When your uncle is Bam-Bam Cam, it’s a safe bet you are going to know a thing or two about playing hockey with a physical edge.
And it didn’t take long for Ryan Lisowsky to prove he’s not afraid of the rough stuff in his first game with the Ridge Meadows Flames Friday night at the arena that bears his uncle’s name, getting tossed for fighting at the end of the first period.
The punch-up had the desired effect, as the Flames rallied from down 2-0 to take a 3-2 lead in the second period.
“I like to play physical, and I’m not afraid to drop the gloves,” said Lisowsky.
Lisowsky, a six-foot-four, 180-pound defenceman, is the nephew of local hockey legend Cam Neely, and was acquired by the Ridge Meadows Flames last week from the Mission City Outlaws for blueliner Terence Trusdale.
“We first saw him in the spring of 2011 at one of our development camps and liked what we saw,” said Flames head coach Jamie Fiset. “He signed with Mission last year, and he we found out he was available, we were obviously interested.”
Lisowsky knows the Cam Neely Arena all too well, having grown up in Maple Ridge. After four years at Samuel Robertson Technical Secondary School, Lisowsky graduated from Pitt Meadows secondary in June.
“I’m really excited to be playing here with the Flames,” he said of his trade. “And in [Cam Neely Arena] too, it feels pretty good.”
Not surprisingly, Lisowsky names the Boston Bruins as his favorite NHL hockey club.
While he only sees his uncle once to twice a year, Neely is always sure to give Lisowsky a few hockey pointers when the two get together.
With his six-foot-four frame, Lisowsky brings a long reach and a physical presence to the Flames blue line. With 15 points last season with Mission, he also has an offensive upside.
“I like to be more physical, but I like to rush the puck when I can,” he said.
Fiset can see the similarity in style of play between the two.
“He likes the rough stuff alright, just like his uncle,” he said.