Ryerson Leenders

Ryerson Leenders (born June 1, 2006) is a Canadian junior ice hockey player who is a goaltender for the Brantford Bulldogs of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). He was selected 219th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2024 NHL entry draft.

Playing career Leenders was selected in the second round, 32nd overall, in the 2022 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) priority draft by the Mississauga Steelheads. He made his OHL debut in the 2022–23 season, posting his first win on October 16, 2022, against the Sarnia Sting.

In the 2023–24 season, Leenders recorded his first career shutout, against the Erie Otters on September 29, 2023. He was later chosen as a top draft-eligible prospect to attend the 2024 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game, where he made 19 saves on 20 shots. After finishing the season with 24 wins, a .909 save percentage, and three shutouts, Entering the 2024 NHL entry draft, his positioning, reflexes, and movement, as well as his success on a team with a struggling defence group, were among the qualities that led some scouts to project him as a first-round pick. He would be selected in the seventh round, 219th overall by the Buffalo Sabres, their final pick of the draft.

On August 29, 2024, Leenders was traded from the Steelheads to the Brantford Bulldogs in exchange for eight draft picks, including three in the second round.

International play

Leenders played for Team Canada Black at the 2022 World U-17 Hockey Challenge.

At the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, Leenders won gold with Team Canada, but as their third string goaltender he did not see any ice time.

Leenders represented Canada at the 2024 IIHF World U18 Championships. In his lone start at the event, a 7–1 victory over Switzerland, he made 25 saves on 26 shots.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP W L OTL MIN GA SO GAA SV% GP W L MIN GA SO GAA SV% 2022–23 Mississauga Steelheads OHL 35 12 15 3 1,877 109 0 3.48 .879 6 2 4 337 22 0 3.92 .861 2023–24 Mississauga Steelheads OHL 46 24 17 4 2,672 139 3 3.12 .909 2 0 1 88 3 0 2.07 .933 2024–25 Brantford Bulldogs OHL 48 31 14 3 2,819 146 1 3.11 .910 8 4 3 442 20 1 2.71 .911 2025–26 Brantford Bulldogs OHL 39 27 5 6 2,249 101 2 2.69 .910 14 10 4 895 36 1 2.41 .906 OHL totals 168 94 51 16 9,617 495 6 3.09 .904 30 16 12 1,761 81 2 2.76 .900

International Year Team Event Result GP W L T MIN GA SO GAA SV% 2022 Canada Black U17 4th 3 0 3 0 172 15 0 5.23 .847 2024 Canada U18 1 1 0 0 60 1 0 1.00 .963 Junior totals 4 1 3 0 232 16 0