Quinton Byfield

Byfield is the son of Clinton Byfield, who is Jamaican,^[1] and Nicole Kasper, who is Canadian.^[2] His parents met when his mom was a student at the University of Toronto and his dad had just moved from Jamaica to Toronto.^[3] He was raised with his oldest sister, Chloe, in a Toronto suburb, and also has an older half-sister.^[3] Although neither his mom nor dad played hockey when they were younger,^[1][2] his parents built an ice rink in their backyard so that his friends and he could play hockey.^[2]

As a teenager, Byfield was named the 2002 Division's All-Tournament Most Valuable Player At Pro-Am's 2015 Mini Chowder Cup.^[4] At the age of 15, he played AAA hockey in the Toronto area and first met former NHL player Gary Roberts, who encouraged him to join his training and development program.^[3]

Byfield was drafted first overall by the Sudbury Wolves in the 2018 OHL draft and won both OHL Rookie of the Year and CHL Rookie of the Year.^[5] In 2018–19, he put up 29 goals and 61 points in 64 games.^[6]

After his second overall selection in the 2020 NHL entry draft, Byfield was signed by the Los Angeles Kings to a three-year, entry-level contract on October 16, 2020.^[7] He was assigned to the Kings' American Hockey League (AHL) roster to begin the 2020–21 season where he played on a line with Akil Thomas and Devante Smith-Pelly. His line became the first all-Black line in professional ice hockey since Herb Carnegie, Ossie Carnegie, and Manny McIntyre in the 1940s. During their first game together, Thomas recorded a natural hat-trick and his line combined for six points in the eventual win.^[8] On April 28, 2021, Byfield made his NHL debut in a 3–2 loss to the Anaheim Ducks.^[9] He recorded his first NHL point on May 5, 2021, in a 4–2 win over the Arizona Coyotes.^[10]

In October 2021, Byfield fractured his ankle, keeping him from joining the Kings.^[11] Byfield eventually returned to the NHL level on January 20, 2022.^[12] He scored his first NHL goal in a matchup against the New York Islanders on January 27, in a 3–2 win over the New York Islanders.^[13] On April 25, 2023, Byfield scored his first NHL playoff goal in a 6–3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers.^[14] On July 15, 2024, Byfield, a restricted free agent, signed a five-year, $31.25 million contract extension with the Kings.^[15]

Quick facts Medal record, Men's ice hockey ...

Medal record
Men's ice hockey
Representing  Canada
World Junior Championships
	2020 Czech Republic
	2021 Canada

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Byfield won a silver medal at the 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.^[16] Byfield won a Gold Medal with Canada at the 2020 World Junior Championships held in the Czech Republic, posting one assist in seven games. Byfield won a silver medal with Canada at the 2021 World Junior Championships held in Canada, posting two goals and five assists for seven points in seven games.