Local Boy, Ryan Lasch

Ryan Lasch was born and raised in Lake Forest of Orange County, California. Lake forest is only minutes down the freeway from the beloved Honda Center. Most Duck fans first heard of him at the beginning of summer, when he played in the 2012 IIHF World Hockey Championships in Finland and Sweden, supporting Team USA. He played with Bobby Ryan, Cam Fowler, and Kyle Palmieri and throughout the tournament his roommate was Cam Fowler. Lasch also played on the Los Angeles Junior Kings with Bobby Ryan for a season.

Shortly after the tournament, the Ducks signed Lasch to a 2-way deal. The signing makes him the first player from Orange County to be added to the Ducks organization. Lasch spent the previous hockey season playing in the Finnish elite league and led the league in scoring. The right-winger grew up watching Ducks Hockey and Paul Kariya was one of his favorite players. Lasch is a step closer to every Hockey players’ dream of playing in the NHL. Being a Southern California boy who plays hockey, like fellow Ducks prospect Emerson Etem, he had to endure the struggles of playing one of the least popular sports here in California. He went to school where few people knew anything about the sport. Growing up with so little public support for Hockey, players like Lasch and Etem who do make it on a professional level, show heart and determination. For us Hockey fans here in Orange County, it is so exciting to see a local player getting these opportunities.

Good Luck with your career, Ryan! There will always be fans cheering for you!