Growing up on Long Island during the New York Islanders’ dynasty in the early 1980’s, Vesce’s introduction to hockey coincided with the emerging youth hockey scene of the time. Like many of his peers, Vesce found himself at the forefront of a rapidly growing passion for the game.  His on-ice talent began to shine through as he reached Bantam, clinching a National Championship with the Long Island Gulls under the guidance of renowned coaches John Tonelli and Rich Hansen. Reflecting on that memorable season, Vesce describes it as one of the highlights of his career, a period that significantly propelled his development and fueled his aspirations to play college hockey and ultimately reach the NHL.

“Having former NHL players as coaches really enhanced our team’s development,” reflected Vesce. “We learned a ton that year about how to play at a higher level. It was a great season, and what we accomplished was really special.”

In 2000, Vesce realized his dream of playing Division 1 hockey, embarking on a four-year journey at Cornell University, a decision motivated by a blend of academic and athletic inspirations. As a 5’8 undersized player uncertain of his professional hockey prospects, Vesce recognized the significance of obtaining a quality education and surrounding himself with a network of high achieving classmates. Drawn to the university’s prestigious academic reputation, Vesce pursued studies in business, majoring in Applied Economics and Business Management.  “I felt like the combination of hockey and academics was a perfect fit.”

Vesce excelled both academically and athletically at Cornell.  During his junior year, he showcased his prowess on the ice earning 19 goals and 26 assists in 36 games. His remarkable performance played a significant role in the team achieving a number one ranking and making their first Frozen Four appearance since 1980.

Despite falling short in the semi-final game against UNH, Vesce reminisces on the experience with pride and gratitude. “We had an outstanding record and a great core of leaders,” he recalls. “Our coaching staff, led by Mike Schafer, set the standard that we upheld day in and day out. Our team culture and chemistry is what led us to having such a successful season.”

Although he went undrafted to the NHL, following his graduation from Cornell in 2004, Vesce embarked on his professional hockey career in Sweden with Rögle BK in the Allsvenskan league.  NHL players were locked out at the time, leading to a limited number of jobs available in North America.  While adapting to a different style of hockey posed initial challenges for Vesce, he persevered and excelled, tallying an impressive 45 points (20 goals, 25 assists) across 43 games.

However, Vesce’s ambition to play in the NHL drew him back to North America the following year.  With the NHL lockout over, Vesce signed with the Springfield Falcons of the American Hockey League.

After a couple of years navigating the AHL circuit, Vesce showcased his talent with an exceptional performance during the 2008-09 season with the Worcester Sharks, where he would be selected to play in his second AHL All-Star Classic.  His standout efforts impressed the San Jose Sharks, leading to him making his NHL debut on February 11, 2009.  “Making it to the NHL was a dream come true. It was something I will always remember.”

While Vesce achieved success in his role, he encountered difficulty securing a consistent position on an NHL roster. He suited up for 19 NHL games with San Jose over two seasons, registering five points.  Faced with this inconsistency, he made the decision to pursue more lucrative hockey opportunities overseas.

In 2010, Vesce signed with Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod of the KHL, where he found success playing alongside other import players Matt Ellison and Charles Linglet. Their collective efforts resulted in the group winning the “Best Troika” award for the highest-scoring combination of forwards in the regular season. “It was one of those moments where everything just clicked, and it was an incredible experience. So, I ended up re-signing with the same team and stayed there.”

Unfortunately, just 15 games into his second year with the team, Vesce suffered a debilitating back injury, requiring surgery. Without hesitation, he returned to New York for the procedure, underwent rehabilitation, and remarkably made it back in time for the playoffs. However, his return to play was short-lived as he faced another setback, this time with a hip injury, requiring two surgeries and a lengthy six-month recovery period for each.

Following his surgeries, Vesce faced an uphill battle to regain his strength and mobility. Determined to get back into the game, he signed on to play in Sweden.  However, despite his efforts, he struggled to maintain his competitive edge after enduring multiple injuries.

“I signed in Sweden after those surgeries. But I truthfully wasn’t myself.  I wasn’t good. I really couldn’t skate or play at a high level anymore.”

That summer, Vesce’s Agent presented him with offers to play in lower-level leagues. However, he was determined not to settle for a lower standard of play. “I told my agent to give me a few months. I’m going to work hard to regain the level of play I know I’m capable of.  If I can’t, then I think I’m done.”

Together with his Strength Coach, Sean Sullivan, Vesce embarked on a unique rehabilitation journey, integrating techniques gathered from top practitioners across the various countries he had played in. Through this comprehensive approach, Vesce successfully eliminated all of his compensation patterns, enabling him to play another five years of top-tier professional hockey in the KHL and Switzerland, free from pain. This marked a turning point in his career and life trajectory, serving as the catalyst for his future venture, Matterhorn Fit.

Reflecting on his comeback, Vesce shared, “The first game back, I had a four-point game, and it was incredibly emotional. The feeling of thinking you were done and then being able to perform at a high level again—there’s nothing more gratifying than that.”

In 2018, Vesce encountered significant concussion issues, leading to his retirement from professional hockey and prompting him to contemplate his next steps in life. It was during this period that his Strength Coach, Sean Sullivan, and him reflected on their successful rehabilitation process. Inspired by their shared experiences, they began exploring the possibility of applying their methods to help others facing similar challenges.

“We knew the process we developed was something special. As my career was coming to an end, Sean and I started talking about what worked for me to overcome my debilitating injuries. That’s how it started.  We wanted to see if we can translate this new found process across all musculoskeletal injures and age categories. At the time we didn’t know if this process would only work for my body, or if it is something that can be replicated on others?”

To test the efficacy of their process, they trained a therapist on their process and began to trial their newfound method with six active seniors in the southwest Florida area who were dealing with chronic pain issues. The process they had developed yielded remarkable results, successfully alleviating the pain for all six patients in less than two weeks. In October 2018, Vesce and Sullivan officially launched Matterhorn Fit. Since opening, Matterhorn Fit has seen thousands of patients, with 94% of them having a major reduction in pain within a two week period.

The Matterhorn Fit process, known as the Matterhorn Method, stands out as a unique approach that delves into neurological aspects, setting it apart from traditional physical therapy. “We look specifically at how the brain communicates with the body.” explained Vesce. “Our goal is to identify the neurological disconnects in the body and prime the neurological system to reconnect those patterns. Then, we build a personalized movement plan to prevent it from coming back and continue to strengthen it over time.  This method not only provides pain relief but also progresses towards high performance, tailored to the goals and capabilities of each individual patient.”

Today, the business thrives with a diverse clientele, serving both athletes and active seniors alike. With over 70 professional athletes, 11 Olympians, and many health seeking individuals who want to live a pain free lifestyle, the company’s success is evident. Vesce and Sullivan emphasize the significance of assisting individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of their goals, level of activity, or status, in overcoming chronic pain and living a happier and healthier life. “It is literally why we do this.  Our number one goal is to help people.”

As someone who used this exact process to change his own life, Vesce uses his unique personal connection to resonate with his clients and provide hope for the people who need it. “I know what these people have gone through, I know the pain, I know the mental struggle thinking ‘this is how I may have to live for the rest of my life.’ It’s powerful to have that personal connection.  Our whole process is designed around inspiring hope.  It is the theme that runs through all of our systems and culture.”

After a few years of immense success with Matterhorn Fit, Vesce decided to integrate his hockey roots back into the company, founding a youth hockey showcase called the Matterhorn Fit All Ivy Showcase. This initiative was born out of Vesce’s belief in the value of obtaining a quality education while pursuing college hockey.

“We noticed a gap in the recruitment process for youth hockey players, where there was a struggle to balance aspirations of Division 1 hockey with attending high academic institutions,” Vesce explained.  Recognizing the challenges of the recruiting journey as well as the importance of education, Matterhorn Fit launched the showcase in 2021.

The Matterhorn All Ivy Showcase offers academically focused prospects a direct pathway to some of the world’s top educational institutions, utilizing hockey as a way to gain admission. From its inception, the showcase proved successful. Drawing in 14 Division 1 Coaches on the benches and attracting over 35 additional recruiters, the event aims to inspire individuals to not only pursue hockey but also to leverage it as a tool for accessing the best possible education.

“For us, it was a passion project. We didn’t start it to be a business venture; our goal was simply to provide real value. That’s why we schedule it during the NCAA coaches convention, ensuring that almost every school in the country can attend.  To our surprise, it resonated even more than we anticipated. It’s now recognized as the cream of the crop among showcases that offer genuine value, and it’s achieved exactly what we set out to do.”

While Matterhorn Fit and the Matterhorn All Ivy Showcase have each made significant contributions to their respective fields, the core focus remains on Matterhorn Fit. Now, with a solid foundation established, Vesce and Sullivan are directing their efforts to expand the reach of Matterhorn Fit nationwide. Through the introduction of a franchise model, their aim is to empower aspiring business owners to bring the Matterhorn Method to communities across the country.

“With the demand we’ve seen so far, we have many prospective candidates in the pipeline currently going through the process. We’re very close to announcing our first franchise, which will be finalized shortly.” stated Vesce with enthusiasm. “It’s been really interesting to see the diverse range of people expressing interest.  We have professional athletes. strength and conditioning professionals, physical therapists and physicians eager to own their own facility.  For us it’s about finding the right people who align with our culture.”

Matterhorn Fit is currently searching for individuals who genuinely want to make a positive impact, possess an athletic mindset paired with a competitive spirit, and have a strong business mindset to take on the role of franchise owners. Those who embody these traits could find themselves perfectly aligned with Vesce and Sullivan’s vision to innovate pain relief and performance training.

Vesce is particularly keen on targeting former hockey players to take the initiative in franchising Matterhorn Fit, as he believes they possess many of these traits. “The hockey culture and Matterhorn Fit culture in terms of being prepared, disciplined, and all of the great things you learn from hockey are perfectly aligned. They’re athletically minded, they live and breathe strength and conditioning, rehabilitation, and have been in this world at a high level for a very long time, so that makes hockey players a natural fit.”

In his journey to expand his business through franchising, Vesce reflects on the core principles that have driven his success. He emphasizes the importance of a strong work ethic, a growth mindset, and visualization. “Work ethic is crucial; you’ve got to put in the work,” Vesce asserts. “And visualization has been key for me—it’s about mapping out your goals and making a plan to achieve them.”

Looking forward, Vesce envisions a future where the Matterhorn Method is the standard for pain relief, rehabilitation, and performance enhancement. “We see the Matterhorn Method as the future of pain relief and performance. Our focus is to find the right franchise partners to empower them to have a major impact in their communities.

Ryan Vesce’s story is about grit, growth, and believing in your vision. Through his own ups and downs, Vesce found his calling: helping others thrive despite their setbacks. Now, with Matterhorn Fit, he’s turning that passion into action, revolutionizing pain relief and performance. As he opens up franchising opportunities, Vesce welcomes anyone who shares his drive to make a difference.