Ryan O'Byrne

Infobox Ice Hockey Player

---

image_size = 230px
image_caption = ‎Ryan OByrne
position = Defence
shoots = Right
height_ft = 6
height_in = 6
weight_lb = 228
team = Montreal Canadiens
league = NHL
prospect_team = Hamilton Bulldogs
prospect_league = AHL
nationality = Canada
nickname =
birth_date = Birth date and age|1984|7|19|mf=y
birth_place = Victoria, BC, CAN
career_start = 2007
draft_team = Montreal Canadiens
draft_year = 2003
draft = 79th overall

Ryan David O'Byrne (born July 19 1984 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada) is a professional ice hockey player (a defenseman) who currently plays for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League.

Playing career

O'Byrne attended the private St. Michaels University School in British Columbia before playing for the Cornell Big Red from 2003-2006, during which time he tallied 10 goals, 15 assists, and 208 penalty minutes. [ [http://db.elynah.com/player.php?id=58 Ryan O'Byrne ] ] O'Byrne was selected by Coach Mike Schafer as an alternate captain for the 2006-2007 season, but decided to leave college one year early to begin his professional career. [ [http://bigredpuckhead.blogspot.com/2006/08/2006-2007-roster-updated-againagain.html Big Red Puckhead: 2006-2007 Roster Updated, Again...Again ] ] He played his first NHL game on December 6, 2007, recording two assists against the Boston Bruins.

February 2008 Arrest

On February 11 2008, O'Byrne and teammate Tom Kostopoulos were arrested outside a Tampa Bay, Florida nightclub following the team's rookie dinner for a purse-snatching incident. He was charged with grand theft after police found him with a woman's purse in one hand making a call with her cellphone in the other. Kostopoulos was charged with resisting the officers after he was told to back off while they were dealing with O'Byrne. Both were released on bail -- O'Byrne's was $2,000, Kostopoulos's was $500. [ [http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/story.html?id=0961f342-bdb2-466f-acfa-9bd527e71750&k=83087 O'Byrne arrested ] ] The charges against Kostopoulos were dropped a few weeks later, while those against O'Byrne were dropped in July 2008, after he apologized to the victim and agreed to do community service in Canada. [ [http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5gzHLo1I4JJN5qaWM94sSs81hlOSg The Canadian Press: Theft charges dropped against Habs' O'Byrne in Tampa nightclub affair ] ]

References

External links

*hockeydb|72665