Avalanche rookies Bo Byram, Alex Newhook and Justin Barron — the club’s top three selections from the 2019 and 2020 drafts — have a unique bond and much in common, despite developing from opposite sides of Canada.
Bryam, the defenseman from British Columbia and the WHL’s Vancouver Giants, was the No. 4 selection of the 2019 draft. Twelve spots later, Colorado chose Newhook, the forward from St. John’s, Newfoundland, who played junior hockey in British Columbia before joining the Boston College Eagles.
“Really close to Bo, I think ever since we got drafted together,” Newhook said. “I knew him a fair bit before we got drafted together and then, being in the same organization, it’s been great for both of us and we’ve definitely created a relationship over the years.