If Ryan Shepard were an animal, I think he would be a crow. He has good intelligence/hockey IQ, is a very adaptable player and flies on the ice. He is also a player that can do well on his own but prefers to have his team or family around him.

I think a crow could hold their own at a game of hockey. While the other animals are still learning the basic rules, a crow would have the concept mastered and be on their way to learning dekes. Crows are also an animal that can naturally exist in colder climates, giving them an edge over cold blooded animals and ones that generally inhabit places above freezing temperatures. I also think that a crow would provide excellent leadership to a team's locker room as they are used to working together in big groups.