Ryan Bischel (born July 5, 1999) is an American former professional ice hockey goaltender who played for the Maine Mariners of the ECHL while under contract to the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League (AHL).
Bischel began his collegiate career for Notre Dame during the 2019âÂÂ20 season, where he served as the backup goaltender behind starter Cale Morris. He appeared in seven games and posted a 3âÂÂ1âÂÂ0 record with a 2.52 goals against average (GAA) and .915 save percentage. During the 2020âÂÂ21 season, he appeared in nine games, and posted a 3âÂÂ4âÂÂ1 record with a 2.87 GAA and .890 save percentage, serving as a backup to Dylan St. Cyr. During the 2021âÂÂ22 season, he appeared in 16 games, and posted a 10âÂÂ4âÂÂ0 record with a 2.08 GAA and .924 save percentage, splitting starting time with Matthew Galajda.
During the 2022âÂÂ23 season he started all 37 games, and posted a 16âÂÂ16âÂÂ4 record with a 2.39 GAA and .931 save percentage. During the regular season, he led the conference in saves, save percentage and minutes played. His .931 save percentage ranked second nationally, while his 1,183 saves led all collegiate goaltenders. He finished second in program history in season saves, behind Lance Madson (1988âÂÂ89) with 1,288 and second in season save percentage behind Morris and St. Cyr. Following the season he was named a semifinalist for the Big Ten Player of the Year and Mike Richter Award. He won the Big Ten Goaltender of the Year award and was named to the All-Big Ten First Team and named an AHCA West Second Team All-American. He became Notre Dame's 16th All-American in program history.
In March 2023, Bischel announced he would use his COVID-19 pandemic extra year of eligibility and return to Notre Dame for a fifth season. He finished his collegiate career with the sixth-best GAA (2.46) and second-best save percentage (.924) in program history.
On March 18, 2024, Bischel signed a one-year AHL contract with the Providence Bruins for the 2024âÂÂ25 season on March 18, 2024. On April 8, 2024, he signed an amateur tryout (ATO) with the Bruins for the remainder of the 2023âÂÂ24 season. He was released from his ATO on April 15, 2024.