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Ruiz Signs with Cincinnati Cyclones

By Neil Ravin - Director of Communications, 08/13/19, 9:00AM EDT

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2014-15 MVP Agrees to Terms with ECHL Team

CINCINNATI, OH -- Jonathon Ruiz, the 2014-15 Most Valuable Player of the Eastern Hockey League (EHL), has signed a contract with the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL. The Cyclones are the defending ECHL regular season champions, and an affiliate of the National Hockey League’s (NHL) Buffalo Sabres.


Ruiz ('94) played three seasons with the Jr. Flyers tallying 126 points (73 goals and 53 assists) in 124 games.

Ruiz, a native of New Jersey, played his entire junior career with the Jr. Flyers. In three seasons, he averaged over a point a game, tallying 126 points (73 goals and 53 assists) in 124 games.

It was the final season (2014-15) that stood out the most, as Ruiz turned in a career year. The Jr. Flyers' captain was an All-Conference Forward and then was also named the league's MVP and the Forward of the Year. Ruiz was an easy choice for each award, after leading the league in total points (67) and goals (36).

“I wouldn’t be where I am today without Coach Domish,” stated Ruiz. “Jerry challenged me every year. We identified areas of my game that needed improvement and we worked very hard to overcome them to make me a more complete player. He gave me the chance to do whatever it took to elevate my game and take it to the next level."

After three solid years with the Jr. Flyers, Ruiz advanced on to NCAA Division III hockey at Johnson & Wales University (JWU) in Providence, RI. After a season and half at JWU, Ruiz transferred to UMass Dartmouth, where he amassed 73 points (42 goals and 31 assists) in 65 games. Ruiz was the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Player of the Year and was a First Team All-Conference forward in 2017-18.

“I’ve always loved playing hockey since I was a little kid,” said Ruiz. “Now I have a chance to play professionally. I’ve been given a great opportunity to continue to play a game that I love and do it for a living. I take great pride in that."

Ruiz is now prepping for his first professional training camp, but always looks back proudly on his time in the EHL.

“I really enjoyed playing in the EHL," added Ruiz. "It is a great league with excellent coaches and skilled players with whom many of them make NCAA Commitments. I loved playing for the Jr. Flyers. It is a very classy organization with great facilities. I remember battling through injuries my last season and one game I had to be rushed to the hospital and the emergency room doctors had to cut all my equipment in half to evaluate my back. John Graves, the Jr. Flyers owner, didn’t blink an eye and bought me all new equipment. The Jr. Flyers are one big family – one that I’m very proud to have been a part of."

Jerry Domish has been a Head Coach with the Jr. Flyers since 2005, and he took some time to share his excitement over one of his favorites players.

“I’m very excited for Jon,” stated Domish. “He was always a great kid with plenty of potential and the thing that set him apart from other players was his coach ability. I remember his first few months when nothing was going his way and he came into my office and said, 'coach tell me what to do.' From then on, he excelled; and if there ever was a coach’s player, he was it. I wish him all the best and I’m very confident he will be successful at the next level."

The Cyclones training camp begins September 29th.