Cranbrook’s Bowen Byram has been busy boosting his 2019 National Hockey League Entry Draft stock all season, now perched in top 10 selection territory.

The gifted blueliner continues to add to his rising stock as his Vancouver Giants move on in the Western Hockey League (WHL) playoffs, having just knocked off the Seattle Thunderbirds in six games, with plenty of thanks to Byram’s stellar play.

That play was recognized by the WHL this morning as Byram has been named the WHL On the Run Player of the Week for the week ending March 31.

The WHL’s top-rated prospect for the 2019 National Hockey League Draft recorded six points (2G-4A) and carried a plus seven rating in four contests as the Giants won their first-round series against Seattle.

Byram’s week began Tuesday as he recorded a goal and two assists in a 6-4 win against the Thunderbirds. He scored Vancouver’s second goal while picking up assists on their third and fourth goals in the contest. Byram’s leading performance in the game earned him first-star honours for the game and third-star honours for the night in the WHL.

With the series tied 2-2, Byram stepped up with another big contribution Friday, earning the primary assist on the game-winning goal to deliver a 3-2 victory to the Giants in Game 5.

Saturday, Byram helped close out the series win with a goal and an assist in a 5-1 win against the Thunderbirds. The Cranbrook product scored Vancouver’s first goal of the game and assisted on their fourth goal.

The 6-foot-1, 192-pound defenceman has eight points (3G-5A) in the 2019 WHL Playoffs, ranking him second in WHL defensive scoring. In 13 WHL Playoff games, Byram has 15 points (6G-9A).

Byram is coming off a strong regular season, which saw him record 71 points (26G-45A) in 67 games, including seven power-play goals, one short-handed goal, and nine game-winning goals. His 26 goals ranked first among all CHL defencemen while his 71 points ranked him third in WHL defensive scoring and tied for fourth among CHL defencemen.

In 138 WHL regular season games for his career, Byram has 98 points (32G-66A), including 10 power-play goals, one short-handed goal, and 11 game-winning goals.

Originally selected third overall by the Giants at the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft, Byram is ranked fourth among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting and has been projected as the top defenceman available in this year’s draft.

The Giants are currently awaiting results from the first-round series between the Victoria Royals and Kamloops Blazers to learn their opponent for the second round of the 2019 WHL Playoffs.

Lead image courtesy WHL

e-KNOW

---

Article Share

---