Travis Boyd

History

2008-09: Travis Boyd led Hopkins HS in Minnesota in scoring for the second straight season. In 26 games, he scored 26 goals with 25 assists and was +21 plus/minus. Boyd finished with 98 points in two years of high school hockey. Boyd committed to playing college hockey at the University of Minnesota in 2011-12.

2009-10: Boyd joined the US National Development Team program in Ann Arbor, playing for the U-17 squad and also appearing in one game with the U-18 team. In 35 USHL games with the U-17 team, he scored 8 goals with 18 assists. In 52 non-USHL contests, he scored 10 goals with 14 assists. Boyd was scoreless in his lone U-18 game and also played with the USA squad at the World U-17 Hockey Challenge scoring 1 goal with 2 assists in six games.

2010-11: Boyd split the season between the US NDTP U-17 and U-18 squads and also represented the US at the World Junior U-18 Championships. He scored 13 goals with 25 assists in 60 games for the U-18 squad. Boyd scored 2 goals with 4 assists in six games for Team USA, including an assist in the gold medal game as the Americans captured their third straight U-18 World Championship with a 4-3 overtime win over Sweden. In 24 USHL games with the U-17 squad, Boyd scored 5 goals with 13 assists. Boyd was not among the North American forwards listed on the final Central Scouting rankings and was selected by the Capitals in the 6th round (177th overall) of the 2011 NHL Draft.

2011-12: Boyd skated in 35 games for the University of Minnesota as a freshman. He scored his first collegiate goal (and only goal of the year) in the Gophers’ 5-2 win over North Dakota in the NCAA West Regional final. Playing primarily with the Gophers’ third and fourth lines, he had eight assists and was plus-two with 4 penalty minutes. Minnesota finished first in the WCHA but were upset by North Dakota in the league tournament before avenging the loss to the Fighting Sioux in the NCAA tournament the following week.

2012-13: Boyd played 40 games for the University of Minnesota in his sophomore season. The third line center for the Gophers behind high profile scorers Erik Haula (Minnesota) and Nick Bjugstad (Florida), Boyd scored 3 goals (all on the power play) with 11 assists and was +2 with 8 penalty minutes. Minnesota finished tied for first with St. Cloud State in the WCHA regular season. The Gophers season came to a disappointing end as Minnesota lost to Colorado College, 2-0, in the WCHA semifinals and fell to national champion Yale, 3-2 in overtime in the NCAA West Regional semi-finals.

2013-14: Boyd had a breakout season for Minnesota as a junior. Skating in all 41 games for the Gophers, he scored 9 goals with 23 assists and was +4 with 18 penalty minutes. Minnesota finished first in the newly-formed Big Ten hockey conference and advanced to the Frozen Four championship game. After an upset loss to Ohio State in the Big Ten tournament semifinals the Gophers defeated Robert Morris and St. Cloud State to capture the NCAA West Regional and then defeated North Dakota, 2-1, with a game-winning short-handed goal in the game’s final second. Union defeated Minnesota, 7-4, in the championship game. Boyd had points in 10 of the last 12 games for Minnesota (1 goal, 12 assists) including an assist against Union. 

2014-15: Boyd made his pro hockey debut with Washington AHL affiliate Hershey following his senior season at Minnesota. 

Talent Analysis

A sixth round pick in 2011, Boyd has continued to play above expectations for nearly the entirety of his career. During his time at the University of Minnesota, he emerged as one of their best and most consistent scorers, showing a strong playmaking knack and quality puck handling skills. Though he does not possess the big-time offensive abilities of others in the Capitals organization, he continues to produce at each level while displaying a steady two-way game.

Future

Boyd is skating for the AHL' s Hershey Bears in his first pro season in 2015-6 following a successful college career at Minnesota. Despite his size, Boyd continues to show an ability to produce while providing a strong two-way presence. Ultimately, if he hopes to make it to the NHL, Boyd will have to continue to produce above expectations on the AHL level as he did in college.