Ryan Whitney (ice hockey)
A smooth-skating American defenseman who translated his NHL career into a wildly successful second act as a candid and popular hockey podcast host.
Born 1983 (age 43)·American ice hockey player·Birthday: February 19·Millennials
Biography
Ryan Whitney's hockey story is one of two distinct, successful chapters. The first was on the ice: a first-round draft pick known for his offensive instincts and power-play prowess from the blue line. He played over 400 NHL games, representing teams like the Pittsburgh Penguins and Edmonton Oilers, and even earned a spot on the 2010 U.S. Olympic team. A series of injuries, however, began to curtail his playing days. It was then that Whitney authored a second, unexpected chapter. Leveraging his sharp wit and insider's perspective, he co-founded the Barstool Sports podcast 'Spittin' Chiclets.' The show became a cultural phenomenon in the hockey world, known for its unfiltered player interviews and locker-room stories. In this role, Whitney arguably reached a larger audience than he ever did as a player, becoming a defining voice for a new generation of fans.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Ryan was born in 1983, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Ryan Was Born
The biggest hits of 1983
#1 Movie
Return of the Jedi
Best Picture
Terms of Endearment
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Ryan's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1983Born
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1988Started school
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1996Became a teenager
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Could drive
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2001Could vote
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2004Turned 21
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2013Turned 30
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 40
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 43 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Selected 5th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.
- Represented the United States at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
- Recorded 259 points (50 goals, 209 assists) over 481 regular-season NHL games.
- Co-created the 'Spittin' Chiclets' podcast, one of the most popular sports podcasts globally.
Did You Know?
A pink lemonade-flavored vodka named 'Pink Whitney,' created in collaboration with New Amsterdam Vodka, is named after him.
He played college hockey for Boston University.
His podcast co-host is former NHL player Paul Bissonnette.
He was traded from the Penguins to the Anaheim Ducks in a deal that included Chris Kunitz.
“My spin move wasn't just a move; it was a plan executed at full speed.”
