Canadian connections bond Avalanche rookies and top prospects Bo Byram, Alex Newhook, Justin Barron

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.

“And same with Barron, I’ve known him for a while, being a Maritimer, so him coming through, I was excited to see his name picked by the Avs. Great guy, one of my best buddies, and a great player.”

Indeed, Newhook and Barron — the defenseman who was the 25th selection in the 2019 draft — are Maritime buddies, having grown up playing against and with each other in Eastern Canada. The latter is from Halifax, Nova Scotia., the city Barron also played juniors in with the Mooseheads.

“We played against each other growing up a little bit, and then with each other and spring hockey and stuff,” Barron, 19, said of Newhook, 20. “We’re pretty comfortable with each other now. We’re chirping back and forth and he’s a fun guy to be around.”

Byram, also 20, noted that he, Newhook and Barron forged a close bond being teammates for Canada’s 2021 World Junior Championship, where the U.S. beat Canada in the gold-medal game in a bubble atmosphere in Edmonton.

“We were in the bubble for quite a while. I know J.B. really well,” Byram said. “We’ve roomed together at like every Hockey Canada event that I’ve been too — U17, U18 — and I’m rooming with him right now. So I know J.B. really well. He’s a great dude.

“Obviously, I played World Juniors with both him and Newy last year. We’ve spent a lot of time together, had a lot of fun. They’re both really good guys, fun hanging out with. We’ve been doing lots away from the rink, grabbing meals together, whatever it might be. So definitely nice having those guys here together.”

Byram and Newhook are vying for opening-night roster spots for the Avs, after both saw limited action in the shortened 2021 season. Byram played in 19 regular-season games and Newhook played a combined 14 games in the regular season and playoffs.

Barron will probably begin the season with the AHL’s Colorado Eagles, where he played for seven games last year after his junior season.