Lyndon Byers, known for his lightning fists and humor, passed away at 61 as confirmed by his wife. A native of Nipawin, Saskatchewan, he played 261 games for the Boston Bruins, emerging as a fan favorite after being drafted in 1982. Byers transitioned from a prolific junior scorer to an NHL enforcer, logging 613 penalty minutes between 1987 and 1990. He was integral to the 1988 team that ended the Canadiens' playoff dominance and played in two Stanley Cup Finals. His mindset as a fighter made him a unique character in hockey.
"Oh, my gosh," Bob Sweeney said Tuesday. "Everybody used to talk about it on our team, and I know all of his opponents did, as well. He could throw 'em with the best of 'em."
To wit: He collected 613 penalty minutes in 145 games from 1987-90. "The thing I think people don't realize about LB, he was a talented offensive player coming out of junior hockey, but he also could take care of himself," said Sweeney.
Byers was a colorful character who fit in perfectly with the rough and tumble Bruins teams of the late 1980s that included heavy hitters Jay Miller and Nevin Markwart alongside Cam Neely, the league's preeminent power forward.
One of the things about a guy like LB, he probably went into every game thinking, 'I may have to fight today.' And that's a different mind-set to have as a hockey player, as an athlete.
Collection
[
|
...
]