By Matthew Gourlie /

Ryan Stanton gives hope to late bloomers everywhere.

The underrated Moose Jaw Warriors defenceman went from being undrafted as a Bantam to being undrafted in the National Hockey League.

Then, in the final weeks of his 20-year-old season, the St. Albert, Alta.-product inked a three-year entry-level contract with the Chicago Blackhawks.

“It’s an exciting time for me and my family,” Stanton said. “I’m happy about it and excited to join the Blackhawks organization.

“At the same time, I know the hard work begins now. There’s a lot of hard work to get to where I want to be professionally.”

The 6-2 Stanton earned the contract through hard work and consistency. Since he was 14, he’s earned every break he’s received as he’s taken a long path to an NHL contract.

“I was on a team in Bantam that won three games all season, so we didn’t have anyone drafted,” Stanton said. “Going into the draft I didn’t really expect anything, but I was hoping to go to a camp.”

Stanton did get a camp invite from the Kelowna Rockets and while it didn’t earn him a spot on their protected list, it was a valuable experience.

“I felt like after seeing the level of play that I could get there eventually if I worked hard at it,” Stanton said of life in the WHL.

He played a season of midget AA and was then listed by the Warriors as a 16-year-old after a stellar training camp. He nearly found a spot on the Warriors’ blueline on a strong 2005/06 edition of the Warriors.
“I was one of the last cuts when I came in here as a 16-year-old and that team obviously went on to the league final,” Stanton said. “It was a tough team to crack, but I knew I opened the eyes of some people in the organization.”

He cracked the roster in 2006/07, but didn’t score a goal. He was a plus-11 the following season and more than doubled his point total.

“I was trying to stay consistent and work hard,” Stanton said of his progress. “I tried to work hard during the season and throughout the summer.”

Stanton made steady progress each season. He finished with 10 goals and 30 assists in 59 games this past campaign as he showed off a newfound offensive side to his game. His mix of steady defensive play, hockey sense and skill impressed the Blackhawks.

Now that he’s been given an opportunity at the next level, he wants to replicate the rise he made in the WHL.

“I consider myself a bit of a late developer,” Stanton said. “I didn’t start working out until I was 17. I never did a power-skating camp until I was in my 18-year-old year. I started a little late, but hopefully I can keep progressing as I get older.”

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