Olympiques’ Byron named Boston Pizza CHL Player of the Week

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that forward Paul Byron of the Gatineau Olympiques is the Boston Pizza CHL Player of the Week for the week ending January 25.  Byron scored five goals and five assists for 10 points with a plus-minus rating of plus-7 in four games.

Byron and the Olympiques were winners of four games on the week beginning Tuesday night with a 4-3 win over the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies.  Byron was held scoreless until the following night Wednesday in Val-d’Or where his game-winning goal and assist would earn him first star of the game honours leading the Olympiques to a 4-1 win over the Foreurs.  On Friday night Byron would explode offensively, again as first star of the game, scoring three goals including the game-winner plus two assists for five points in the 6-4 win over the Huskies.  On Sunday, for the third straight game, Byron would claim first star of the game in the 5-4 overtime win at home to the Foreurs.  Byron scored one goal and two assists in the contest.

Byron, a 19-year-old from Montreal, QC, is in his third QMJHL season with the Olympiques and is an assistant captain on the team.  Byron sits fourth in QMJHL scoring with 27 goals and 47 assists for 74 points in 49 games.  He scored a league-high 21 goals during the 2008 Playoffs leading the Olympiques to a league championship and Memorial Cup appearance.  Gatineau has now won six games in a row for first place in the Telus Western Division with 58 points.  Byron was selected in the sixth round by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.  
 
Keith Seabrook of the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen was also considered after scoring three goals and five assists for eight points with a plus-minus rating of plus-7 in three games.  The 20-year-old defenceman had his best game of the week on Sunday with two power play goals and an assist as second star in the 7-4 win over the Regina Pats.  John Tavares of the London Knights led the way offensively in the OHL with four goals and four assists for eight points in four games.  Tavares had a four-point game on Sunday in a 6-2 win over the Sudbury Wolves with one goal and three assists as the first star of the game. 

2008-09 Boston Pizza CHL Player of the Week

Jan. 27 – Paul Byron, Gatineau Olympiques
Jan. 20 – Brayden Schenn, Brandon Wheat Kings
Jan. 13 – Steven Anthony, Saint John Sea Dogs
Jan. 6 – Joel Broda, Moose Jaw Warriors
Dec. 16 – Robert Slaney, Cape Breton Screaming Eagles
Dec. 9 – John Tavares, Oshawa Generals
Dec. 2 – Andrej Nestrasil, Victoriaville Tigres
Nov. 25 – Scott Glennie, Brandon Wheat Kings
Nov. 18 – Mathew Sisca, Niagara IceDogs
Nov. 11 – Yannick Riendeau, Drummondville Voltigeurs
Nov. 4 – Dana Tyrell, Prince George Cougars
Oct. 28 – Jamie Benn, Kelowna Rockets
Oct. 21 – Matthew Pistilli, Shawinigan Cataractes
Oct. 14 – Justin DiBenedetto, Sarnia Sting
Oct. 7 – Stefan Della Rovere, Barrie Colts
Sept. 30 – Joel Broda, Moose Jaw Warriors
Sept. 23 – Michael Stinziani, Cape Breton Screaming Eagles