Drayson Bowman

Drayson Jack Bowman (born March 8, 1989) is an American professional ice hockey center. He is currently playing with the Colorado Eagles of the ECHL, after previously playing for the Montreal Canadiens and Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League (NHL). Bowman was selected 72nd overall by the Hurricanes in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

Bowman spent four years at the major junior level with the Spokane Chiefs of the Western Hockey League (WHL). He won a Memorial Cup with the Chiefs in 2008 and was named a WHL West Second Team All-Star in 2009. He turned professional in 2009–10 and has spent the majority of his tenure with the Hurricanes in the team's farm system with the Albany River Rats and Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League (AHL). Internationally, Bowman has competed for the United States at the 2009 IIHF World U20 Championships.

Early life

Bowman was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and was raised in Littleton, Colorado, after his family moved in the early 1990s. His father, Mark Bowman, owns a financial consulting company in Colorado. His younger brother, Collin, is also a hockey player and went on to also compete in the Western Hockey League with the Kelowna Rockets, Moose Jaw Warriors and Calgary Hitmen. While in Littleton, Bowman attended Deer Creek Middle School. As a Colorado Avalanche fan, he has listed Joe Sakic as a player he looked up to. In 2003, he and his family moved once more to Vancouver, British Columbia to better his opportunities in hockey. He attended Vancouver Christian School while playing at the bantam level for the North Vancouver Winter Hawks.