Bowen Byram ejected for slashing Jesse Puljujarvi at IIHF World Championship

A talented defenseman received the gate for an incident during a group-stage contest.

During Saturday’s Group A matchup between Canada and Finland, Canadian defenseman Bowen Byram received a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for slashing Finland forward Jesse Puljujarvi.

The incident happened in the latter half of the second period, when Byram and Puljujarvi were battling in front of the Team Canada goal. Byram visibly took his stick and hit Puljujarvi between the legs, which started a brief skirmish as the Pittsburgh Penguin took exception to the act.

Puljujarvi was also handed a two-minute minor for roughing. On the ensuing sequence of 4-on-4 play, Owen Power scored to tie the game at three. Finland did not capitalize on the remaining power play time before the end of the period.

Byram has been having a solid tournament for Canada. In his first tour of international duty with the senior national team, the Buffalo Sabres blueliner has scored a goal and four points through five games, and a plus/minus of +5.

It is not yet known if Byram’s actions will result in supplemental discipline. Canada has a quick turnaround as they face Switzerland in a marquee matchup on Sunday. Currently, the Canadians are third in Group A, one point behind Czechia for second and three back of the first-place Swiss.

Byram came to the world championship after a respectable NHL season, which saw him change homes for the first time. The Colorado Avalanche traded the Cranbrook, British Columbia native to the Sabres for Casey Mittelstadt. Byram scored a career-high 29 points in 73 games during the 2023-24 campaign.