His father, Tom, logged over 1000 career games in the National Hockey League — 71 of those with the Boston Bruins in 2005-06 — and is cousins with former NHLer Keith Tkachuk and his son Matthew (of the Calgary Flames), as well as current New York Ranger Kevin Hayes and his older brother Jimmy (former Bruin, current Devil). Ryan’s younger brother Casey is currently a star at Boston College, while his cousin, Brady Tkachuk, skates for Boston University and is expected to be selected in the first round of this summer’s NHL draft.
But Fitzgerald is focused on writing his own story, with the latest chapter being written in his first full season with the Providence Bruins.