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WHL Vancouver Giants

Bowen Byram One of 24 Players Moving Forward with Hockey Canada to the 2020 IIHF World Juniors

December 12, 2019 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Vancouver Giants News Release


Bowen Byram of the Vancouver Giants
Bowen Byram of the Vancouver Giants
(Vancouver Giants, Credit: Rik Fedyck)

Vancouver, B.C. - Bowen Byram is headed to the Czech Republic. Tonight Hockey Canada announced the 24 players which will be heading to Europe in advance of the 2020 IIHF World Juniors which kick off on December 26th in the Czech Republic. Byram was one of six WHL'ers named to Canada's roster.

Byram is the first Giant to represent Canada at the World Juniors since Brendan Gallagher in 2012. Byram has previously represented Canada at the 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup (Gold Medal), the 2018 World Under-18's and the 2017 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge (Silver Medal). He's the 15th Giants player to ever compete in the World Juniors.

In 27 games this season with the Giants, Byram has scored three goals and 16 assists for 19 points along with a +6 rating and 51 penalty minutes. Byram has appeared in 165 career games for the Giants and has totalled 35 goals and 83 assists for 118 points. In 29 additional playoff games, Byram has added 11 goals and 22 assists for 33 points. Last season he became the first ever WHL defencemen to lead the playoffs in scoring (26 points) and he set a new single-season WHL record with six overtime winning goals. In June he was selected by the Colorado Avalanche with the fourth overall pick.

Previous Giants players to represent Canada at the World Juniors include: Brendan Gallagher (2012), Evander Kane (2009), Cody Franson (2007), Kenndal McArdle (2007).

Per Hockey Canada's release: Among the athletes travelling to the Czech Republic are five returnees from the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship in Vancouver and Victoria, B.C. (Hayton, Lafrenière, McIsaac, Smith, Veleno) and two players who won a silver medal with Canada's National Men's Summer Under-18 Team at the 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup (Byfield, Drysdale).

"As with every year, there are difficult decisions to trim down our roster, but ultimately we believe this group will give us our best shot at a gold medal," said Shawn Bullock, director of men's national teams with Hockey Canada. "We are excited about working with these players in the Czech Republic, and we are looking forward to an exciting World Juniors."

Canada's final 22-player roster does not need to be officially submitted to the International Ice Hockey Federation until Dec. 25.

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Images from this story

Bowen Byram of the Vancouver Giants
Bowen Byram of the Vancouver Giants
(Chris Relke)		 Bowen Byram of the Vancouver Giants
Bowen Byram of the Vancouver Giants
(Rik Fedyck)		  



Western Hockey League Stories from December 12, 2019


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