Drayson Bowman

Lore & Background

Bowman was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and raised in Littleton, Colorado, after his family moved in the early 1990s. His father, Mark Bowman, owns a financial consulting company in Colorado, and his younger brother, Collin, also played in the WHL. As a youth, Bowman played in the 2001 and 2002 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournaments with the Colorado Junior Avalanche. He attended Deer Creek Middle School in Littleton and, as a Colorado Avalanche fan, looked up to Joe Sakic. In 2003, his family moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, to further his hockey opportunities; he attended Vancouver Christian School while playing bantam for the North Vancouver Winter Hawks.

Bowman was selected eighth overall by the Spokane Chiefs in the 2004 WHL Bantam Draft. He debuted with the Chiefs in 2004–05 but spent most of that season with the Kimberley Dynamiters of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League, where he recorded 29 goals and 59 points in 47 games and was named the Eddie Mountain Division's rookie of the year. He joined the Chiefs full-time in 2005–06, notching 17 goals and 34 points in 72 games to be named the team's rookie of the year. In 2006–07, he was listed as the ninth-best WHL prospect in NHL Central Scouting Bureau's preliminary rankings, played in the CHL Top Prospects Game, and finished with 24 goals and 43 points in 61 games. He played in his first WHL playoffs that season, recording a team-leading seven points in six games as the Chiefs were eliminated in the first round.

Following his draft, Bowman returned to Spokane for the 2007–08 season, recording a team-leading 82 points in 66 games, with 42 goals tying for fourth in the league. He added a team-leading 20 points in 21 playoff games as the Chiefs won the Ed Chynoweth Cup as WHL champions, then captured the 2008 Memorial Cup in Kitchener, Ontario. Bowman scored a hat trick in the opening game, including the game-tying goal late in the third period of a 5–4 overtime win over the Belleville Bulls, and scored in all four tournament games, including game-winners against the Kitchener Rangers in the round-robin and final. With a team-high eight points and a tournament-leading six goals in four games, he was named to the Memorial Cup All-Star Team. In his final junior season (2008–09), Bowman was named an alternate captain, earned WHL and CHL Player of the Week honors twice, and finished with 47 goals and a junior career-high 83 points, leading his team in scoring for the second straight year. He was named to the WHL West Second All-Star Team. The Chiefs were eliminated in the second round of the WHL playoffs, ending Bowman's junior career; he left fifth on the team's all-time goals list with 136.

Reader's Guide

Bowman turned professional in 2009–10 and spent the majority of his tenure with the Hurricanes in the team's farm system, first with the Albany River Rats and later with the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League (AHL). He made his NHL debut on January 16, 2010, recording one shot on goal in 10 minutes of ice time in a 5–3 loss to the Atlanta Thrashers. His first and second career NHL goals came on April 6, 2010, against goaltender Antero Niittymaki in the first period of an 8–5 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning, in his seventh NHL game. He finished the 2009–10 NHL season with two goals in nine games, averaging 12 minutes of ice time. Hurricanes head coach Paul Maurice described him as having 'a good set of hands and a really good hockey IQ.' In the AHL that season, Bowman recorded 32 points (17 goals, 15 assists) over 56 games, tying for 31st among league rookies and 10th among River Rats players; he added nine points in eight playoff games as the River Rats were eliminated in the second round.

In 2010–11, Bowman made the Hurricanes' roster out of training camp but was returned to the AHL within a month, joining the Charlotte Checkers. After recording 30 points (12 goals, 18 assists) over 51 games with the Checkers, he was recalled on March 10, 2011, and finished the NHL season with one assist over 23 games, averaging 10 minutes of ice time. He was returned to the AHL for the Checkers' playoff run, contributing 8 points over 15 games as they were eliminated in the Conference Finals. In 2011–12, Bowman began the season with Charlotte, received a brief call-up in November, and was recalled again in December, recording a two-goal game against the Vancouver Canucks on December 15. Internationally, Bowman competed for the United States at the 2009 IIHF World U20 Championships.

Did You Know?

• Bowman was selected 72nd overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2007 NHL entry draft.
• He won the Memorial Cup with the Spokane Chiefs in 2008 and was named to the Memorial Cup All-Star Team.
• Bowman scored his first two NHL goals on April 6, 2010, against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
• He was named WHL and CHL Player of the Week twice during the 2008–09 season.