“Feeling better” – Bowen Byram joins Avalanche during the run to Stanley Cup Final against Lightning
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Bowen Byram, Avalanche vs Lightning
Colorado Avalanche defenceman Bowen Byram and veteran Erik Johnson have always been quite a combination to look forward to on the blue line of the Avalanche team. But due to medical issues, the fans were unsure whether Byram would make it for the Cup, but he surprised everyone as he participated and assisted the team during its run for the Stanley Cup against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Byram had his 21st birthday two days before the finals, but the party lasted only a few phone calls and family time. He had worked really hard to get on the stage after recovering from his concussion. He said, “Pretty low-key”. “Wasn’t thinking too much about my birthday, to be honest with you. It’s a childhood dream to be here. It’s what you think about every day growing up, so just focused on the series.”
Bowen Byram ‘super happy’ after participating in the victory of the Stanley Cup Finals
He warmed up for the Stanley Cup Finals and kept everything in check. Bowen Byram’s hard work was awarded when the Colorado Avalanche won the Stanley Cup Finals with a 4-3 OT win at Ball Arena. He participated at 22:37 in Game 1 and had a secondary assist in their first goal by Gabriel Landeskog. He noted, “There were times when I didn’t really know if I’d be playing again,” Byram said. “I didn’t know when I was going to be feeling better.”
On 11th November this season, Bowen Byram sustained a concussion on an elbow hit from Bo Horvat in a game against the Vancouver Canucks. His condition became a bit worrisome as he had sustained a concussion earlier that year on March 25, 2021. He participated in games even after November’s incident but still had lingering symptoms. But despite anything, he was strong and conditioned himself to get better and skate on ice.
Byram commented, “I would rather be on the ice playing than at home on the couch or in the press box. It was a lot of hard work. But I’m super happy with where I’m at now”, as penned on nhl.com. He continued, “I remember just being amazed at how fast the hockey was. I was like, ‘I don’t know if I’ll be able to do that.’ But now that I’m here, it’s crazy thinking back. It feels like forever ago, but it was really just a short two or three years. It’s definitely surreal.
“To be back here now, playing in a Cup Final, it’s pretty hard to believe, to be honest.”
Avalanche defenceman Devon Toews on the other hand commented, “He’s a young player, just turned 21. To have to go through what he’s had to go through is something that you don’t wish upon anybody. And he’s had a great mental attitude about it and he’s figured out what works for him and what doesn’t and he’s really honed in on trying to feel good every single day, whether he’s skating or not.
“For him to take that time and be able to mentally feel sure about himself and feel strong and then slowly work his way back into playing and skating has been really good to see.”
Also Read| “Resilient win” – Avalanche beat Lightning in Game 1 of Stanley Cup Finals in OT
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Kaushani Chatterjee
(2140 Articles Published)