Beloved Bruins Enforcer Lyndon Byers Has Died At 61 And A City's Heart Is Broken

In Boston's long, storied history of colorful and charismatic athlete eras, the run that Boston Bruins tough guy Lyndon Byers had in the '80s and '90s ridin' shotgun with Cam Neely is among the most fondly remembered by the city's sports fans. LB and Cam were the original Bash Brothers and even had their own theme song before such a thing became a staple.

Sadly, the Bruins legend passed away yesterday at just 61 years of age after battling myriad health issues in recent years. The hulking and hilarious fan favorite leaves his wife Anne, son Will, and a crestfallen city that will never forget him pulling on the Spoked-B 298 times though it felt like 2988.

Taken 39th overall by the Bs in the second round of the 1982 draft, LB averaged over 2.5 PIM and .44 goals per game for the WHL's Regina Pats--numbers that no doubt had GM Harry Sinden eager to draft the burly Sasky boy. For his first three seasons, he yoyo'd between The Show, the 'I', and the Always Hungry League, while potting five goals and fighting any and all comers. But it was a D-Day trade in the summer of '86 that not only changed the trajectory of LB's career, it forever altered the team history of the Boston Bruins.

If they looked pretty comfortable on camera here, it was merely a harbinger of things to come as both bruisers would later dip their toes into thespian waters.

Before Neely realized he was of no use being in the penalty box, he and LB pummeled everything on and off the ice. When out and about on the town, it was a rare night to see one without the other. The first time I met both of them I was about 15 or 16 at a Boys Club fundraiser that had a meet and greet and autograph session (still have the John Hancocks). 

A few years later, after the pair played in two Stanley Cup Finals for the Bruins, I ran into them at the fabled 1990 Kiss 108 Concert at Great Woods (seriously, look at the goddamn set list). I was with my boy B Pugs from Southie and we had killer seats a few feet away. Starstruck though respectful, we said 'hi' and shook their hands and we were blown away by each of the their meathooks. At a day-long concert featuring a HOF line-up, that 15-20 seconds meeting our Black 'n Gold heroes was, by far, the highlight of the day. 

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A little over two years later, LB's time as a player in Boston came to an end. He finished his NHL career in San Jose then had a pair of seasons in the IHL before retiring. But his time as a citizen in Boston was really just beginning anew. He appeared in local movies like MONUMENT AVE. and a pair of Farrelly Brothers flicks not to mention Dennis Leary's "Rescue Me". 

He then made his mark as a humorous and well-liked morning radio man on the late, lamented WAAF with Greg Hill. A few years ago when I was doing some side work for the Artist Formerly Known As WEEI, I was blessed enough to do a couple of hours on the air with LB and it was one of the legit highlights of my media career. And I made sure to tell him how much it meant to me. 

Here he is avenging teammates vs. current Toronto coach Craig Berube…

And here's a pic of the dynamic duo getting a security escort out of Logan during the 1988 playoffs after flying commercial sitting next to an ironworker from Tyngsboro still up from the night before, reeking of Super Sexe, and blowing Merit smoke right in their jinx-busting faces…

Boston Globe. Getty Images.

LB joined his former teammate/dance partner Chris Nilan and Spittin' Chiclets legend Tim Stapleton on The Raw Knuckles podcast last year and it's definitely worth the listen…

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Here's a great interview with LB and crazy Mikey Adams from back in the day…

There was only one Lyndon Byers and he'll forever have a place in the hearts of Bruins fans. We love ya, LB!

One more time!