Harrison Byers

Club career

Byers first played in Canada for the Regina Capitals of the Prairie Junior Hockey League (PJHL) in the 2009-10 season. Harry failed to make any appearances for the club and returned to Australia in the off-season to play for the Canberra Knights in the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL) for the 2010 season. Byers played in five games for the Knights in his debut rookie senior season. The Following season Harry returned to Canada to again play in the PJHL for Fort Knox and West Central Rage. On the conclusion of the PJHL season Harry returned to Australia once more and linked back up with the Canberra Knights (a system Harry repeated in 2012). This time however Byers became a prominent member of the Knight’s squad, playing 22 games of the season and scoring his first two goals for the club. This process of playing junior hockey in Canada and senior hockey in Australia meant Harry was playing over 50 games a year in 2011 and 2012. In 2013, Byers moved permanently back to Australia following the conclusion of his junior hockey career. Harry continued to represent the Canberra Knights in the 2013 AIHL season. Byers contributed 1 goal and 7 assists in 21 games in 2013 as the Knights finished dead last in the AIHL.

Before the start of the 2014 AIHL season the Knights folded operations and were replaced in the league by the CBR Brave. The Brave signed Harry along with many of the former Knights players for the 2014 season including Harry's younger brother Jimmy. Harry wears the number 22 jersey for the CBR Brave and was sponsored by Benmax Group in 2014. Byers made his debut for the Brave in the club’s maiden AIHL match at home at the Phillip Ice Centre against the Newcastle North Stars. The Brave lost the match 0-2 in front of 800 people with Harry reciving a five-minute major penalty for roughing and 20 minutes game misconduct in the third period that saw him head to the showers early.

Harry had a solid season with the Brave in 2014 that culminated in Byers assisting the team finish third in the regular season and reach the AIHL Finals for a shot at the Goodall Cup, the first time a Canberra team has achieved this since 1998. Harry played in the semi-final match against the Melbourne Ice but the Brave lost the match 1-6. Club captain, Mark Rummukainen, was pleased with how Harry and the whole group of local youngsters at the club performed in 2014 and had this to say at the end of the season: "The way they’ve bought into a new system and worked hard all year. They’ve taken huge steps this year. They’re not boys anymore; there young men competing in the top league in this country.”

International career

Harry Byers was first selected to represent Australia in 2010 when he was called up to and joined the Australian under-18 team to compete in the 2010 IIHF World U18 Championship Division II Group B tournament being held in Kyiv, Ukraine. Australia failed to win a single game against Slovenia, Ukraine, Spain, Netherlands and Belgium in the tournament with 4 losses and 1 overtime loss. Australia finished last in the group and were relegated to division III for the next year. Harry finished the disappointing tournament with 2 points from two assists.

The following year Harry Byers was selected for the Australian under-20 team that flew to Miercurea Ciuc, Romania to compete in the 2011 IIHF World U20 Championship Division II Group B tournament. Australia finished in fifth place, one place above relegation, with one win and four losses against Poland, Hungary, South Korea, Romania and China. Harry scored two goals for the tournament both in the 10-3 victory over China.

Personal life

Harry was born on 15 December 1992. His younger brother James Byers (better known as Jimmy) is an ice hockey player who also plays for the CBR Brave and has also previously been a member of the national under-18 and under-20 teams.

Career statistics