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If things had turned out differently, Ryan Ginand could have been living in Boston as an up-and-coming businessman, donning a suit each day on his way to the State Street financial district. Instead, Ginand is suiting up for a professional hockey team, living his dream and experiencing a totally different kind of success. The young rookie has stepped up when it counts for Trenton, becoming one of the team's more reliable scorers.

"When you're in school trying to get a degree, you're thinking about being an athlete and a student as well," Ginand said. "I was just kind of focusing on my studies, but I always knew in the back of my head that hockey was my passion and I wanted to try to see where I could go with it and see where it could take me."

After a successful college career at Northeastern University which culminated in a 20 goal senior year, Ginand headed overseas to pursue a professional career playing for the Herning Blue Fox of Oddset Ligaen.

"It was different. It's a different style of hockey," he said. "It was tough."

Even with the differences in the European game, Ginand still showed his penchant for scoring with the Blue Fox, potting four goals and adding three assists in only ten games. Despite his solid play, Ginand didn't feel comfortable in the Danish league.

"I was the only North American on the team, so no one really spoke English," he said. "I just kind of got lonely living by myself."
When things didn't work out in Denmark, he got in touch with his agent.

"I said, 'Hey, I want to try to play, put me in a good place. Somewhere where I'd be successful, where I'd enjoy it and they'd take care of us,' and this is the type of place they put me in. It's unbelievable," Ginand said.

When Ginand arrived in Trenton, the points didn't come right away. He hadn't skated in over a month, and his lack of practice combined with a transition back to North American hockey held him back.

"He made the decision to go to Europe and he wasn't in a very good league over there, so when he came here I think it took him a while to get adjusted to the pro game," said head coach Rick Kowalsky. "Obviously, his speed and skill allowed him to probably dominate in college, but you're playing against bigger, smarter, faster, older defenseman here."

Ginand admits he had a hard time adjusting to the ECHL level of play.

"It was just different for me because I went from college to Europe, which is totally different hockey, and then from Europe to here, which is totally different hockey, just the speed, size, and skill," he said.

Over time, Ginand found his niche and has excelled for the T-Devils.

"I think he struggled to kind of find his role on the team early on, and as of late he's figured it out," Kowalsky said. "I think confidence is huge. He didn't have it when he got here, he was in and out of the lineup and not really contributing, and then he got an opportunity here and he's gotten considerably better pretty much every game."

Ginand credits his improved play to the leadership of his head coach, citing the advice and suggestions Kowalsky has provided as his favorite part of playing for the Devils.

"All that I've learned from Rick, the adjustments they've helped me through and how patient they've been with me, you don't find that anywhere else," Ginand said. "If they weren't patient with me, I'd be at home right now not doing anything."

Luckily for Trenton, Ginand isn't sitting at home, but instead taking to the ice and consistently lighting the lamp for the Devils. In his past five games, Ginand has accumulated an impressive nine points (6 goals and 3 assists), including a hat trick against the Florida Everblades on January 30. Kowalsky said he recognizes the effort Ginand puts in every night and is rewarding him with more ice time and an increased offensive role.

"The biggest thing as a coach for me lately is consistency," Kowalsky said. "Down in Florida, through three games, no question he was our best player. He's proved that he can contribute on a nightly basis and we're gonna need him down the stretch."

Ginand downplayed his personal success and quickly changed the subject, instead preferring to talk about the team as a whole.

"It felt good," he said of his hat trick against Florida, but more important to him were the two points Trenton earned that night in the standings. "It felt good to get a win. Everyone has to pitch in. We just have to get wins to try to make the playoffs."

Kowalsky is counting on him to continue his strong play as the team tries to do just that. Ginand figures to be a key component should the Devils manage to duplicate last season's miraculous turnaround, and he is up for the challenge.

"I just have to try to get shots every game and play defense and keep my plus/minus up," Ginand said. "Try to stay healthy and do all I can do to make the playoffs with the team."