Ryan O'Byrne

Ryan David O'Byrne (born July 19 1984 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada) is a professional ice hockey player (a defenseman) who currently plays for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League.

Playing career

O'Byrne attended the private St. Michaels University School in British Columbia before playing for the Cornell Big Red from 2003-2006, during which time he tallied 10 goals, 15 assists, and 208 penalty minutes. O'Byrne was selected by Coach Mike Schafer as an alternate captain for the 2006-2007 season, but decided to leave college one year early to begin his professional career. He played his first NHL game on December 6, 2007, recording two assists against the Boston Bruins.

February 2008 Arrest

On February 11 2008, O'Byrne and teammate Tom Kostopoulos were arrested outside a Tampa Bay, Florida nightclub following the team's rookie dinner for a purse-snatching incident. He was charged with grand theft after police found him with a woman's purse in one hand making a call with her cellphone in the other. Kostopoulos was charged with resisting the officers after he was told to back off while they were dealing with O'Byrne. Both were released on bail -- O'Byrne's was $2,000, Kostopoulos's was $500. The charges against Kostopoulos were dropped a few weeks later, while those against O'Byrne were dropped in July 2008, after he apologized to the victim and agreed to do community service in Canada.

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