It is with great sadness that this article must be written. Last Saturday morning, the Temple University Ice Hockey Club lost its leader, teammate, vice president, captain, and brother, Ryan Trefz.
Charles Ghiazza, the team’s captain, president, and Ryan Trefz’s best friend, was informed by Ryan’s roommate, Jack Seilus, mere hours before a team building event at The Rink at Old York Road. Charles let the rest of the team know, leaving everyone stunned and heartbroken.
No words can truly describe how everyone feels. Obviously, some do serve its role: saddened, shocked, confused. The closest word to describe how we feel is heartbroken.
After news spread, the outpouring of support began. Our Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook posts received six times the amount of engagements as we have followers. This speaks to how Ryan affected the hearts of everyone fortunate enough to have a relationship with him. Even those that didn’t know him personally had nothing but great things to say about him.
He racked up 7 goals and 36 assists in 94 games with the Owls. But points are only part of the story of a remarkable man in Ryan Trefz.
He was a fierce competitor. He skated smoother than almost any other player you could ever watch. His vision was unmatched. He could thread the needle and spring his team up the ice. He rarely gave the puck away. His positioning was always strong.
He and Charles had a strong connection on the ice. 19 of Ryan’s 43 career points were the result of he and Charles connecting for a goal. In fact, 14 of his 27 points this season were either scored by or co-assisted by one of the two. Ryan’s first-ever point was an assist on Charles’ fourth-ever goal against Rochester Institute of Technology. His final-ever point was an assist on Charles’ goal against William Paterson in the first round of the 2019 ECHA Playoffs.
Players like Kyle Smedley looked up to Ryan. Kyle, who played alongside Ryan on many occasions defensively, has grown on the blue line due to Ryan’s guidance. Every player benefited from talking to Ryan. Everyone would learn a thing or two. He was a natural-born leader.
Outside of the team, the effect he had on the media team was one of a true professional. He had time to talk about anything, good or bad. Whether it was talking to Jay Neemeyer or Taylor Snyder after the game, he never shied away from anyone. To myself, he was someone I admired and grew closer as the season went on. He always backed up whatever idea we had and encouraged us all the time.
Everyone affiliated with the team will miss him. From Charles to Ben Auerbach to head coach Pat Carroll to former head coach Mark Spease. Ryan would’ve wanted us to continue playing our hearts out and reaching the highest levels we all could reach, individually and as a team.
Ryan will forever be in our hearts. Thank you for being the player and man that you were and continue to be for us.
#RT16
To donate to the Ryan Trefz Memorial Fund, please click here: bit.ly/rt16fund.
Ryan’s viewing will be held Thursday from 4-7 at Reed and Steinbach Funeral Home at 2335 Lower State Road, Doylestown, PA 18901. The mass will be held Friday at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church at 100 Broad Street, Hilltown, PA 18927.
About the Temple University Ice Hockey Club
The Temple University Ice Hockey Club was founded in 1940 and has played in the top division of the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA), the top league for club hockey in the United States, since 2015. Temple plays in the Eastern Collegiate Hockey Association (ECHA) alongside geographical rivals in Villanova, Drexel, and more. The Temple Owls play at The Rink at Old York Road at 613 Elkins Ave, Elkins Park, PA 19027. The Owls have made the playoffs in four-straight ECHA seasons.
You can watch Owls games live on the TUICE Network at TempleIceHockey.com or the Temple University Ice Hockey Club YouTube Channel.
Originally published at TempleIceHockey.com