Shane Bowers
Born (1999-07-30) July 30, 1999 (age 24)
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position Centre
Shoots Left
NHL team (P)
Cur. team
Former teams		 New Jersey Devils
Utica Comets (AHL)
Colorado Avalanche
NHL Draft 28th overall, 2017
Ottawa Senators
Playing career 2019–present

Shane Bowers (born July 30, 1999) is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward for the Utica Comets of the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect with the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL). Bowers was drafted in the first round, 28th overall, of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft by the Ottawa Senators. He has also played for the Colorado Avalanche.

Playing career

Amateur

Bowers, a Herring Cove native,[1] first played in Halifax, Nova Scotia as a standout at the Bantam level for the Bubba Ray's Gulls before playing in the Nova Scotia Major Midget Hockey League with the Halifax McDonald's.

In the 2014–15 season, Bowers was selected as the NSMMHL's MVP, registering most goals and points in both the regular and post-season. Bowers twice turned down opportunities to play in the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) for a major junior ice hockey team in his native Canada after he was selected in consecutive Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Entry Drafts by the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles and Saint John Sea Dogs. He opted to instead play in the United States, after he was selected 38th overall by the Waterloo Black Hawks in the 2015 United States Hockey League Futures Draft.[2]

Joining the Black Hawks for the 2015–16 season, Bowers showed his two-way potential in contributing with 15 goals and 33 points, leading all in 56 games, leading all Waterloo rookies to earn a selection to the All-Rookie Second Team. In returning for his second season with Waterloo in 2016–17, Bowers announced his intention on pursuing a collegiate career, committing to Boston University of the Hockey East.[3] In playing on the Black Hawks' top line, Bowers improved his season totals finishing 10th in the league scoring in producing 22 goals, 29 assists for 51 points in 60 games. He earned the USHL Third All-Star Team honors, however Waterloo was unable to advance past the Western Conference finals in a 3-2 series defeat against the Sioux City Musketeers.[4]

Approaching the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, Bowers was the 16th-ranked North American skater by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau before being selected 28th overall in the first round by the Ottawa Senators.[5] In joining the Boston Terriers as a freshman for the 2017–18 season, Bowers made his collegiate debut, scoring a goal against Union College on September 30, 2017. He scored in his first three NCAA games, including his first multi-goal game against Minnesota State University on October 14, 2017.[6]

On November 5, 2017, Bowers's NHL rights were included by the Senators in a blockbuster three-way deal, heading to Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Matt Duchene.[7] In continuing with the Terriers, Bowers appeared in all 40 games and finished third on the team with 32 points and second in goals with 17. Bowers had a team-best plus-16 rating and on March 14, 2018, Bowers and teammate Brady Tkachuk were selected to the Hockey East Rookie Team.[8][9] Bowers also received an honourable mention for the Hockey East all-star squads, but was not selected for those teams.[8]

In the 2018–19 season, Bowers returned for his sophomore season with the Terriers. Under the reign of new head coach Albie O'Connell, Boston struggled to replicate their previous seasons success, failing to qualify for the NCAA Tournament. Bowers playing in a second-line role finished third on the team with 11 goals and fourth in scoring with 21 points in 37 games.

Professional

After two seasons with Boston University, Bowers opted to conclude his collegiate career, turning pro in signing a three-year, entry-level contract with the Colorado Avalanche on March 29, 2019.[10] He was immediately signed by the Avalanche's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Colorado Eagles, on an amateur try-out contract in their bid for a playoff berth.[11]

During the 2022–23 season, Bowers made his NHL debut with the Avalanche on November 10, 2022, against the Nashville Predators. However, he suffered an injury and had to leave the game after less than two minutes of ice time.[12] On December 14, 2022, in returning from injury he was re-assigned to continue with the Colorado Eagles.[13] Bowers added 14 points through 37 games with the Eagles before he was traded by the Avalanche to the Boston Bruins in exchange for Keith Kinkaid on February 25, 2023.[14][15] Assigned directly to their AHL affiliate, the Providence Bruins, Bowers played out the remainder of the season in posting 3 goals and 7 points through 20 regular season games.

As an impending restricted free agent, Bowers brief tenure with the Bruins ended after he was traded to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for Reilly Walsh on June 26, 2023.[16] He was signed to a one-year, two-way contract with the Devils for the 2023–24 season on June 29, 2023.[17] Bowers failed to make the Devils out of training camp and was placed on waivers for the purposes of being assigned to the Devils AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets.[18] Bowers was recalled on January 9, 2024 from Utica[19] playing in three games with the Devils before being returned to the AHL after Timo Meier returned from injury.[20]

International play

Bowers made his international debut, captaining Canada Black at the 2015 World U-17 Hockey Challenge before playing at the 2016 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, scoring one goal in four appearances for Canada.[21]

During his sophomore season with the Terriers, Bowers was selected to participate for Canada at the 2019 World Junior Championships, in Vancouver, British Columbia.[22] Chosen for his responsible two-way game, Bowers played as center on the third line registering two assists in five games before suffering a shock elimination in a 2–1 overtime defeat to Finland at the Quarterfinals on January 2, 2019 to place sixth.[23]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2014–15 Halifax McDonald's NSMMHL 34 23 29 52 24 17 15 18 33 14
2015–16 Waterloo Black Hawks USHL 56 15 18 33 16 9 0 2 2 0
2016–17 Waterloo Black Hawks USHL 60 22 29 51 20 6 2 1 3 2
2017–18 Boston University HE 40 17 15 32 14 — — — — —
2018–19 Boston University HE 37 11 10 21 25 — — — — —
2018–19 Colorado Eagles AHL 4 0 0 0 2 4 0 1 1 0
2019–20 Colorado Eagles AHL 48 10 17 27 14 — — — — —
2020–21 Colorado Eagles AHL 28 7 2 9 10 — — — — —
2021–22 Colorado Eagles AHL 37 6 3 9 12 4 1 3 4 0
2022–23 Colorado Eagles AHL 37 4 10 14 12 — — — — —
2022–23 Colorado Avalanche NHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2022–23 Providence Bruins AHL 20 4 3 7 4 3 0 0 0 4
NHL totals 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — —

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2015 Canada Black U17 8th 5 0 0 0 0
2016 Canada IH18 5th 4 1 0 1 0
2019 Canada WJC 6th 5 0 2 2 2
Junior totals 14 1 2 3 2

Awards and honours

Award Year
NSMMHL
MVP 2015
USHL
All-Rookie Second Team 2016
Third All-Star Team 2017
College
HE All-Rookie Team 2018 [8]

References

  1. ^ Palov, Willy. "Nova Scotia's Shane Bowers makes bittersweet NHL debut with Colorado Avalanche". SaltWire. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  2. ^ "Bowers a big-time prospect". Waterloo Black Hawks. June 23, 2017. Archived from the original on December 9, 2019. Retrieved June 23, 2017.
  3. ^ Bowers, Shane [@shanebowers15] (October 27, 2016). "Excited to join Boston University" (Tweet). Retrieved October 28, 2016 – via Twitter.
  4. ^ "2017 NHL Draft Profile: Shane Bowers". Colorado Avalanche. June 21, 2017. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
  5. ^ Garrioch, Bruce. "Senators take centre Shane Bowers with first-round pick in NHL draft". Ottawa Citizen.
  6. ^ "Shane Bowers college statistics". USCHO.com. February 3, 2018. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  7. ^ "Ottawa Senators acquire centre Matt Duchene from the Colorado Avalanche". NHL.com. November 5, 2017. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  8. ^ a b c "Six Terriers Earn Hockey East Year-End Honors". goterriers.com. March 14, 2018. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  9. ^ "Hockey East announces All-Star Teams, All-Rookie Team, seven individual awards". uscho.com. March 14, 2018. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  10. ^ "Avalanche signs Shane Bowers". Colorado Avalanche. March 29, 2019. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  11. ^ "Avalanche signs Shane Bowers, he signs ATO with Eagles". Colorado Eagles. March 29, 2019. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  12. ^ "Next man up for the Avalanche". milehighhockey.com. November 11, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  13. ^ Jones, Craig (December 15, 2022). "Avalanche's Shane Bowers Future on the Line Back in AHL". The Hockey Writers. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  14. ^ "Bruins acquire Shane Bowers from Avalanche". Boston Bruins. February 25, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  15. ^ "Bowers getting a chance to reset with Bruins". American Hockey League. March 6, 2023. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  16. ^ "Bowers acquired by Devils". New Jersey Devils. June 26, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  17. ^ "Bowers signs with Devils". New Jersey Devils. June 29, 2023. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  18. ^ "Devils' Shane Bowers: Lands on waivers". CBS Sports. October 7, 2023. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  19. ^ Flannery, Kristy (January 9, 2024). "Devils' Ruff Shares Reasons Behind Shane Bowers Recall From Utica". The Hockey News. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  20. ^ Bogart, Catherine (January 17, 2024). "Meier Activated From IR, Bowers Reassigned". New Jersey Devils. Retrieved January 20, 2024 – via NHL.com.
  21. ^ "Bowers, Shane Profile". NHL.com. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  22. ^ "Get to know the players who will represent Canada at 2019 World Juniors". dailyhive.com. December 18, 2018. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
  23. ^ "Finland 2, Canada 1 (OT)" (PDF). IIHF. January 2, 2019. Retrieved January 2, 2019.

External links

Awards and achievements Preceded byLogan Brown Ottawa Senators first round draft pick 2017 Succeeded byBrady Tkachuk
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