John Byce

John Arthur Byce (born August 9, 1967 in Madison, Wisconsin) is an American retired ice hockey winger.

John Byce
Born (1967-08-09) August 9, 1967
Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 181 lb (82 kg; 12 st 13 lb)
Position Right Wing
Shot Right
Played for Boston Bruins
National team  United States
NHL Draft 220th overall, 1985
Boston Bruins
Playing career 1990–2000

Career

Collegiate career

Having been drafted 220th overall by the Boston Bruins in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft directly out of Madison Memorial High School,[1] Byce walked-on to the Wisconsin Badgers team,[2] where he was redshirted for his freshman season.[3] After a largely unproductive sophomore season, Byce played well in his third year at Madison, scoring 34 points in 41 games as the Badgers claimed the WCHA Championship.[4] In his fourth year on campus Byce was named as an alternate captain for the team and further increased his scoring; tallying 55 points in 42 games. The Badgers lost in the play-off semi finals, however Byce was named as a Second All-Team WCHA All-Star. Byce would continue as an alternate captain during his final year in Madison, and would again increase his scoring, totalling 71 points in 46 games. Wisconsin would again win the WCHA championship, and Byce would again be named as a Second All-Team WCHA All-Star. The Badgers would go on to win the NCAA Championship, which Byce scoring a hat-trick in the championship final.[5] For his efforts, he would be named to the All Tournament Team.

In addition to hockey, Byce was also a talented baseball player, playing as an outfielder. During the 1987 season, he set a school record for 9 consecutive hits, and also earned first-team all-Big Ten honors as a designated hitter.[6]

Professional career

Upon the culmination of his collegiate career, Byce was signed by the Boston Bruins and played in the Stanley Cup Finals. Thus he became the first player to have won an NCAA Championship and compete for the Stanley Cup in the same season.[2] His first taste of regularly season play was during the 1990-91 season, where he played 18 games for the Bruins, registering 4 points. The majority of his season was spent with the Bruins AHL affiliate team, the Maine Mariners, for whom Byce registered 48 points in 53 games.[4] Byce would again spend most of his time in the AHL for the 1991-92 season, featuring in only 3 Bruins games. In February 1992, Byce and Mariners team mate Dennis Smith were traded to the Washington Capitals in exchange for Brent Hughes.[7] As a result, Byce finished the season with the Capitals AHL affiliate Baltimore Skipjacks. Byce would return to the Skipjacks for the 1992-93 season, tallying 79 points in 62 games.

The 1993-94 season saw Byce move to Europe, playing for the Jönköping-based HV71 of the SEL, playing 33 games, registering 12 points. Mid-way through the season, Byce returned to North America and joined the Milwaukee Admirals in the IHL. Byce would play for three teams during the 1994-95 season, the Admirals, the San Diego Gulls also of the IHL and the AHL's Portland Pirates.[4]

Byce would remain in the IHL for the 1995-96 season, playing for the Los Angeles Ice Dogs where he had a career best season, registering 85 points in 82 games. The team would then relocate to Long Beach, under the name Long Beach Ice Dogs, where Byce would put up 58 points in 80 games. The Ice Dogs would go on to win the Turner Cup, defeating the Detroit Vipers 4 games to 2. Byce would return to Long Beach for the 1997-98 season, playing only 17 regular season games. Byce would return to Long Beach for the 1998-99 season, playing 31 games and scoring 17 points. In January 1999 Byce, along with defenceman Andy Roach were traded to the Utah Grizzlies in exchange for Rene Chapdelaine and Chris Kenady. During his stint in Utah, Byce scored 31 points in 35 games. [8]

Following his time in Utah, Byce, along with former Ice Dog team-mate Rob Kenny, would move to the United Kingdom in order to play for the London Knights in the BISL. His season in London would be a successful one, with the team leading the league for much of the season, before finishing 4th, as well making the finals of the Benson & Hedges Cup. The team would then go on to win the Play-off final, beating the Newcastle Riverkings 7-3.[9] Following his season in London, Byce retired.

International career

Byce was named to the US National Team for the 1992 IIHF World Championships.[10] Byce played 6 games, registering 2 points, as Team USA finished 7th overall.

Personal Life

Byce graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in Business Administration, and subsequently completed an MBA at the same institution. Since retiring from professional hockey he works for RBC Wealth Management.[2] His son, Ty Pelton-Byce, also plays hockey and as of June 2020, plays for the Wisconsin Badgers, having transferred from Harvard.[11]

Awards and achievements

Career Statistics

Regular Season and Playoffs
    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1986-87 Wisconsin Badgers WCHA 4014512 —————
1987-88 Wisconsin Badgers WCHA 4122123418 —————
1988-89 Wisconsin Badgers WCHA 4227285516 —————
1989-90 Wisconsin Badgers WCHA 4627447120 62572
1989–90 Boston Bruins NHL ————— 82022
1990–91 Boston Bruins NHL 181346 —————
1990–91 Maine Mariners AHL 5319294820 —————
1991–92 Boston Bruins NHL 31010 —————
1991–92 Maine Mariners AHL 5529215041 40112
1991–92 Baltimore Skipjacks AHL 2095144 —————
1992–93 Baltimore Skipjacks AHL 6235447926 74594
1993–94 HV71 SEL 3384128 —————
1993–94 Milwaukee Admirals IHL 28741110 32130
1994–95 Milwaukee Admirals IHL 309112010 154594
1994-95 San Diego Gulls IHL 52352 —————
1994–95 Portland Pirates AHL 61122 —————
1995–96 Los Angeles Ice Dogs IHL 8239468540 —————
1996–97 Long Beach Ice Dogs IHL 8029295814 1867134
1997–98 Long Beach Ice Dogs IHL 17981710 124154
1998–99 Long Beach Ice Dogs IHL 37811198 —————
1998–99 Utah Grizzlies IHL 3511203118 —————
1999–00 London Knights BISL 291118296 61454
NHL totals 21 2 3 5 6 8 2 0 2 2
AHL totals 196 93 100 193 93 7 4 5 9 4
IHL totals 314 114 132 246 112 48 16 14 30 12

International
Year Team Event Result   GP G A Pts PIM
1992 USA WC 7th 8 0 2 2 2
WC totals 8 0 2 2 2
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References
  1. "1985 NHL Entry Draft". HockeyDB.com. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  2. "2020 UW Athletic Hall of Fame: John Byce". Wisconsin Badgers. June 20, 2020. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  3. "Andy Baggot: UW's 1990 NCAA hockey championship team was as close-knit as they come". Wisconsin State Journal. January 29, 2015. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
  4. "John Byce - EliteProspects". EliteProspects.com. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  5. "Drive for five is complete". Wisconsin Badgers. May 7, 2012. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  6. "Baseball History.pdf" (PDF). Wisconsin Badgers. c. 1989. p. 30. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  7. "Skipjacks speed up salvaging season by firing Laird, promoting Trotz". The Baltimore Sun. February 25, 1992. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  8. "Sports briefs". Deseret News. January 8, 1999. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  9. "Knights Clinch First Superleague Title". London Knights. April 3, 2000. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  10. "1992 Roster". Team USA. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  11. "Nickel: If these Badgers hockey players look familiar, it's probably in their DNA". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. January 30, 2019. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  12. "John Byce (2020) - UW Hall of Fame". Wisconsin Badgers. June 20, 2020. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
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