Topic: Byron Bitz

Byron Bitz (born July 21, 1984) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player in the Florida Panthers organization of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Bitz was drafted in the fourth round, 107th overall in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by the Boston Bruins. Upon being drafted, he played four full seasons for Cornell University, serving as captain in his senior year and being selected for membership in the Quill and Dagger Senior Honor Society.

He began his professional career in 2007–08 with the Providence Bruins, the Bruins' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, recording 27 points in his professional rookie season. In 2008–09, Bitz was called up and played his first career NHL game with the Bruins on January 10, 2009, scoring an assist against the Carolina Hurricanes. Nearly a month later, on February 7, he recorded his first NHL goal in a 4–3 overtime loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, and on February 24, Bitz had his first multi-goal game, scoring the third and fourth Bruins goals, in a 6-1 Boston home victory over the visiting Florida Panthers. Bitz scored his first playoff goal on May 14, 2009 in the first period of Game 7 in the second round of the playoffs versus the Carolina Hurricanes.