Born	July 21, 1984 (1984-07-21) (age 25), Saskatoon, SK
Height Weight	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 230 lb (104 kg; 16 st 6 lb)
Position	Right Wing
Shoots	Right
NHL team	Boston Bruins
NHL Draft	107th overall, 2003 Boston Bruins
Pro career	2007 – present

Byron Bitz (born July 21, 1984) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player in the Boston Bruins organization of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Contents 1 Playing career 2 Career statistics 3 References 4 External links

[edit] Playing career

Bitz was drafted in the fourth round, 107th overall in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by the Boston Bruins. Upon being drafted, he played four full seasons for Cornell University, serving as captain in his senior year and being selected for membership in the Quill and Dagger Senior Honor Society.

He began his professional career in 2007–08 with the Providence Bruins, the Bruins' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, recording 27 points in his professional rookie season. In 2008–09, Bitz was called up and played his first career NHL game with the Bruins on January 10, 2009, scoring an assist against the Carolina Hurricanes.[^[1] Nearly a month later, on February 7, he recorded his first NHL goal in a 4–3 overtime loss to the Philadelphia Flyers,^[2] and on February 24, Bitz had his first multi-goal game, scoring the third and fourth Bruins goals, in a 6-1 Boston home victory over the visiting Florida Panthers.^[3] Bitz scored his first playoff goal on May 14, 2009 in the first period of Game 7 in the second round of the playoffs versus the Carolina Hurricanes.

During the 2008-2009 season, Bitz became somewhat of a "cult hero" in Boston, gaining many fans for his rough style of play as a forward. His grit and tenacity, which not only landed him a permanent spot in the Bruins lineup, also endeared him to the fans, as well as Cam Neely. During the last minutes of third period of his multi-goal game, a very audible "We want Bitz" chant came from the arena, as the fans wanted him to be on the ice to get a hat trick. Claude Julien sent him out on the ice to roaring cheers, but he was unable to score another goal.

[edit] Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2003–04	Cornell University	ECAC		31	5	16	21	36		—	—	—	—	—
2004–05	Cornell University	ECAC		29	5	10	15	20		—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	Cornell University	ECAC		35	10	18	28	52		—	—	—	—	—
2006–07	Cornell University	ECAC		29	8	16	24	49		—	—	—	—	—
2007–08	Providence Bruins	AHL		61	13	14	27	70		10	1	1	2	6
2008–09	Boston Bruins	NHL		35	4	3	7	18		5	1	1	2	2
AHL totals				61	13	14	27	70		10	1	1	2	6
NHL totals				35	4	3	7	18		5	1	1	2	2

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Byron Bitz's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database
• Byron Bitz's NHL player profile

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