Former Columbus Blue Jackets Defenseman Gavin Bayreuther has been playing professional hockey since 2017, when he signed with the Dallas Stars as an undrafted free agent out of St. Lawrence University.
After spending three-plus years in the Stars organization, he was signed as a free agent by Columbus on October 9, 2020. He would spend the next three seasons in the Columbus organization, playing in 103 games for the Blue Jackets. Of course, there was that stop in Seattle , when he was claimed in the Expansion Draft on July 21, 2021. Fans have since dubbed him the " Seattle Kraken Legend," but he re-signed with Columbus a week after the expansion draft.
Since he left Columbus, he's played in the Dallas, Carolina, and Buffalo organizations. He also spent a year in Switzerland, playing forLausanne HC.
But now the veteran defenseman has a new venture.
Bayreuther has launched the Bayreuther Hockey Club . The club will be designed to develop complete hockey players and to "help every player become the best version of themselves."
I grew up in Maine and New Hampshire, where my love for hockey first began. That passion took me to St. Lawrence University, where I spent four incredible years playing Division I hockey. It's also where I met my wife, and today we're raising our family with our two daughters and son here in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, where we've proudly called home for the past six years.
After college, I was fortunate enough to spend the last nine years playing professional hockey at the AHL and NHL levels, along with one unforgettable season in Switzerland. Hockey has taken me places I never imagined, introduced me to incredible people, and taught me lessons that go far beyond the game. Now, I'm excited to give back.
Bayreuther Hockey Club was built to help players reach their full potential—not only by becoming better hockey players, but by becoming hardworking, confident, and respectful people. My goal is to create an environment where players can learn, compete, and develop a lifelong love for the game. I'm excited to share this journey with all of you.
Thanks for following along. See you at the rink.
- Per Bayreuther Hockey Club
THN Columbus spoke to Bayreuther about his new venture and what the focus of the BHC will be. "Right now I'm really focused on players who want to take the next step in their game. That includes youth players all the way through junior, college, and pro. The goal is to help every player improve, but I especially enjoy working with athletes who are serious about developing," Bayreuther says.
Bayreuther Hockey Club was built to give Maine players a place to develop the right way—with elite coaching, hard work, accountability, and a genuine love for the game.
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As for how many campers are expected, he adds, "We're starting small on purpose. I'd rather give 5-10 players a great experience than try to pack the ice. As we grow, we'll add more clinics, camps, and programs throughout the year."
For Gavin, though, this isn't just a one-summer event either. "This isn't just a summer project. The vision is to build Bayreuther Hockey Club into something that players and families can be part of year-round. I want it to become a place that's known for developing players, building confidence, and growing the game here in Maine," he says.
Bayreuther still plans on playing pro hockey himself, though. "I'm still focused on playing and seeing where hockey takes me," he says. "BHC is something I've been thinking about for a long time, and I finally felt like this was the right time to start building it. Whether I'm playing or not, this is something I'm committed to growing for years to come."
He says he'll also be running a pro development camp August 19-21 with some of the pros and the best college and junior kids in the area, which you can see below.
Photo via bayreutherhc
This sounds like an awesome opportunity for hockey players in the Maine and New Hampshire area to enhance their skills and become better players.
Good luck to Gavin Bayreuther and the Bayreuther Hockey Club. We'll be following along.
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