Former Regina Pats power forward Lyndon Byers, who played parts of 10 NHL seasons after being a second-round draft choice in 1982, has died at 61.
Byers was a 6-foot-1, 200-pound enforcer for the Boston Bruins, where he spent nine seasons before completing his NHL career in 1992-93 with the San Jose Sharks. In 379 regular-season games he had 28 goals, 43 assists and 1,021 penalty minutes. According to HockeyFights.com he was in 92 NHL fights.
The team released a social media statement on Saturday, one day after his death:
“The Boston Bruins are deeply saddened by the passing of Lyndon Byers. Lyndon was a fan favorite (sic) across his nine seasons in the Black & Gold thanks to his rugged, rough-and-tumble style and was a key cog on the B’s teams that made trips to the Stanley Cup Final in 1988 and 1990.”
A cause of death was not revealed.
Byers’ wife, Anne, also posted about his passing on social media and said a memorial service is being planned: “It is with deep regret that I have to announce that LB passed away yesterday morning. (Son) Will and I are still working to process this news … we recognize how many people loved and cared for him and considered him a friend.”
Boston selected Byers 39th overall in the 1982 NHL draft. Byers also played for nine franchises in the International and American leagues.
“He was a bubbly, infectious, larger-than-life guy,” said former Pats broadcaster Kevin Gallant. “He was driven and we knew he was going to make it to the NHL. So much fun to be around and a great defender of his teammates, which is what makes this loss so hard because he was such a popular guy.”
Born in Nipawin, Byers played midget hockey at Athol Murray College of Notre Dame in Wilcox before starting a three-season stint with Regina in 1981-82. In 185 WHL regular-season games he had 82 goals, 120 assists and 476 penalty minutes. The Pats were league finalists in his first and third seasons, losing to the Portland Winter Hawks and Kamloops Oilers respectively.
A beloved personality in the Boston area, Byers spent 25 years as a radio broadcaster following his retirement.
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