Ryan did not begin playing organized lacrosse until he was in the seventh grade. He is the second oldest in the family behind his brother Casey Powell, and older than Michael Powell. Powell attended Carthage senior high school where he was the quarterback for the football team and played on the lacrosse team. In 1996 Ryan chose to attend Syracuse University, following his brother Casey. At Syracuse, Ryan was a four-time All-American. After his college career he was drafted third in the 2000 MLL draft. He currently plays for the Boston Blazers of the National Lacrosse League and the Denver Outlaws of Major League Lacrosse. His brothers Casey and Mike also have enjoyed successful lacrosse careers. Powell owns and operates both Rhino Lacrosse and Powell Lacrosse. He was sponsored by Warrior Lacrosse with his brother Casey up until 2004-2005. After leaving Warrior, Ryan is now a prominent figure and representative for Brine Lacrosse. Still living in Oregon, Powell's entire income comes solely from lacrosse. Ryan lives with his fiancé Marlee and still is being an innovator of the game through education as opposed to playing, whether it is from the NLL, the MLL, or from the Powell Brother's Lacrosse Camps.
Rhino Lacrosse
In 2005, Ryan founded Rhino lacrosse in Portland, Oregon. Powell handpicks Rhino’s elite-level staff from among the best players and instructors in the game. Since the company was founded in 2005, the sport of lacrosse has grown rapidly nationally and has become more widespread throughout the West Coast.
Professional career
MLL
Powell has played in Major League Lacrosse since 2001. He played for the Rochester Rattlers from 2001 to 2005, and the San Francisco Dragons in 2006 and 2007. In 2001 Powell earned MVP for the 2001 MLL season. In 2006, Powell was awarded both the Major League Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Year Award and the MVP. He is the second lacrosse player to receive the MVP award twice,. Prior to the 2008 MLL season, the San Francisco Dragons traded Powell to the Denver Outlaws in exchange for draft picks. He, Casey, and Mike all sat out for the 2009 MLL season, as they did not report to their respective teams by the contract deadline. This was Ryan's first season sitting out, while it was Casey's second, and Mike's third.
Tied for 2nd all-time for scoring in Syracuse Lacrosse History
Winner of the Lt. Raymond J. Enners Award as the Division I National Player of the Year Winner of the Lt. Col. Jack Turnbull Award as the Division I National Attackman of the Year in 2000.
Ryan competed in the World Lacrosse Championships in 2006, and 2010. In 2006 the USA fell to Canada. Ryan was the captain of 2010 team, which won the Gold medal. He is the first fully endorsed Nike lacrosse athlete in 2004, Ryan helped take Syracuse University to another National Championship while being an assistant coach. In 2018, Powell was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame.
