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And, even if you figure the Avalanche will re-assign Byram to Vancouver early on in the WHL regular season, he’s a frontrunner to make the Canadian world junior team, which would see him miss another 10 games or so.

“I think the guys are OK with it no matter what. Bo’s a really good guy. Everybody really likes Bo,” said Alex Kannok Leipert, who was Byram’s defence partner for much of last season. “If he doesn’t make it this year, the boys will be happy. If he does make it, we’ll be happy for him.

“It’s something we have to accept. He’s going to be gone for some time no matter what. We have to learn how to play without him.”

Dylan Plouffe, another Vancouver defenceman, added: “We want the best for Bowen. If he can stick up there, great for him. If he comes back, it’s unbelievable. We know what kind of player he is and what he’s capable of. Whatever happens, we’re going to be happy for him either way.”

Byram, a left-handed shot listed at 6-1 and 192 pounds, led all the defencemen in the three major junior leagues in goals during the regular season with 26. The Cranbrook native had 71 points in 67 regular-season games.

He then paced the WHL playoffs in scoring with 26 points in 22 games, including eight goals.

“I obviously want to go there and make the team. That’s my goal right now,” Byram said of the Avalanche. “I think I have to be confident and play how I play. I need to play well defensively. I need to just enjoy it, too. Not many people get the chance to be in the position that I am in. I need to make the most of it.