Photo: Bridget Samuels/Flickr.

Today is Ryan O’Byrne’s 28th birthday. He might not score a lot, but when you can throw hits like this, who cares?

Here he is taking Taylor Hall’s skate to his cheek (it would require 100 stitches). He still finishes his shift, and is the player who eventually sends the puck out of the defensive zone. Hockey courage? Check.

Here he is discussing his new camp (starting in August). For more information, go here.

For more videos of O’Byrne, here and here. You can watch him paint a picture and discuss his hair routine.

Also announced today, the Denver Cutthroats and the Colorado Avalanche have signed an affiliation agreement. It will be good to have a local affiliate, especially for the more unusual situations.