Andrew Ryan. - Photo by Keith Gosse/The Telegram

Fourteen-year-old Andrew Ryan admits to being "a bit nervous" when he showed up to his first camp with St. John's Fog Devils major midget team.

He needn't have been.

"I really didn't know what to expect. I never knew anybody," said Ryan, who said he was fine after the first two weeks.

He showed no sign of nervousness on the ice during the season. The Grade 9 Holy Spirit student from Paradise put in seven goals and added 20 assists in his first season of play as an underager. As a bantam-age player, Ryan needed permission from Hockey Newfoundland and Labrador to play in the major midget league, but there are no doubts he belongs.

"I was just trying to get better hockey, really," he said of his eagerness to play at a higher level.

St. John's Fog Devils coach Pat O'Keefe said there's no question Ryan belongs in major midget.

"He's a quiet guy, but he's mature. He's not your typical giddy 14 or 15-year-old. He fits in pretty good. All the guys on the team like him," O'Keefe said.

But it's not his maturity that stands out the most, according to O'Keefe.

"He's got a tonne of skill ... a tonne of skill," said O'Keefe. "I don't think he realizes how much skill he has, really."

O'Keefe says Ryan has good hands and moves the puck well. He said he caught on to the team's system right away and fit in perfectly.

"He does a lot of things right. He's well ahead for his age group. He was the right guy to earn an exemption to play at a higher level."

At six-foot-three and 170 pounds, Ryan, who turned 15 in January, is still growing and as he increases his strength and size, he anticipates the style of his game will change.

"I probably could pick up my physical game a bit," he said.

He also admits he needs to work on his speed.

"I'm a bit slow."

Ryan can play centre or left wing and he doesn't have a preference, although he said, "I'd rather set someone up than score a goal."

Eligible for 2010 QMJHL draft

He'll be eligible for the 2010 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League draft and is looking forward to taking his game to yet another level.

O'Keefe believes that is a distinct possibility.

"If he keeps going the way he is, he should be drafted in the Q. They are already talking about him," said O'Keefe.

Right now, Ryan said he is enjoying his time with the Fog Devils and gives all the credit to his coaches, "who have really helped me out" as well as his teammates.

"All the guys have been really good to me. They really took me in and treated me the same as everyone else," he said.

After sweeping Western Subway Kings in four straight games, St. John's will now await the winner of the Tri-Pen Frost-Central IcePak playoff series which Frost leads 3-2. Game 6 in that series is eight o'clock tonight at Bay Arena in Bay Roberts.

jbrowne@thetelegram.com