Giants’ Byram named CHL Player of the Week
Toronto, Ont. – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that 2019 NHL Draft prospect Bowen Byram of the Western Hockey League’s Vancouver Giants is the CHL Player of the Week for the regular season week ending January 13 after earning six points (3G-3A) in two games with a plus-minus rating of plus-six.
Byram becomes just the second defenceman to earn the award this season after setting a Giants record with a five-point performance on Saturday, January 12. His two goals and three assists not only shattered his previous contest high of three points, but earned him first star honours in a 7-4 win over the Kamloops Blazers. He simultaneously set a new franchise mark for points in a single game by a defenceman. On Sunday, January 13, Byram opened the scoring in a 3-2 win over the Victoria Royals, extending the Giants winning-streak to three games. This keeps them perched firmly atop the WHL’s B.C Division standings with a 26-12-2-0 record, nine points ahead of the aforementioned Royals.
A 17-year-old from Cranbrook, B.C., Byram is playing in his second full season with the Giants. He’s enjoying a strong season with his 39 points (13G-26A) and a plus-nine rating in 40 games, tying him for fourth in WHL defensive scoring. These figures have already shattered his previous bests of 27 points (6G-21A), collected across 60 games for the Vancouver Giants last season. In 111 WHL regular season games, Byram has 66 points (19G-47A), including seven power-play goals, one short-handed goal, and four game-winning goals.
Originally selected by the Giants third overall in 2016 WHL Bantam Draft, Byram has already compiled an impressive local and international resume. The 6-foot-1, 192-pound defenceman was named Western Conference Rookie of the Year after producing six goals and 21 assists through 60 games. Since November 2017, Byram has represented Canada on three occasions. He first helped guide Canada Red to a silver-medal finish at the 2017 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. In April 2018 he suited up for Canada at the 2018 IIHF World Under-18 Hockey Championship. Last August, Byram played a major role in Canada’s gold-medal performance at the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Byram is also recognized by NHL Central Scouting with a ‘A’ rating for the 2019 NHL Draft. Later this month Byram will also suit up for Team Cherry at the 2019 Sherwin-Williams CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.
Also considered for the award this week was Philadelphia Flyers prospect Isaac Ratcliffe of the Guelph Storm scoring seven goals and three assists for 10 points in four games, and NHL Draft prospect Maxim Cajkovic of the Saint John Sea Dogs with three goals and four assists for seven points in three games. Cajkovic will join Byram on Team Cherry in next week’s showcase.
The Giants will look to extend their three-game winning streak when they roll into the U.S. Division to face the Tri-City Americans on Wednesday, January 16 (7:05 p.m. PT) at the Toyota Centre in Kennewick, Wash.
2018-19 CHL Players of the Week:
Jan. 7 – Jan. 13: Bowen Byram (Vancouver Giants)
Dec. 31 – Jan. 6: Arthur Kaliyev (Hamilton Bulldogs)
Dec. 24 – Dec. 30: Kyle Maksimovich (Erie Otters)
Dec. 10 – Dec. 16: Justin Brazeau (North Bay Battalion)
Dec. 3 – Dec. 9: Ivan Chekhovich (Baie-Comeau Drakkar)
Nov. 26 – Dec. 2: Gregor MacLeod (Drummondville Voltigeurs)
Nov. 19 – Nov. 25: Brett Leason (Prince Albert Raiders)
Nov. 12 – Nov. 18: Peter Abbandonato (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies)
Nov. 5 – Nov. 11: Jason Robertson (Kingston Frontenacs)
Oct. 29 – Nov. 4: Joachim Blichfeld (Portland Winterhawks)
Oct. 22 – Oct. 28: Ivan Chekhovich (Baie-Comeau Drakkar)
Oct. 15 – Oct. 21: Justin Brazeau (North Bay Battalion)
Oct. 8 – Oct. 14: Damien Giroux (Saginaw Spirit)
Oct. 1 – Oct. 7: Dawson Davidson, Saskatoon Blades
Sept. 24 – Sept. 30: Luka Burzan (Brandon Wheat Kings)
Sept. 19 – Sept. 23: Kirby Dach (Saskatoon Blades)
About the Western Hockey League
Regarded as the world’s finest development league for junior hockey players, the Western Hockey League (WHL) head office is based in Calgary, Alberta. The WHL consists of 22 member Clubs with 17 located in Western Canada and five in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. A member of the Canadian Hockey League, the WHL has been a leading supplier of talent for the National Hockey League for over 50 years. The WHL is also the leading provider of hockey scholarships with over 350 graduates each year receiving WHL Scholarships to pursue a post-secondary education of their choice. Each season, WHL players also form the nucleus of Canada’s National Junior Hockey Team.