The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced today that the organization has signed forward Shane Bowers to a one-year contract for the 2022-23 season.
Acquired by the Avalanche in a trade on Nov. 5, 2017, Bowers was selected by the Ottawa Senators in the first round (28th overall) of the 2017 NHL Draft. The Halifax, Nova Scotia, native has spent the past three-plus seasons with the Colorado Eagles of the American Hockey League, totaling 45 points (23g/22a) in 117 career AHL games. He recorded nine points (6g/3a) in 37 contests during the 2021-22 campaign after missing most of the first half of the season due to injury. He added four points (1g/3a) in four Calder Cup playoff games this past spring.
Prior to turning pro, Bowers played two seasons at Boston University from 2017-19. As a freshman in 2017-18, he was named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team after leading all conference freshmen in scoring with 32 points (17g/15a) in 40 games. He finished his college career with 53 points (28g, 25a) in 77 NCAA outings.
Bowers enrolled at BU after two seasons with the United States Hockey League’s Waterloo Blackhawks from 2015-17. He registered 84 points (37g/47a) in 116 career USHL contests and added five points (2g, 3a) in 15 career postseason outings with Waterloo. He was named to the All-USHL Third Team in his second season with the Blackhawks in 2016-17.
Internationally, Bowers represented his country at the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship in British Columbia, finishing with two points (0g/2a) in five games. He also played for Canada at the 2016 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, skating in five contests.