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The Ontario Hockey League squad had made community service something of a mandatory program, and news of Ryan’s participation with Special Olympics there — including lots of ball and floor hockey — followed him to Anaheim. Rafer Johnson, the 1960 Olympic decathlon champion, got in touch with Ryan through then-Ducks coach Randy Carlyle and asked him to participate in an annual fund-raising Breakfast with Champions.

Ottawa Police Chief Charles Bordeleau similarly reached out to Ryan after they meet at the recent Sens Soirée gala.

“It’s really cool when he direct-messages you on Twitter to get a hold of you. That’s different,” Ryan said. “When he reached out, it’s exciting. Of all the people he could have to put their name on it, he chose me and asked me to be part of it.”

Acquired by the Senators from the Ducks in 2013, Ryan said he had been hesitant last season to become involved with community organizations because of uncertainty over his contract situation. However, the signing of a seven-year contract extension meant Ottawa would be home for an extended period of time, “and I certainly want to be involved,” he said.

“When you’re an athlete and somebody that people look up to, whether it’s kids or other athletes, you have an obligation to the community to be a leader and a focal point, and it’s certainly something that I’ve wanted to be part of.”

The obligatory Andrew Hammond question led Ryan to acknowledge he had never played with a goalie on the kind of hot streak for the Hamburglar that has at least moved the Senators into contention for a wild-card playoff spot.

“You hope it’s not, obviously, too little too late and we’re not finishing a couple of points out, where there’s a lot of games we’re going to be thinking about in the offseason,” Ryan said.

gholder@ottawacitizen.com

Twitter.com/HolderGord