Introduction
Ryan Gardner (born April 18, 1978) is a Canadian-born Swiss professional ice hockey Forward, who currently plays for HC Lugano in the National League A (NLA).
Career
While his father Dave Gardner was playing professionally in Switzerland, Gardner played in the country as a youngster. Later, he spent time with the London Knights and North Bay Centenntials in the OHL, before moving back to Switzerland. He made his debut in the top-flight National League A (NLA) at HC Ambrì-Piotta during the 1997-98 season.
In 2001, he signed with HC Lugano, where he stayed until 2007. During his time in Lugano, he captured the 2003 and 2006 Swiss championship. He then spent three years with the ZSC Lions, winning the NLA title in 2008 and the 2008-09 Champions Hockey League. From 2010 to 2015, he turned out for SC Bern, winning another championship in 2013 and the Swiss cup competition in 2015.
At the conclusion of the 2014–15 season, on April 2, 2015, Gardner was traded by SC Bern to HC Fribourg-Gottéron in exchange for Timo Helbling. In April 2016, he signed a deal to return to HC Lugano.
International career
Gardner has represented Switzerland internationally at the IIHF World Championships and 2014 Winter Olympics. He won silver with the Swiss team at the 2013 World Championships.
Personal info
He comes from a hockey family: His father Dave Gardner, uncle Paul Gardner and grandfather Cal Gardner all played professionally.
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1995–96 | London Knights | OHL | 61 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1996–97 | London Knights | OHL | 19 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1996–97 | North Bay Centennials | OHL | 47 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 35 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1997–98 | North Bay Centennials | OHL | 9 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1997–98 | HC Ambrì-Piotta | NLA | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 12 | ||
| 1997–98 | Lausanne HC | NLB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1998–99 | HC Ambrì-Piotta | NLA | 40 | 9 | 4 | 13 | 8 | 15 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 2 | ||
| 1998–99 | HC Sierre | NLB | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 25 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1999–00 | HC Ambrì-Piotta | NLA | 45 | 11 | 17 | 28 | 16 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 2 | ||
| 2000–01 | HC Ambrì-Piotta | NLA | 43 | 10 | 12 | 22 | 47 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2001–02 | HC Lugano | NLA | 39 | 9 | 8 | 17 | 6 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 2002–03 | HC Lugano | NLA | 36 | 7 | 13 | 20 | 47 | 16 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 10 | ||
| 2003–04 | HC Lugano | NLA | 48 | 17 | 23 | 40 | 40 | 16 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 12 | ||
| 2004–05 | HC Lugano | NLA | 44 | 24 | 22 | 46 | 24 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | ||
| 2005–06 | HC Lugano | NLA | 40 | 15 | 27 | 42 | 36 | 17 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 18 | ||
| 2006–07 | HC Lugano | NLA | 44 | 5 | 22 | 27 | 26 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | ||
| 2007–08 | ZSC Lions | NLA | 35 | 17 | 14 | 31 | 16 | 17 | 8 | 9 | 17 | 6 | ||
| 2008–09 | ZSC Lions | NLA | 50 | 25 | 28 | 53 | 28 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 2009–10 | ZSC Lions | NLA | 49 | 16 | 26 | 42 | 28 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2010–11 | SC Bern | NLA | 49 | 15 | 20 | 35 | 34 | 11 | 1 | 10 | 11 | 2 | ||
| 2011–12 | SC Bern | NLA | 49 | 11 | 21 | 32 | 10 | 17 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 2 | ||
| 2012–13 | SC Bern | NLA | 50 | 25 | 17 | 42 | 26 | 18 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 25 | ||
| 2013–14 | SC Bern | NLA | 48 | 9 | 21 | 30 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2014–15 | SC Bern | NLA | 44 | 9 | 15 | 24 | 24 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | ||
| NLA totals | 758 | 234 | 310 | 544 | 428 | 191 | 50 | 71 | 121 | 107 | ||||
International
| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Switzerland | WC | 9th | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2011 | Switzerland | WC | 9th | 6 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 2 | |
| 2013 | Switzerland | WC |  | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2014 | Switzerland | OG | 9th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Senior totals | 24 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 2 | ||||