Ryan Leonard is a player loved by his team and hated by his opponent. Pasi Liesimaa
Two years ago, a video of USA’s young star player Ryan Leonard was spread on social media, in which ex-NHL player Paul Bissonnette claimed that he sexually assaulted the girlfriends of Swedish players at the Under-20 World Cup.
Bissonnette said Spittin’ Chiclets -podcast, that the air kisses sent by Leonard in the Sweden match were aimed at the spouses of the opposing team in the front row of the audience.
Is that true, Ryan Leonard?
– It was a lie.
Do you often annoy the other party with air kisses?
– It was a single time.
Leonard is known in the NHL and the national team as a troublemaker who tries to get under the skin of his opponents.
– You can’t change what kind of player you are. It would just hinder the gameplay. However, the coach has chosen you for exactly that role so that you can help your team.
The 21-year-old promise does not believe that the role of “agitator” will disappear from hockey, even though fights and physical play have decreased.
– It will always be part of the game. You are not allowed to fight in the World Cup, but there are always players who try to get under the skin.
Hated men
Ryan Leonard and Matthew Tkachuk are the terror of the opposition. Pasi Liesimaa
Leonard doesn’t think you can learn to be an annoying player. He has that “gift”, just like the infamous ones in the USA Tkachuk too with brothers Matthew and Brady.
– Either you’re that kind of person or you’re not. On the other hand, you sometimes also see that from other, more skilled players when playing the most important games. Every now and then the annoying side comes out in all people.
In the World Championships, Leonard has been faced with a new challenge, as he has tried to ember his opponents. He doesn’t really know the weaknesses of the British and Hungarian players.
– Here, the setup is a bit different when you haven’t seen the same players all year like in the NHL. It’s harder to know what they’re like before you jump into the fray.
