OKOTOKS, AB (March 7, 2025) – After getting a taste of Okotoks Oilers hockey last season, Ryan Boyce has been a staple in the 2024-2025 BCHL season with the Green and Gold after earning his spot on the team.
Boyce was born in Langley, B.C., before moving to Victoria, B.C., with his family a year later. While he spent the first two years in the beautiful province of B.C., Calgary is where he calls home, as that’s where he has spent most of his life to this point.
Before making his way to the Oilers full-time, Boyce played the two previous seasons with the prestigious Edge School in Calgary. He would play for both the U15 and U17 at Edge. During the 2022-2023 season, Boyce would wear the “A” as an alternate captain for the U15 squad and then earn the “A” in the 2023-2024 season with the U17 team.
“It’s a great school. It’s a great facility. They got a lot of stuff to make you improve that you can’t get anywhere else. You know, all the facilities are in-house, so you kind of get your workouts and practice in before school ends. So, you can get home, have a lot of time to do your school work, and it’s pretty efficient there,” Boyce explained about the benefits of going to Edge.
While Boyce is currently attending Holy Trinity Academy (HTA) in Okotoks while playing with the Oilers, he plans on returning to Edge, where he can continue to train and finish the year studying with his friends at the school. Boyce has enjoyed his time at HTA, saying that the people are nice and that the teachers have been really flexible about his hockey schedule, especially when it revolves around Boyce leaving for road games.
During the 2022-2023 season with Edge’s U15 Prep, Boyce would play on the same team as defenceman Landon DuPont, who earned Exceptional Player Status in the WHL this season and has put up 55 points in 57 games as of March 7 with the Everett Silvertips at the age of 15.
“He’s unreal. He’s a great player and a great person. It’s great I got the opportunity to build a friendship with him because he’s such a great talent, such a great person. So, just excited to watch him. It’s been great to watch him in his first year, he’s tearing up the (WHL) right now. Yeah, I’m just super excited and happy for him,” he said about DuPont.
Since Boyce was born on March 3, 2008, he has been one of the younger players in the BCHL, as he just turned 17 and played most of the season at age 16.
“You know, it’s tough, but you kind of gotta remember that you’re young, and you still got a lot of years left in the league, so you’re not going to get the results you were getting back in the CSHL or playing Bantam. So, just kind of learn from the older guys, that’s the biggest thing: learn from the vets and then trying to get better as you go,” Boyce said about playing in the BCHL at 16.
“Yeah, I think I was ready for it, ready to step into junior, and I think you develop a lot faster. Playing against better players, playing with better players, older players. So, I thought it was best for me.”
Boyce would also add he feels the coaching staff has helped his development and again praised the older players on the team for showing him the ropes.
Another thing that has benefited Boyce is being a Calgarian and living so close to Okotoks.
“Yeah, I get to live at home, so it’s good. You don’t get that homesickness that some guys probably get, so it’s comfortable being in your own house, playing hockey. So, yeah, I think it’s a lot easier than being away from home for sure,” he said.
Brennen Hocher (Calgary, AB) was in the same shoes as Boyce last season as he played with the Oilers at age 16. Boyce and Hocher are currently roommates while going to HTA during the 2024-2025 BCHL season. Boyce said he enjoys having Hocher around at the house as they both head to school together in the mornings and make sure to communicate a lot with each other. Boyce said he usually gets up first and will see Hocher as he’s eating his breakfast.
This year wasn’t the first time Boyce and Hocher met as they both went to the Edge school and have crossed paths. When it comes to joining the Oilers, Boyce said it was after attending training camps where he built a relationship with the team.
“I went to one of their camps when I was around 14 or 15. I kind of talked to them throughout the year and a half or two years before I signed here. Built a relationship with the coaches and eventually signed. I thought it was the right place for me,” Boyce explained about how he landed with the Oilers.
Boyce has always been a forward and mentioned that he loves scoring goals. He did give defence a shot last year, but said it wasn’t as fun as playing the forward position.
“I always want to play physical, no matter how big I am. So, it would be great to grow a few inches, get like 20, 30 more pounds on me so I could be more physical, lay more hits, you know. But, I think right now, whatever size I am, just continue to play my game,” he said.
Once Boyce’s junior career comes to a close, a goal of his is to reach and play in the NCAA.
“I think it’s a higher level of hockey in the NCAA rather than Canadian college, so that was kind of my goal, and playing hockey in the US, I’ve seen how the atmosphere is there and how cool those schools are. It’s an experience I don’t want to miss out on. So, playing in the NCAA is a dream of mine and I’m hoping that it comes true,” Boyce mentioned.
When it comes to hockey in his family, Boyce wasn’t the only one to play the game played on ice as his brother Connor had a love for the sport as well. Boyce said that his older brother Connor wasn’t as gifted as he is in hockey but praised his brother for being good in other aspects of life a said that Connor is a great person.
“When we are going against each other I would find a different drive and would go so hard against him. It was just fun to play against him when we do have the chance to play against each other.” he said about playing hockey with his brother. “I played a couple of his mens league games with him this year. So, it was pretty fun getting on a line with him, scoring some goals.”
Boyce gives a ton of credit to his parents Richard and Christine for helping him get to where he is today.
“They’ve helped me so much, sending me to Edge, giving me that opportunity, and they have done so much for me. Since I was six, seven years old, taking me to practice at 6 a.m. back in Tim Bits, and they still do so much for me. They’re my biggest supporters, so I can’t thank them enough,” Boyce praised.
Boyce joked that his mom Christine is the better cook at home and explained that her bacon mac and cheese is one of his favourites that she makes.
He said that his first full year with the Oilers has been an amazing experience and remembers it wasn’t too long ago where he was once in the stands watching the Green and Gold as a fan.
“I remember just a few years ago when my team went to an Oilers game and it’s fun seeing those kids up in the stand every game, just remembering that I was one of those people and just knowing one day that they can be on that ice too. It’s super cool and I’ve been cherishing the opportunity a lot. It’s been fun,” he explained.
One thing he hasn’t taken for granted is having kids come up to him for autographs as he knows that the kids asking look up to him and he wants to be a good role model for the youth in the community. He said this year is the first time he’s ever been asked by kids for an autograph and said that it really shows how much the youth in Okotoks look up to the team.
“It’s great, you know, supporting the community, it means a lot to us and I think it motivates us a lot when you see all those people in the stands, especially in the school game. All those kids, they were loud. All the support we get and all the fans are great. Can’t thank them enough for all their support,” Boyce said about how much the Green Army means to the team.
The Oilers got the opportunity to meet Stanley Cup Champion and current Calgary Flame Ryan Lomberg. Boyce mentioned that Lomberg made a speech before the Oilers hit the ice and his message has stuck with him.
“Ryan Lomberg came in and I was pretty surprised to see him. He told us about the junior experience and how it was the best time of his hockey career and that if he could go back he would. So kind of motivates me to cherish the junior days and really enjoy all of it,” he said.
10 questions with Ryan Boyce
What is the most embarrassing song on your playlist?
“Probably Break Free by Ariana Grande.”
What is your go-to cheat meal?
“Pizza. Pizza, burgers. Usually just cheese, but after a bus ride usually pepperoni because I’m sharing with somebody.”
If you could meet anyone in the world, alive or dead, who would it be?
“I’ll go with Sidney Crosby. I would talk to him about his career and all the stuff he’s done and kind of learn more about him, because he’s such a great person, great role model and a great player.”
Favourite player and team growing up?
“Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby. Penguins.”
Favourite movie and TV show?
“My favourite movie is The Shawshank Redemption. TV Show, Breaking Bad.”
Would you rather go to the past or the future?
“I would go to the future, because there’s a lot of stuff that we know about in the past, but the future’s all unknown, and I think being able to live and kind of figure out how the future is going to be, and seeing all the new stuff that’s created. All the innovations and how sports is, I think it would be pretty interesting.”
What song gets you pumped up?
“You know, last year on my Edge team, we played Turbulence (by Steve Aoki) before we walked out every game, that was pretty cool.”
Best chirp you have ever said or heard?
“A guy last year, he asked me if I was using the wrong handed stick. So, that was pretty good.”
Where in the world would you go if I could snap my fingers and bring you there?
“Probably Tokyo. I’ve heard only great things about the place, it’s such a clean place. Everyone there is so nice and I had a family friend that went there and she said it was amazing.”
Who on the team would you have as an emergency contact?
“Cyle Clayton. He just seems like a responsible guy, you know. Seems like he’d be there in time that I need him.”
Bonus
Favourite sport other than hockey?
“Let me go with baseball. I played it until I was 11 and then quit for hockey, kind of focused on hockey.”
If you could relive one day of your life, what day would you choose?
“Probably the day I got drafted to the WHL. That was a pretty cool milestone for me, and it was pretty exciting. So, seeing all of my friends also get drafted to, for most of my friends, it was pretty cool.”
Best advise you ever got from your parents?
“I think just always think about the present and not the future because thinking about the future it kind of makes your mind race a little bit. So, stay in the present, stay in the now.”
Written by: Scott Savard
Photos: Chad Goddard
About the Okotoks Oilers
The Okotoks Oilers are a not-for-profit, community-run junior hockey franchise competing in the BCHL and operating out of Viking Rentals Centre. The Oilers are currently in their 20th year of play and their first full season since officially joining the BCHL in January 2024. For more information, visit okotoksoilers.com or follow the Oilers on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram.
