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Byron Bitz

{{short description|Canadian ice hockey player (born 1984)}}

{{Infobox ice hockey player

| image = Byron Bitz 02-2009.jpg

| image_size = 230px

| position = Right wing

| shoots = Right

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 5

| weight_lb = 225

| played_for = Florida Panthers
Boston Bruins
Vancouver Canucks

| prospect_team =

| prospect_league =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|7|21}}

| birth_place = Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

| draft = 107th overall

| draft_year = 2003

| draft_team = Boston Bruins

| career_start = 2007

| career_end = 2012

}}

Byron John Bitz (born July 21, 1984) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger. He last played with the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL). A third- or fourth-line forward, he was known for his size and physicality.

A native of Saskatchewan, Bitz played minor hockey in his hometown of Saskatoon. After earning rookie of the year honours in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) with the Nanaimo Clippers, he was selected 107th overall in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by the Boston Bruins. Before turning professional with the Bruins organization, he spent four years playing college hockey with the Cornell Big Red, helping the team to an ECAC Hockey championship in 2005 and serving as captain in 2006–07 as a senior.

After signing with the Bruins in August 2007, Bitz played one season in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Providence Bruins, Boston's minor league affiliate. The following season, he earned a spot on Boston's roster. In March 2010, he was traded to the Florida Panthers. His tenure with Florida was beset with injuries, however, and he missed the entire 2010–11 season with a sports hernia. Becoming an unrestricted free agent in July 2011, he signed with the Vancouver Canucks.

Playing career

=Junior and college=

After playing minor hockey in Saskatchewan with the Saskatoon AAA Contacts of his hometown, Bitz joined the Junior A ranks with the Nanaimo Clippers of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) in 2002–03. As a rookie, he recorded 27 goals and 73 points over 58 games in his lone season with the Clippers. His performance earned him the Bruce Allison Memorial Trophy as the Coastal Conference's rookie of the year.{{cite web|title=Bruce Allison Memorial Trophy|url=http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/custom_page.cfm?leagueID=2393&clientID=1413&pageID=3709|accessdate=2011-07-25|publisher=British Columbia Hockey League|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316100108/http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/custom_page.cfm?leagueID=2393&clientID=1413&pageID=3709|archivedate=2012-03-16}}

During the off-season, Bitz was selected in the fourth round, 107th overall, in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by the Boston Bruins. Upon being drafted, he joined the Cornell Big Red of the NCAA's ECAC Hockey conference. In his freshman year (2003–04), he recorded 5 goals and 21 points over 31 games. The following season, he registered 5 goals and 15 points over 29 games, helping the Big Red to the Whitelaw Cup as ECAC Hockey's 2005 playoff champion. They defeated the Harvard Crimson 3–1 in the final.{{cite news|title=Crimson Falls to Cornell in ECACHL Finals|url=http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-hockey/stories/032005aac.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120918000813/http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-hockey/stories/032005aac.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 18, 2012|accessdate=2011-07-26|date=2005-03-20|publisher=CBS College Sports Network}} Qualifying for the 2005 NCAA Tournament, the Big Red lost their regional final to the Minnesota Golden Gophers 2–1 in overtime.{{cite news|title=Denver to defend title; Minnesota bites Cornell|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/hockey/2005-03-27-roundup_x.htm|accessdate=2011-07-26|date=2005-03-27|work=USA Today|agency=Associated Press}}

In 2005–06, he notched a college career-high 10 goals and 28 points over 35 games. His efforts earned him an honourable mention on the All-Ivy Team.{{cite news|title=Moulson, O'Byrne Named First-Team All-Ivy|url=http://www.cornellbigred.com/news/2006/3/1/030106aab.aspx?path=mhockey|accessdate=2011-07-26|date=2006-03-01|publisher=Cornell Big Red|archive-date=2022-08-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220823181121/https://cornellbigred.com/news/2006/3/1/030106aab.aspx?path=mhockey|url-status=dead}} During Bitz's senior year, he served as team captain and tallied 8 goals and 24 points over 29 games. He earned First Team All-Ivy and Third Team All-ECAC Hockey honours,{{cite news|title=Top 25 Senior Athletes|url=http://cornellsun.com/node/23384|accessdate=2011-07-26|date=2007-05-04|work=The Cornell Daily Sun|author=Mix, Michael|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322005457/http://cornellsun.com/node/23384|archive-date=2012-03-22|url-status=dead}} in addition to being distinguished with numerous team and university awards. He received the Mark Weiss Award for determination and passion and the Ironman Award for overcoming injury;{{cite web|title=Men's Hockey - Team Awards|url=http://cornellbigred.com/sports/2009/5/7/MICE_0507092901.aspx?id=250|accessdate=2011-07-26|publisher=Cornell Big Red}} Bitz was additionally selected for membership in the Quill and Dagger Senior Honor Society.

=Professional=

Image:Donald Brashear and Byron Bitz fight.jpg forward Donald Brashear.]]

After signing an entry-level contract with Boston on August 6, 2007, Bitz began his professional career in 2007–08 with the Providence Bruins, Boston's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate. After debuting with the team on October 17, in a game against the Lowell Devils,{{cite web|title=Byron Bitz (RW) Player Game by Game Stats|url=http://theahl.com/stats/gamebygame.php?seasonId=12&id=2019|accessdate=2011-07-26|publisher=American Hockey League}} he scored his first AHL goal against goaltender Frank Doyle in a 5–1 win against the Lowell 10 days later.{{cite web|title=Game Summary 104|url=http://theahl.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1003611|accessdate=2011-07-26|date=2007-10-27|publisher=American Hockey League}} Bitz finished the season with 27 points (13 goals and 14 assists) over 61 games, tying for 39th among league rookies.{{cite web|title=2007-08 Regular Season - Rookies|url=http://theahl.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1003611|accessdate=2011-07-26|publisher=American Hockey League}} In the 2008 playoffs, he added a goal and an assist over 10 games as the Bruins advanced to the second round, where they were eliminated by the Portland Pirates.{{cite web|title=2007-08 AHL Playoff Results|url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/playoffdisplay.php?league=ahl1941&season=2008&leaguenm=AHL|accessdate=2011-07-26|publisher=Hockeydb.com|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107225537/http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/playoffdisplay.php?league=ahl1941&season=2008&leaguenm=AHL|archivedate=2012-11-07}}

After beginning the 2008–09 season in the AHL, Bitz was called up and played his first career NHL game with the Bruins on January 10, 2009, against the Carolina Hurricanes. He registered an assist on a Mark Stuart goal as the Bruins won the game 5–1.{{cite web |url=http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/gamecenter/recap/NHL_20090110_CAR@BOS|title=Ryder finds net twice, Bruins miss out on shutout against Hurricanes | publisher =CBS SportsLine | date = 2009-01-10 | accessdate = 2009-02-01}} Nearly a month later, during his 13th NHL game on February 7, he recorded his first NHL goal in a 4–3 overtime loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. Bitz scored after a shot from Mark Stuart rebounded off goaltender Martin Biron towards him.{{Cite news|title=Flyers 4, Bruins 3, OT|url=http://bruins.nhl.com/club/recap.htm?id=2008020777|accessdate=2011-07-25|date=2009-02-07|publisher=Boston Bruins|agency=Associated Press|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406001022/http://bruins.nhl.com/club/recap.htm?id=2008020777|archive-date=2012-04-06|url-status=dead}} Later that month, on February 24, Bitz had his first multi-goal game, scoring the third and fourth Bruins goals in a 6–1 home victory over the Florida Panthers.{{cite web | url = http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008020893 | title = Bruins 6, Panthers 1 | publisher = National Hockey League | date = 2008-02-24 | accessdate = 2009-01-02}} Needing one more goal for a hat trick, Bruins fans at the stadium began chanting "We Want Bitz" late in the game.{{cite news|title=Better know a newbie|url=http://communities.canada.com/theprovince/blogs/kurtenblog/archive/2011/07/25/better-know-a-newbie-byron-bitz.aspx|accessdate=2011-07-26|date=2011-07-25|work=The Province|location=Vancouver|publisher=Postmedia News|author=Halford, Mike|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813044452/http://communities.canada.com/theprovince/blogs/kurtenblog/archive/2011/07/25/better-know-a-newbie-byron-bitz.aspx|archive-date=2011-08-13|url-status=dead}} Remaining with Boston for the remainder of the season, he totalled four goals and seven points over 35 games. Prior to his call-up, he had registered 3 goals and 10 points over 37 AHL games. Boston entered the 2009 playoffs first seed in the Eastern Conference, coinciding with Bitz's NHL post-season debut. After the Bruins eliminated Montreal Canadiens in the opening round, Bitz scored his first NHL playoff goal on May 14, during Game 7 of the second round versus the Carolina Hurricanes. His goal opened the scoring in the contest, which the Bruins lost 3–2 in overtime, eliminating them from the playoffs.{{cite news|title=Walker's OT goal lifts 'Canes into East final|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2008030217|accessdate=2011-07-25|date=2009-05-15|publisher=National Hockey League}} Bitz finished with a goal and an assist over five playoff games.

During his first season, Bitz established himself as a physical player in the NHL, a trait for which he became a fan favourite in Boston.{{cite news|title=Bruins Acquire Dennis Seidenberg in Exchange for Byron Bitz|url=http://www.nesn.com/2010/03/bruins-acquire-dennis-seidenberg-in-exchange-for-byron-bitz.html|accessdate=2011-07-25|date=2010-03-03|publisher=New England Sports Network|author=Hurley, Michael}} After 45 games with the Bruins in 2009–10, however, he was traded to the Florida Panthers, along with Craig Weller and a second round selection in the 2010 draft, in exchange for Dennis Seidenberg and Matthew Bartkowski, on March 3, 2010.{{cite web|title=Byron Bitz|url=https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/players/bio/?id=3433|accessdate=2011-07-25|publisher=The Sports Network}} Eight days after his acquisition from the Panthers, he suffered a lower-body injury, sidelining him for four games. In his first game back, he scored his first and only goal as a Panther on March 20 in a 3–1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres.{{cite news|title=Cats Fall To Sabres|url=http://panthers.nhl.com/club/recap.htm?id=2009021062|accessdate=2011-07-26|date=2010-03-20|publisher=Florida Panthers|agency=Associated Press|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120129232938/http://panthers.nhl.com/club/recap.htm?id=2009021062|archive-date=2012-01-29|url-status=dead}} Soon thereafter, he suffered an elbow injury that forced him to miss the remaining eight contests of the season. Between Boston and Florida, Bitz totalled 5 goals and 11 points over 52 games in his second NHL season.

During the Panthers' training camp in September 2010, Bitz suffered an injury that was originally reported as a groin strain.{{cite news|title=Ex-Panther Cory Stillman is key in win over Florida|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/03/02/2092757_p2/ex-panther-cory-stillman-is-key.html|accessdate=2011-07-26|date=2011-03-02|work=Miami Herald|author=Richard, George}} The following month, he underwent surgery for a sports hernia and was projected to return to the lineup within six weeks.{{cite news|title=Ellerby gets another chance with Panthers|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2010-10-20/sports/fl-panthers-1021-20101021_1_jason-garrison-pete-deboer-panthers-ahl|accessdate=2011-07-26|date=2010-10-20|work=Sun Sentinel|author=Fialkov, Harvey|archive-date=2010-10-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101026064215/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2010-10-20/sports/fl-panthers-1021-20101021_1_jason-garrison-pete-deboer-panthers-ahl|url-status=dead}} By mid-November, he told reporters he was close to returning,{{cite news|title=Hard work pays off for Florida Panthers' Michal Repik|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/11/17/1929395/hard-work-pays-off-for-repik.html|accessdate=2011-07-26|date=2010-11-17|work=Miami Herald|author=Richard, George}} but complications in his recovery caused tears in his groin and hip labrum, requiring additional surgeries in January and March 2011.

After missing the entire 2010–11 season, the Panthers opted against qualifying Bitz with an offer for the next campaign, making him an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2011. Nearly a month into the free agency period, Bitz signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $700,000 at the NHL level and $105,000 at the minor league level with the Vancouver Canucks on July 25. With training camp approaching, Bitz continued to experience abdominal issues and underwent his fourth surgery in a year. He was subsequently sidelined until January 2012. Upon recovering, he was assigned to the Canucks' AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves.{{cite news|title=Byron Bitz' return from injury a compelling story|url=http://blogs.theprovince.com/2012/02/04/byron-bitz-return-from-injury-a-compelling-story/|accessdate=2012-02-08|date=2012-02-04|work=The Province|location=Vancouver|author=Jamieson, Jim|archive-date=2012-02-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205235428/http://blogs.theprovince.com/2012/02/04/byron-bitz-return-from-injury-a-compelling-story/|url-status=dead}}{{Cite news|title=Canucks' gold-medal winner Cody Hodgson feels for Team Canada juniors|url=https://vancouversun.com/sports/Canucks+gold+medal+winner+Cody+Hodgson+feels+Team+Canada+juniors/5947356/story.html|accessdate=2012-01-05|date=2012-01-05|work=The Vancouver Sun|author=Pap, Elliott|publisher=Postmedia News}} Within a month, he was recalled by the Canucks to replace injured winger Chris Higgins and made his debut with the team on February 4 against the Colorado Avalanche. The following game, he scored his first NHL goal since March 2010. He also added an assist for his first two points as a Canuck in a 4–3 win against the Nashville Predators.{{cite news|title=Canucks Byron Bitz pulling career out of 'garbage can'|url=https://vancouversun.com/sports/ski-guide/Canucks+Byron+Bitz+pulling+career+garbage/6117380/story.html?id=6117380|accessdate=2012-02-08|date=2012-02-08|work=The Vancouver Sun|author=Ziemer, Brad}}

Career statistics

border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em"
bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff" |

! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" |

! colspan="5" | Regular season

! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" |

! colspan="5" | Playoffs

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! Season

! Team

! League

! GP

! G

! A

! Pts

! PIM

! GP

! G

! A

! Pts

! PIM

2000–01

| Saskatoon AAA Contacts

| SMHL

| 39

| 10

| 23

| 33

| 41

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

style="background:#f0f0f0;"

| 2001–02

| Saskatoon AAA Contacts

| SMHL

| 41

25487369

| 11

1210229
2001–02

| Estevan Bruins

| SJHL

| 2

1010

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

style="background:#f0f0f0;"

| 2002–03

| Nanaimo Clippers

| BCHL

| 58

27467369

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

2003–04

| Cornell Big Red

| ECAC

| 31

| 5

| 16

| 21

| 36

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

style="background:#f0f0f0;"

| 2004–05

| Cornell Big Red

| ECAC

| 29

| 5

| 10

| 15

| 20

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

2005–06

| Cornell Big Red

| ECAC

| 35

| 10

| 18

| 28

| 52

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

style="background:#f0f0f0;"

| 2006–07

| Cornell Big Red

| ECAC

| 29

| 8

| 16

| 24

| 49

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

2007–08

| Providence Bruins

| AHL

| 61

| 13

| 14

| 27

| 70

| 10

| 1

| 1

| 2

| 6

style="background:#f0f0f0;"

| 2008–09

| Providence Bruins

| AHL

| 37

| 3

| 7

| 10

| 68

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

2008–09

| Boston Bruins

| NHL

| 35

| 4

| 3

| 7

| 18

| 5

| 1

| 1

| 2

| 2

style="background:#f0f0f0;"

| 2009–10

| Boston Bruins

| NHL

| 45

| 4

| 5

| 9

| 31

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

2009–10

| Florida Panthers

| NHL

| 7

| 1

| 1

| 2

| 2

| —

| —

| —

| —

| —

style="background:#f0f0f0;"

| 2011–12

| Chicago Wolves

| AHL

| 24

| 2

| 7

| 9

| 11

| 3

| 0

| 1

| 1

| 2

2011–12

| Vancouver Canucks

| NHL

| 10

| 1

| 3

| 4

| 14

| 1

| 0

| 0

| 0

| 15

style="background:#f0f0f0;"

! colspan="3" | AHL totals

! 122

! 18

! 28

! 46

! 149

! 13

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 8

style="background:#e0e0e0;"

! colspan="3" | NHL totals

! 97

! 10

! 12

! 22

! 65

! 6

! 1

! 1

! 2

! 17

Awards and honours

class="wikitable"
Award

! Year

Bruce Allison Memorial Trophy (BCHL's Coastal Conference rookie of the year)2002–03
Honorable Mention All-Ivy League Honors2005–06
First-Team All-Ivy League Honors2006–07
All-ECAC Hockey Third Team

| 2006–07

Mark Weiss Award (Cornell Big Red's award for determination and passion)2006–07
Ironman Award (Cornell Big Red's award for overcoming injury)2006–07
Inducted as Quill and Dagger member (Cornell University's senior honour society)2007

References

{{reflist}}

External links

{{Commons category|Byron Bitz}}

  • {{Ice hockey stats}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bitz, Byron}}

Category:1984 births

Category:Living people

Category:Boston Bruins draft picks

Category:Boston Bruins players

Category:Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in the United States

Category:Canadian ice hockey right wingers

Category:Chicago Wolves players

Category:Cornell Big Red men's ice hockey players

Category:Florida Panthers players

Category:Ice hockey people from Saskatoon

Category:Providence Bruins players

Category:Vancouver Canucks players

Category:21st-century Canadian sportsmen