(above) DU alum Ryan Dingle has a chance of making the Philadelphia Flyers roster this FallFrom: CSN-Philly.com
Every athlete’s worst nightmare is being part of the “footnote” in a major trade.
It happens. Sometimes, more than once.
Joffrey Lupul, for instance, now has the distinction of twice being traded for Chris Pronger in his NHL career.
First, Lupul was dealt as a member of the Anaheim Ducks, and again this past summer, as part of the Flyers’ trade with the Ducks.
Which brings us to the footnote: DU Alum Ryan Dingle.
The 5-foot-10, 190-pound winger was, as they say in hockey parlance, the “throw-in.” A career minor leaguer who, at age 25, is actually one of the older prospects at Flyers' camp this week at Skate Zone.
“I think I will be known as that guy for a long time,” Dingle said about the asterisk next to his name on most hockey databases. “Obviously, with players of such caliber, and greatness tied to their names, it’s going to be hard to break out of that.
“On the other hand, I’m very excited to be part of that. To be part of a trade with a great deal of talent involved, and to take the next step in my future.”
The trade knock initially upset him.
“When a player gets traded, a lot of things cross your mind,” Dingle said. “First, that the team that you were traded from doesn’t want you any more. Then, I took a step back and realized this was going to be a great opportunity for me. This organization is rich in tradition. I’m really excited to be part of this organization.
“You go from an immediate low, to an immediate high. That turnover was extremely fast. But you are filled with different emotions after a trade.”
The Flyers have never had a “Dingle” on their roster. Fact is, the most famous Dingle we can think of was a television character (Burgess Meredith) in a 1961 episode of “The Twilight Zone.” That Mr. Dingle was given supernatural strength.
The Flyers’ Mr. Dingle would settle for a mere roster spot. And given there is at least one forward spot open, he hopes to snare it.
“It’s very exciting going from a team that had a log jam up front, to a team where there is potential to take that next step forward to a childhood dream,” Dingle said.
An American-born player, the Flyers scouted him when he played three seasons at the University of Denver. Dingle played all three forward positions there. Professionally, he’s been at Portland (AHL), Augusta (ECHL) and the defunct Iowa Chops (AHL) last season.
There’s no question Dingle should make the Phantoms, but the Flyers are hoping he shows them something in the preseason with their full squad that would earn Dingle, at the very least, the right to be a call-up player in the NHL in a third or fourth line role.
“He’s an interesting young kid,” said general manager Paul Holmgren. “We’ve seen him a lot playing in Denver prior to turning pro. I saw him a bit in the AHL for Anaheim. We like his competitive level.
“Like the fact that he can play any position. He is a pesky guy. We’re anxious to see how he does. We have him with the young guys now to [indoctrinate] him to the organization, but I am anxious to see him with our main group. He had a real good camp in Anaheim last year and raised some eyebrows there.”
Not enough to earn a call-up, however. Dingle spent the entire season at Iowa where he played 70 games with 18 points (seven goals) and was minus-eight.
More than anything, he wants to get a shot at the NHL with the Flyers.
“To have that opportunity, for any young hockey player, it’s a childhood dream taking that next step,” Dingle said. “Every year, I played in both leagues, the ECHL and AHL two years ago, and the AHL last year, and I’m hoping to progress each year I go up.”
It happens. Sometimes, more than once.
Joffrey Lupul, for instance, now has the distinction of twice being traded for Chris Pronger in his NHL career.
First, Lupul was dealt as a member of the Anaheim Ducks, and again this past summer, as part of the Flyers’ trade with the Ducks.
Which brings us to the footnote: DU Alum Ryan Dingle.
The 5-foot-10, 190-pound winger was, as they say in hockey parlance, the “throw-in.” A career minor leaguer who, at age 25, is actually one of the older prospects at Flyers' camp this week at Skate Zone.
“I think I will be known as that guy for a long time,” Dingle said about the asterisk next to his name on most hockey databases. “Obviously, with players of such caliber, and greatness tied to their names, it’s going to be hard to break out of that.
“On the other hand, I’m very excited to be part of that. To be part of a trade with a great deal of talent involved, and to take the next step in my future.”
The trade knock initially upset him.
“When a player gets traded, a lot of things cross your mind,” Dingle said. “First, that the team that you were traded from doesn’t want you any more. Then, I took a step back and realized this was going to be a great opportunity for me. This organization is rich in tradition. I’m really excited to be part of this organization.
“You go from an immediate low, to an immediate high. That turnover was extremely fast. But you are filled with different emotions after a trade.”
The Flyers have never had a “Dingle” on their roster. Fact is, the most famous Dingle we can think of was a television character (Burgess Meredith) in a 1961 episode of “The Twilight Zone.” That Mr. Dingle was given supernatural strength.
The Flyers’ Mr. Dingle would settle for a mere roster spot. And given there is at least one forward spot open, he hopes to snare it.
“It’s very exciting going from a team that had a log jam up front, to a team where there is potential to take that next step forward to a childhood dream,” Dingle said.
An American-born player, the Flyers scouted him when he played three seasons at the University of Denver. Dingle played all three forward positions there. Professionally, he’s been at Portland (AHL), Augusta (ECHL) and the defunct Iowa Chops (AHL) last season.
There’s no question Dingle should make the Phantoms, but the Flyers are hoping he shows them something in the preseason with their full squad that would earn Dingle, at the very least, the right to be a call-up player in the NHL in a third or fourth line role.
“He’s an interesting young kid,” said general manager Paul Holmgren. “We’ve seen him a lot playing in Denver prior to turning pro. I saw him a bit in the AHL for Anaheim. We like his competitive level.
“Like the fact that he can play any position. He is a pesky guy. We’re anxious to see how he does. We have him with the young guys now to [indoctrinate] him to the organization, but I am anxious to see him with our main group. He had a real good camp in Anaheim last year and raised some eyebrows there.”
Not enough to earn a call-up, however. Dingle spent the entire season at Iowa where he played 70 games with 18 points (seven goals) and was minus-eight.
More than anything, he wants to get a shot at the NHL with the Flyers.
“To have that opportunity, for any young hockey player, it’s a childhood dream taking that next step,” Dingle said. “Every year, I played in both leagues, the ECHL and AHL two years ago, and the AHL last year, and I’m hoping to progress each year I go up.”
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