Mike Van Ryn has struggled to come back from a knee injury that limited his time in Toronto.

BY WEB STAFF
sportsnet.ca

Injured Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Mike Van Ryn told the FAN590 that he accepted a coaching position with the Niagara IceDogs, all but ending his tenure in the National Hockey League.

The 31-year-old defenceman announced last month that he won't play the 2010-11 NHL season and on Monday was named assistant coach for the OHL team.

"I knew it (coaching) was something that I wanted to do, stay in the game - coaching or scouting," Van Ryn told the FAN590. "The past few years I had some fun playing with the young guys like Luke Schenn. I like to be on the ice and keep things light. For me it seemed like a natural fit."

Van Ryn underwent a series of operations on his injured knee that limited the London, ON, native to just 27 games in two years with the Maple Leafs.

Should he decide to return to the NHL after Niagara, he would be considered an unrestricted free-agent.