BEARS ACQUIRE VETERAN WINGER DANE BYERS FROM BARONS

April 2, 2013

HERSHEY, Pa.– The HERSHEY BEARS announced today that the Washington Capitals organization has acquired left wing Dane Byers from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for defenseman Garrett Stafford.  The announcement was made by BEARS President/GM Doug Yingst.
 
Byers, 27, comes to HERSHEY from the AHL’s Oklahoma City Barons, where he posted six goals, four assists and 144 penalty minutes in 58 games played. 
 
The 6-3, 204-pound native of Nipawin, SK is in his eighth professional season.  In 2011-12, he spent most of the campaign with the AHL’s Springfield Falcons, notching 16 goals, 23 assists and 108 penalty minutes while serving as team captain.  Byers has appeared in a total of 443 AHL games with Hartford, Springfield, San Antonio and Oklahoma City, piling up 248 points (106 goals, 142 assists) and 934 penalty minutes.
 
Byers has also played in 14 NHL games with the New York Rangers and Columbus Blue Jackets, recording one goal and 60 penalty minutes.  He was originally selected by the New York Rangers in the second round (48^th overall) in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.
 
Staffordrecorded 21 points (one goal, 20 assists) and 36 penalty minutes in 48 games with HERSHEY.
 
The BEARS will visit the Syracuse Crunch for a 7:30 PM matchup on Friday, April 5 at the Oncenter War Memorial.   The two teams then face off next Saturday, April 6 at 7:00 PM at GIANT Center.  The first 3,000 fans will receive a BEARS logo golf ball courtesy of Fairview Golf Course.  Tickets for the two remaining BEARS home games may be purchased at the GIANT Center box office, by calling (717) 508-BEAR or online at TicketMaster.com.