Viper Alumni Bayda Finds New Career Off The Ice:

Former Vernon Vipers forward Ryan Bayda retired last year from professional hockey last season has opened his own tattoo removal service-business (Eliminare) in his hometown of Saskatoon.

Bayda joined the AAA Rosetown Redwings this season. The Redwings are a mens Senior B hockey team in Rosetown, Saskatchewan.

Bayda last played professional hockey last year with the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) Straubing Tigers before retiring. The Tigers are a professional men's ice hockey team, based in Straubing, Germany, which plays in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga. After just one season with the Tigers Bayda collected (13-goals-13-assists-26-points) in 44 games that season.

After playing three years at the University of North Dakota Bayda played the following eight seasons splitting between the American Hockey League & NHL with five different teams (Lowell, Manitoba, Albany, Wilkes-Barrie & Carolina). Since the 2010-11 season Bayda has played the past six seasons in Germany with three different teams (Nurnberg, Augsburger & Staubing).

Bayda played one season in Vernon (1998-99) playing in 45 games with the Vipers collecting (24-goals-58-assists-82-points). Bayda was drafted 80th overall in Round 3 of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft by the Carolina Huricanes. Bayda played parts of five seasons with the Huricanes before signing with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Bayda never played a game with the Penguins played the 2009-10 season with the Penguins farm club the AHL Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins.

Ryan Bayda's Player Profile:

http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=10253

This was in the Star Phoenix Newspaper:

Former NHLer finds new career off the ice

Alex MacPherson, Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Published on: October 15, 2016

Even when he was playing for the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes, Ryan Bayda knew his time at hockey’s highest level wouldn’t last forever. Like the majority of professional athletes, he knew retiring from the sport he loved would be challenging.

“For guys like myself, who are kind of minor leaguers, we never made the millions and millions of dollars, where we could just walk away from the game and get a golf membership,” said Bayda, who scored 16 goals in 179 NHL games.

“And it’s difficult for all of us to kind of figure out what your path is going to be after, because pretty much all we know is playing hockey,” added the 35-year-old, who grew up in Saskatoon.

After bouncing around the AHL, Bayda spent six years playing in the German Deutsche Eishockey Liga. It was difficult for everyone in his family, especially his children. Last December, he decided to hang up his skates and try something new.

“I was talking with one of the other guys on our team, and we were talking about tattoos and ways of getting tattoos removed,” Bayda said. “Because in hockey you’d always make fun of guys with bad tattoos.”

After doing some research, Bayda connected with a Miami-based company called Tattoo Vanish, which offers an all-natural alternative to conventional laser tattoo removal. Last month, he became the first entrepreneur in Saskatoon to offer its services.

“The way this works is you go over your tattoo with a tattoo machine … Then it’s an all-natural serum that you put on that will lift the ink out of your body. It’s a healthier option for your body; everything is all-natural.”

Bayda said interest in his 21st Street business, called Eliminare, has been strong. He believes that’s because the surging popularity of tattoos and tattoo culture led to an increase in the number of people with bad or ill-conceived body art.

Learning how to run a small business isn’t without its challenges, but Bayda said he’s enjoying the experience.

“I have a direction right now — I wake up and I have a plan of what I want to get accomplished.”

He’s also finding new ways to enjoy hockey.

“I enjoy watching it, and I’m enjoying being a fan right now. I don’t miss going to the rink every day and riding the bus. It’s been helpful to have a direction and have a focus.”

Eliminare

Address: 219A 21st Street East

Phone: 306-241-2221

Web: Eliminare.ca

Hours: Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 a.m.; Call for appointments