Bowers Goes Back to Boston
February 25, 2023 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Waterloo Black Hawks News Release
Waterloo, Iowa - After two seasons with the Waterloo Black Hawks, Shane Bowers moved on to NCAA hockey at Boston University; Saturday he returned to Boston as a professional when the Bruins acquired him via a trade with the Colorado Avalanche.
Bowers - now 23 - made his NHL debut for Colorado during a game against the Nashville Predators in November. The forward was injured that night and has not returned to action at the NHL level. Since mid-December, he has been playing in the American Hockey League with the Colorado Eagles.
Bowers started his USHL career in 2015/16 with a 33-point (15 goal, 18 assist) effort as the youngest member of the Black Hawks. He was selected for the USHL All-Rookie Second Team. Bowers followed up with 22 goals and 29 assists the next winter, tying for first in team scoring. In addition to his 84 career regular season USHL points, the Halifax, Nova Scotia, native played in another 15 playoff games with five points (two goals, three assists).
Ranked as an "A" prospect by NHL Central Scouting, the Ottawa Senators selected Bowers in the First Round (28th overall) of the 2017 NHL Draft. It was just the third time in Black Hawks history that a Waterloo player was chosen in the opening round. However, during his freshman season at Boston University, Bowers' rights were traded from Ottawa to Colorado. Undeterred, he produced 32 points (17 goals, 15 assists) in 40 NCAA games. He added another 21 points (11 goals, 10 assists) the next year, taking some time away from the Terriers to represent Canada during the IIHF World Junior Championships.
Bowers signed with the Avalanche after his sophomore season. Today's trade moved him to Boston in exchange for veteran goaltender Keith Kinkaid. Coincidentally, Kinkaid also played in the USHL as a member of the Des Moines Buccaneers in 2007/08.
Bowers is one of 17 former Hawk to appear at the NHL level in 2022/23. The group includes Craig Smith, who spent most of this season with the Bruins until a trade to the Washington Capitals earlier this week. Smith made his Capitals debut earlier today.
When Bowers makes his first appearance for Boston, he will become the sixth former Waterloo player to skate for that Original Six club. In addition to Smith, the others are Andrew Alberts, Peter Ferraro, John Gruden, and Bill Bennett.
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