Vigneault and Associate Coach Rick Bowness on the Canucks staff.

“This is another important announcement for our hockey club,” said Gillis. “Ryan’s experiences as a player and motivator will be a great asset to our coaching staff. He has proven himself in the game of hockey and business to be successful at everything he does.”

“I believe strongly that Ryan’s skills will complement Rick and I very well,” said Vigneault. “His leadership skills and ability to motivate others will benefit our organization. I am excited to have Ryan join our staff.”

Walter, 50, enjoyed a 15 year playing career in the NHL, where he played in 1003 regular season games with three clubs including the Canucks. In 1003 games played, Walter recorded 646 points (264-382-646) and 946 penalty minutes. His greatest on-ice accomplishment came in 1986 when he won the Stanley Cup as a member of the Montreal Canadiens.

The 2nd overall selection by the Washington Capitals in the 1978 NHL Entry Draft, Walter went on to play his first four seasons with the Capitals where he was named the team Captain. After wearing the Canadiens sweater for nine seasons, Walter finished his career in his hometown by playing for the Canucks during the 1991-92 and 1992-93 seasons.

During the past 15 years, Walter has earned his Masters of Arts Degree in Leadership/Business and has worked with professional athletes and executives to maximize their potential both physically and mentally. He has been a successful public speaker, author and business leader.

The native of New Westminster currently lives in Langley with his wife Jennifer. The couple has three sons; Ben, Ryan and Joe, as well as two daughters; Christiana and Emma.

WALTER PLAYER BIO:

Drafted: Washington Capitals' 1st round choice, 2nd overall, in 1978

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VAN - Career Regular Season Stats Season Team GP G A P +/- PIM PP SH GW S S% 1991-1992 Canucks   67 6 11 17 6 49 1 1 0 73 8.2 1992-1993 Canucks   25 3 0 3 -2 10 0 0 0 15 20.0 Team Totals:   92 9 11 20  4 59  1  1  0  88  10.2

VAN - Career Playoff Stats Season Team GP G A P +/- PIM PP SH GW S S% 1991-1992 Canucks   13 0 3 3 -1 8 0 0 0 6 0.0 Team Totals:   13 0 3 3  -1 8  0  0  0  6  0.0

Career Regular Season Stats Season Team GP G A P +/- PIM PP SH GW S S% 1973-1974 Langley  BCJHL   62 40 62 102               1973-1974 Kamloops  WCJHL   2 0 0 0   0           1974-1975 Langley  BCJHL   52 32 60 92   111           1974-1975 Kamloops  WCJHL   9 8 4 12   2           1975-1976 Kamloops  WHL   72 35 49 84   96           1976-1977 Kamloops  WCJHL   71 41 58 99   100           1977-1978 Seattle  WCJHL   62 54 71 125   148           1977-1978 Canada  WJC-A   6 5 3 8   4           1978-1979 Capitals   69 28 28 56 -1 70 6 0 1 156 17.9 1978-1979 Canada  WEC-A   8 4 1 5   4           1979-1980 Capitals   80 24 42 66 -1 106 12 1 1 157 15.3 1980-1981 Capitals   80 24 44 68 -9 150 4 0 1 178 13.5 1980-1981 Canada  WEC-A   8 0 1 1   2           1981-1982 Capitals   78 38 49 87 -3 142 19 1 3 183 20.8 1981-1982 Canada  WEC-A   4 1 3 4   0           1982-1983 Canadiens   80 29 46 75 15 40 8 1 4 169 17.2 1983-1984 Canadiens   73 20 29 49 -11 83 7 1 4 117 17.1 1984-1985 Canadiens   72 19 19 38 -18 59 11 0 0 120 15.8 1985-1986 Canadiens   69 15 34 49 -9 45 9 0 1 115 13.0 1986-1987 Canadiens   76 23 23 46 -6 34 11 0 4 117 19.7 1987-1988 Canadiens   61 13 23 36 12 39 6 0 3 93 14.0 1988-1989 Canadiens   78 14 17 31 23 48 1 1 0 104 13.5 1989-1990 Canadiens   70 8 16 24 4 59 1 0 1 109 7.3 1990-1991 Canadiens   25 0 1 1 -3 12 0 0 0 14 0.0 1990-1991 Montreal  Fr-Tour   2 0 0 0   0           1991-1992 Canucks   67 6 11 17 6 49 1 1 0 73 8.2 1992-1993 Canucks   25 3 0 3 -2 10 0 0 0 15 20.0 NHL Totals:   1,003 264 382 646  -3 946  96  6  23  1,720  15.3

Career Playoff Stats Season Team GP G A P +/- PIM PP SH GW S S% 1974-1975 Kamloops  WCJHL   2 1 1 2   2           1975-1976 Kamloops  WHL   12 3 9 12   10           1976-1977 Kamloops  WCJHL   5 1 3 4   11           1982-1983 Canadiens   3 0 0 0   11 0 0 0     1983-1984 Canadiens   15 2 1 3   4 1 0 1     1984-1985 Canadiens   12 2 7 9   13 0 0 0     1985-1986 Canadiens   5 0 1 1   2 0 0 0     1986-1987 Canadiens   17 7 12 19   10 2 1 1     1987-1988 Canadiens   11 2 4 6 -3 6 2 0 1 18 11.1 1988-1989 Canadiens   21 3 5 8 2 6 0 1 2 35 8.6 1989-1990 Canadiens   11 0 2 2 2 0 0 0 0 10 0.0 1990-1991 Canadiens   5 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 0.0 1991-1992 Canucks   13 0 3 3 -1 8 0 0 0 6 0.0 NHL Totals:   113 16 35 51   62  5  2  5  71

Career Notes WCJHL First All-Star Team (1978) WCJHL Player of the Year (1978) Bud Man of the Year Award (1992) Played in NHL All-Star Game (1983) Traded to Montreal by Washington with Rick Green for Rod Langway, Brian Engblom, Doug Jarvis and Craig Laughlin, September 9, 1982. Missed majority of 1990-91 season recovering from wrist injury suffered in game vs. Hartford, October 13, 1990. Signed as a free agent by Vancouver, July 26, 1991.