Ryan Winterton Bio
Ryan Winterton (born September 4, 2003) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who plays centre for the Seattle Kraken of the National Hockey League (NHL). Selected 67th overall by the Kraken in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, he is regarded as a developing two-way forward with strong offensive instincts. After progressing through the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Hamilton Bulldogs and the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Coachella Valley Firebirds, he has begun establishing himself at the NHL level.
Early Life and Background
Ryan Winterton was born on September 4, 2003, in Markham, Ontario, Canada. He was raised by his parents, Lesley and Garth Winterton, in a family with a clear connection to the sport of ice hockey. His older brother, Jacob Winterton, also pursued competitive hockey and most recently played for the University of Guelph. Jacob passed away on March 25, 2026, following a battle with cancer, a loss that has shaped the Winterton family’s outlook on the game.
Although born in Markham, Winterton began his organized hockey career in nearby Whitby, Ontario, skating for the Whitby Wildcats of the Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA). In the 2018–19 season, he produced 38 goals and 34 assists across 36 games, helping the Wildcats qualify for the OMHA championship. During that tournament, Winterton and linemates Brenden Sirizzotti and Thomas Johnston combined for 42 points en route to the title, signaling his arrival as one of Ontario’s top minor hockey prospects.
Path to Hockey
Following his OMHA championship, Winterton was selected eighth overall by the Hamilton Bulldogs in the 2019 OHL Priority Selection Draft. He debuted with the Bulldogs during the shortened 2019–20 season and scored the game-winning goal in his OHL debut on September 30, lifting Hamilton to a 4–3 win over the Sarnia Sting. By mid-October of that season, he had added a goal and an assist through nine games and earned a spot on the Bulldogs’ power-play and penalty-kill units.
That form earned him an invitation to represent Team Canada Black at the 2019 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, where he recorded three assists in five games. The COVID-19 pandemic then forced the OHL to cancel the 2020–21 season, costing Winterton his sophomore year. During the pause he participated in 5-on-5 and 3-on-3 scrimmages organized by his agent and various coaches, and he represented Canada at the 2021 IIHF World U18 Championships, posting four points as Canada captured gold.
Ryan Winterton Career
Early Career (2019–2022)
Winterton’s draft year saw his stock rise when NHL Central Scouting elevated him from a ‘C’ prospect to a ‘B’ prospect in January 2021. The Seattle Kraken selected him 67th overall in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. He was expected to attend Kraken training camp and then return to the Bulldogs, but a shoulder injury suffered during Hamilton’s 2021 preseason sidelined him for roughly five months. He rehabilitated with the help of the Kraken’s sports performance consultant, Gary Roberts, before returning in February 2022.
Back in the Bulldogs lineup, Winterton quickly regained his scoring touch, recording seven goals and 11 points in his first 12 games. He finished the regular season with 46 points across 37 games and added 19 points in the 2022 OHL playoffs, helping Hamilton reach the J. Ross Robertson Cup finals. After a dislocated shoulder in Game 5, he returned to record an assist in Game 7, sealing the Bulldogs’ 2022 Memorial Cup championship before the team fell to the Saint John Sea Dogs in the Memorial Cup. He then signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Kraken.
AHL Breakthrough (2023–2025)
Assigned to begin his professional career with the Kraken’s AHL affiliate, the Coachella Valley Firebirds, Winterton settled onto the second line alongside Shane Wright and Cameron Hughes. He produced three goals and two assists through his first seven AHL games and earned an early NHL recall on November 9, 2023, debuting that night against the Colorado Avalanche and registering one shot on goal in seven minutes of ice time. After two more NHL appearances, he was returned to the AHL.
During the 2024 Calder Cup playoffs, Winterton was a major offensive contributor for the Firebirds, posting seven goals and five assists across 18 games as Coachella Valley advanced to the Calder Cup Finals. He scored twice in Game 6 of the Finals before the Firebirds fell in overtime to the Hershey Bears. He opened 2024–25 with three goals and two assists in seven AHL games before a November 5, 2024, recall to the Kraken.
Seattle Kraken Era (2024–Present)
Recalled to the NHL for a second time on November 28, 2024, Winterton recorded his first career NHL point—an assist—in a 4–2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes on December 3, 2024. That lone point through seven games led to his reassignment to Coachella Valley on December 18, 2024. After another strong run in the AHL, he was named to the Kraken’s 2025–26 season-opening roster following an impressive preseason.
Winterton scored his first career NHL goal on November 5, 2025, in a 6–1 loss to the San Jose Sharks, marking a significant personal milestone as he worked to cement a full-time role in Seattle. His trajectory reflects steady progression from minor hockey standout to OHL champion to NHL contributor, with the Kraken’s young core continuing to develop around him.
Driving Style and Strengths
Winterton is recognized for his skating, hockey sense, and two-way responsibility at centre. His ability to play alongside skilled linemates such as Shane Wright and Cameron Hughes in the AHL showcased his playmaking vision, while his willingness to contribute on both the power play and penalty kill reflects his coachability and work ethic.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones include his OMHA championship with the Whitby Wildcats, his gold medal at the 2021 IIHF World U18 Championships, Hamilton’s 2022 Memorial Cup title, and his first NHL goal on November 5, 2025, against the San Jose Sharks. His Calder Cup playoff run with the Firebirds in 2024 also stands out as an early professional highlight.
Ryan Winterton Career Wins
Across his junior and professional career, Ryan Winterton has been part of several championship-winning campaigns, including the OMHA title with the Whitby Wildcats, a gold medal at the 2021 IIHF World U18 Championships, and the 2022 Memorial Cup with the Hamilton Bulldogs. At the professional level, he helped the Coachella Valley Firebirds reach the 2024 Calder Cup Finals, although the team ultimately finished as runner-up.
OHL and Junior Highlights
Winterton captured the 2022 Memorial Cup with the Hamilton Bulldogs after a dramatic seven-game OHL finals series against the Windsor Spitfires. He had earlier contributed four points for Canada at the 2021 IIHF World U18 Championships en route to gold, and his 46-point regular season in 2021–22 helped anchor the Bulldogs’ deep playoff run.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his championship success, Winterton posted seven goals and five assists across 18 Calder Cup playoff games in 2024, helping the Firebirds reach the Finals. His consistent AHL production alongside Shane Wright also positioned him as one of the Seattle Kraken’s top forward prospects heading into the 2025–26 NHL season.
Ryan Winterton Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Winterton comes from a close-knit family with strong ties to hockey. He is the son of Garth and Lesley Winterton, and his late older brother, Jacob Winterton, also pursued competitive hockey, most recently playing for the University of Guelph. Jacob’s passing on March 25, 2026, following a battle with cancer, has been a profound influence on the Winterton family.
Personal Life
Born and raised in Ontario, Canada, Ryan Winterton continues to focus on his development as a professional athlete with the Seattle Kraken organization. He is known for his dedication to his craft, shaped in part by the support of his family and the memory of his brother Jacob.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into 2025, Winterton was in the midst of his second full professional season, balancing time between the Seattle Kraken and the Coachella Valley Firebirds. After a strong start in the AHL, his November 2024 NHL recall produced his first career NHL point on December 3, 2024, against the Carolina Hurricanes. His early-season AHL scoring helped keep him in the Kraken’s long-term plans.
In 2025, Winterton earned a full-time look with Seattle after a productive preseason, making the Kraken’s opening roster for 2025–26. He scored his first career NHL goal on November 5, 2025, against the San Jose Sharks, a major step in his NHL development. Working within a young Kraken forward group, he continued to build trust with the coaching staff through his two-way play and special teams reliability.
Looking ahead through the remainder of 2025, Winterton is expected to remain a fixture on Seattle’s roster, contributing on the penalty kill and providing secondary scoring. His progress from a third-round draft pick to a regular NHL contributor underlines the Kraken’s emphasis on patiently developing their young core, and Winterton remains one of the organization’s promising young centres.
