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Ryan MaloneAmerican athlete, professional hockey player
Date of Birth: 01.09.1979
Country:  USA |
Content:
Biography of Ryan Malone
Ryan Malone is an American athlete, a professional ice hockey player who currently plays for the NHL team 'Tampa Bay Lightning'. He was born on December 1, 1979, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Standing at a height of 193 cm and weighing 102 kg, Malone plays as a left winger, wearing the number 12 jersey.
Early Life and Family
Ryan Malone was born in West Mifflin, a suburb of Pittsburgh, to a family deeply connected to the sport of ice hockey. His father, Greg Malone, was a legendary forward for the 'Pittsburgh Penguins' and currently serves as the Chief Scout for the 'Tampa Bay Lightning' team. Ryan wears the number 12 as a tribute to his father, who also played with the same number for the 'Penguins'.
Education and Early Career
Malone attended Upper St. Clair High School for two years before transferring to Shattuck-St. Mary's School in Minnesota. This prestigious school has produced hockey stars like Sidney Crosby and Zach Parise. In his final year of high school, Malone played for the 'Omaha Lancers' in one of the junior leagues and also attended Millard North High School.
After completing high school, Malone played college hockey for four seasons at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota. He then had a brief stint playing for the 'Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins' in the American Hockey League (AHL) before joining the 'Pittsburgh Penguins' as a rookie in the 2003-2004 season.
Professional Career
During his time with the 'Pittsburgh Penguins', Malone quickly established himself as a key player, scoring the third highest number of points for the team in the 2003-2004 season. He also participated in the NHL YoungStars Game in 2004. Malone briefly played in Finland, Italy, and Switzerland in the following season due to disagreements between team owners and the players' union but returned to the 'Penguins' for the 2005-2006 season.
In 2006-2007, Malone formed a formidable partnership with Sidney Crosby and Mark Recchi, contributing significantly to the team's success. He recorded his first NHL game with four points, including a hat-trick, against the 'Philadelphia Flyers'. Malone's father, Greg, also achieved the feat of scoring a hat-trick for the same team, making them the second father-son duo in NHL history to do so.
In June 2008, Malone signed a seven-year contract worth $31.5 million with the 'Tampa Bay Lightning'. He had a successful 2008-2009 season, earning 70 points for the team. His impressive performance led to his selection for the 2010 Winter Olympics, where he represented the United States.
Malone is known for his tattoos in Japanese style, featuring a dragon and a fish on his shoulders. His physicality and aggressive playing style are considered assets to his team, as stated by coach Rick Tocchet.
