(From the 2002-2003 season)..When he was
first drafted ninth overall by Washington in 1997, he was a promising junior player. He captained the Ottawa 67's to the Memorial
Cup championship in 1999 and was named MVP of the tournament. He never came close to reaching any sort of contract agreement
with the Capitals and reentered the draft where he was taken by the Bruins at No. 21 overall.
A diagnosis of juvenile diabetes slowed Boynton's early
progress, but he learned to manage his illness as he developed his game with Providence in the American Hockey League for
two years. Last season, he played his first full year in the NHL and by the playoffs was Boston's best blueliner.
He picked right up where he left off, this year. He has
been at or near the top of the league in plus-minus ranking since the first drop of the puck. (not a huge surprise to
Boynton fans, as his all time high was a +81). Through 20 games, he was +19 and averaging over 20 minutes of
ice time. All that and he won't turn 24 years old until January 19. He's developed into not only Boston's best defensemen,
but one of the best in the NHL.
Off the ice the soft-spoken Boynton is an avid fisherman.
He's also very active in teaching local children about living with diabetes, working with the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston.
Since starting this site I have received
quite a few personal emails from parents of children with Juvenile Diabetes, and the children themselves. I don't think
Boynton will ever know how many children he has helped and inspired through his performance on the ice, and most importantly;
off the ice.
