Key rearguards for Vancouver and Spokane are friends after playing Under-18 worlds a year ago but Byram says, “I won’t be talking to him much during the series, that’s for sure”
Through two rounds of these WHL playoffs, the Vancouver Giants have scored 41 goals, and their defencemen have combined for 39 points on those.
These are two of the quicker teams in the WHL. They both have defencemen apt at adding an extra man to the rush. Their best-of-seven Western Conference final, which starts Friday at the Langley Events Centre, should have pace and zip to it. Smith got the nod for Western Conference defenceman of the year for this season, a decision that has left Vancouver brass and more than a few Giants fans miffed, considering Byram led all blueliners in the three major junior leagues in goals .
“Players like that and Jaret Anderson-Dolan are mentally strong as well. It’s not like they’re going to roll over. They’re the best for a reason.” Byram spoke last May about how playing with Smith was a good learning experience for him, explaining then that, “I want to be similar to a guy like Ty Smith. I want to solidify myself. I know the work that it takes and I’m willing to put in the work.”
They’ve scored 36 goals in those 10 games, and they’ve gotten 18 points from their rearguards on those markers, led by one goal and seven assists from Smith. Smith has six assists on the power play, helping Spokane’s man advantage to a ridiculously proficient 48 per cent in the playoffs so far. They were the league’s top unit in the regular season as well, coming in at 29.1 per cent , and 31 of Smith’s 69 points in league play came on the power play.
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