Brotherly Love of Hockey
Brothers Ryan and Michael Mueller celebrated 15-years playing floor hockey for the Western DuPage Special Recreation Association, including last November’s state tournament – and they have just as many years skating for the Chicago Storm Special Hockey Team.
“I look forward to playing in (the floor hockey) tournament with my brother and teammates,” Ryan said of the annual event now held at the Wintrust Sports Complex in Bedford Park after formerly being held at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago.
Added Michael: “The state floor hockey tournament (in 2025) went well. We played two games, (winning the first and losing the second). My team came in second place and we were all happy, received a silver medal and took a team picture. I like that I got to see Coach Jack (Raslawski) and Coach Steve (Drews) who were both referees for the floor hockey tournament. They are also my ice hockey coaches on the Chicago Storm.”
Michael played left wing in one of the floor hockey games as opposed to his normal defense, “so that was fun,” he said. “I tried my best to score a goal.
“I like that I have been able to play on the WDSRA floor hockey team with my brother, Ryan. Some of my floor hockey teammates over the years have also been my ice hockey teammates. It’s fun playing both hockey sports with them. I was able to play on the same line with Ryan in the tournament. He was center and I was left wing. It was great that I could pass it to him or him to me so we could both take a shot at scoring goals.”
Michael added, “I have had many different coaches during my 15 years of playing floor hockey. They all have been great and I am glad I get to stay connected with some of them. During a floor hockey game, I enjoy cheering and supporting my teammates and giving them encouragement whether I am sitting on the bench with them or playing with them on the court. It’s fun when I get to score a goal and when I congratulate my teammates on their goals, too.”
Both have received numerous floor hockey awards over the years, including first-, second- and third-place finishes.
Floor hockey is a fast and quick sport “and you need to stay focused,” Ryan said. “I must wear a helmet, shin guards and floor hockey gloves to keep myself from getting injured. My brother and I have floor hockey practice or floor hockey games on Monday nights for 90-minutes. I have invited my cousins and friends to see my brother and I play because it’s an exciting game to watch if you have never seen it before. My mom and dad have always enjoyed watching my brother and I play floor hockey.
“I have had a lot of fun playing floor hockey with my brother. I have had a lot of good coaches over the years. I have created friendships with some of them and I text them or stay connected with them on Facebook because some of them have moved out of state. I have played with a lot of different people over the years. Some of my teammates have stopped playing floor hockey but my brother and I look forward to playing every year because it’s fun.” Ryan played center mostly in 2025 as opposed to defense, where he has been positioned in the past.
Ryan, 29, graduated from Metea Valley High School in 2015, then attended Supported Training Experience Post Secondary (STEPS) for three years. He now works part-time at Napa Auto Parts as a stockroom warehouse worker.
Michael, 27, graduated from Metea Valley 2017 and attended STEPS for three years. He now works part-time at Bluco Corporation as a stockroom warehouse worker, where he has been for five years in their supported employment program.
Ryan shoots right-handed; Michael is a lefty.
“I like playing ice hockey,” Ryan said. “It’s my favorite sport to play. I have been playing ice hockey for 16 years and my hockey number is No. 28. I like the fact that I started learning positions and rules the last five years. All my coaches are good at teaching me different skills that I need to keep getting better as a player. If I don’t understand something I ask a question. I am glad (my coaches) think I have good overall skills in skating, passing, stick handling and shooting to be a center. I like taking faceoffs and setting my teammates up for (goals). I like scoring, too.”
Added Michael: “I have fun playing ice hockey; it’s my favorite sport to play. I have been playing ice hockey for 15 years and my hockey number is No. 16. My brother started one year before me and I watched him every Saturday. I decided to play the following year and needed help learning to skate. I picked it up quickly with my coaches being there to teach me. Coach John taught me how to skate and he still comes to the rink on Saturdays to volunteer and help with our practices. I like helping my teammates during practices and games. I support them on and off the ice just like I do in floor hockey. I cheer my teammates on when I am on the bench.
“I like that my brother and I both like playing ice hockey. It’s more fun when we are playing on the same team because when we scrimmage against each other my brother doesn’t like it when I try to take the puck from him.”
Saturdays are special for Storm players, such as Ryan and Michael, and so many others who skate at multiple area rinks. The smiles are plentiful – from the players, coaches, parents and others.
“My home rink has always been Center Ice in Glen Elyn,” Ryan said. “I like going there with my brother for practices, but if there is no ice that Saturday then my dad, brother and I will travel to one of the other rinks for a practice either in Gurnee, Orland Park or Chicago. I get to the rink one hour before practice starts with my mom, dad and brother. Mom and dad have to set things up along with our head coaches. The coaches will do some warm-ups with us before we go on the ice, so we are all stretched out and don’t hurt ourselves. I am then ready to skate and our coaches will set up stations on the ice for us to do hockey drills.
“My family creates a lot of memories with our hockey team. I like that my dad is a coach and he helps my brother and I on the ice during practices and when he is our coach on the bench at our games and tournaments. He is also our locker room coach. I like that my mom is at the rink with us too helping with our team. She gets to watch practices and games and loves to take pictures. We have many memories with the Chicago Storm because we have traveled to other cities and states with the team, (including) to St. Louis, Pennsylvania, Boston, New Jersey, Florida, Indiana, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Toronto. I get to create memories with my teammates and coaches; my parents get to create memories with the other hockey families while we are at these tournaments. Our head coach always gives out game pucks after every tournament game; it’s so exciting to see which player earned the game puck.”
Both brothers have received a few game pucks over the years.
“I have many hockey memories with my brother,” said Ryan, who has skated at the United Center and Allstate Arena, among other high-profile arenas. “The last two years have been my favorite with my brother because I am able to skate more with my brother during games and tournaments. My brother has improved as a player. I think his greatest hockey accomplishment is that he now skates on the B-level line and understands the game better now.
“I like to play in games and tournaments with him more now since we both are on the same level team. We have good plays together with passing and shooting. We both have been told by one of our coaches that we have good acceleration and speed to get the puck and that we do well at our stick lift technique.”
Added Michael: “I am always ready and excited to play every Saturday morning. My hockey bag is packed the night before so it’s all ready to go. I make sure I have all my hockey equipment and sports goggles in my bag. One time I forgot my hockey stick, but that was OK because we have extra equipment at the rink just in case someone forgets something. I am ready to skate and play and learn from my coaches on how to be a better skater and player. The coaches do a lot of different drills with us and then we even have scrimmage games so we can learn our positions better. I am getting better at skating backwards.
“I like when my family gets to travel to various places with my hockey team. All the hockey families and coaches get together at the hotel and go swimming, play games, talk and laugh and we have a pizza party, too. I like that our team gets to skate at the United Center. It’s a fun day and sometimes we get to meet some Chicago Blackhawks players. Last year, the head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks came on our bench to sit with us while our team had a scrimmage game and then we met Ethan DelMastro from the Blackhawks and he signed my Blackhawks cap. I like that my family and friends come out to watch me and my brother and support my Chicago Storm Special Hockey team.
Michael said it’s “exciting” to play ice hockey and his family truly loves the sport.
“It is fun to be part of this team and do so many memorable things with them,” Michael said. “I like that my brother and I both like to play ice hockey. I do like it better when we play on the same line, so that I can pass to him and he can pass to me. It all depends on how the coaches, who should play with who and on what lines they should play. My brother and I practice hockey together in our driveway and if he can’t play, then I go out and shoot pucks into the net by myself.”
Michael’s hockey career has been award-winning. Consider:
* He was awarded the Player of the Year trophy in April 2024.
* Game MVP puck at the Special Hockey Classic tournament in Minnesota in November 2024.
* Awarded game puck for good defensive skills at the 2025 Special Hockey Classic tournament in New Jersey.
Ryan has also received some hockey accolades:
• Game MVP puck in March 2025 at Special Hockey Classic in Madison, Wisconsin.
• Selected to Team USA Special Hockey Team for the 2019-2020 season. “I was presented with a letter from USA Special Hockey congratulating me on this accomplishment,” he said.
Slapshots With …. Ryan Mueller
• Participates in Pucks for Autism hockey tournaments with his dad and brother.
• Participated in the Franklin Park Winter Special Olympics Games.
• Has taken acoustic guitar lessons for more than 15 years.
• Enjoys swimming at the YMCA, watching comedy movies and TV shows.
• “I like to collect die-cast model trucks and other truck items like hats and shirts.”
• Enjoys watching weather and traffic reports.
Favorite NHL Team: Chicago Blackhawks
Favorite NHL Player: Patrick Kane
Favorite Food: Chicken parmesan and chicken enchiladas
Favorite Song: “Wanted Dead or Alive”
Favorite Music Group: Bon Jovi and Aerosmith
Favorite Movie: Unstoppable or Talladega Nights
Favorite TV Shows: Top Gear, Ice Road Truckers, Deadliest Catch, Dukes of Hazard, Home improvement
Slapshots With … Michael Mueller
• Has been taking piano lessons for 10+ years.
• “I am a big sports fan. I like the Chicago Cubs, Bears and Bulls, NHRA and NASCAR racing.”
• Enjoy bicycle riding, swimming, tubing and kneeboarding.
• “I enjoy watching movies and listening/singing to music.”
• “I like going to Front Porch Church.”
Favorite NHL Teams: Chicago Blackhawks and Las Vegas Golden Knights
Favorite NHL Player: Former Blackhawks players Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, current Blackhawks Alex Vlasic and Brandon Saad from Las Vegas
Favorite TV Show: Heartland
Favorite Movies: Angels in the Outfield, MVP and The Mighty Ducks
Favorite Food: Pizza
Favorite Song: Take Me Out To The Ballgame