Forward and Assistant Captain of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim

Dan Bylsma was born on September 19, 1970, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and raised in Grand Haven, Michigan, in a family of three older brothers and would be joined by a younger sister.

Dan played amateur hockey in Muskegon Junior Hockey, Norton Shores Recreational Leagues, and Grand Rapids G.R.A.H.A. before playing Junior "B" hockey in Canada for the St. Mary's Lincolns of the Ontario Hockey Association.

Dan graduated from West Michigan Christian High where he was a golf stand out, winning the Class D golf individual championship as a freshman. Dan also played baseball and was the starting left fielder as a freshman on Christian's 1985 State championship team. In his senior year, Dan was a member of the all-state all-class "Dream Team" (the best player at each position in the state - all classes) as well as winning many regional baseball honors.

Dan played collegiate hockey for four years for Bowling Green State University of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (C.C.H.A.)

Dan was drafted by the Winnipeg Jets in the sixth round, 109th overall during his freshman year.

Dan is one of few players in the C.C.H.A. to have scored a goal while his team was penalty killing two men short. Dan was twice selected to the C.C.H.A. All Academic Team and once earned Honorable Mention. He was a Bowling Green Scholar Athlete all four years and won the Jack Gregory Award for the highest grade point average on the team in his Sophomore season and the Howard Brown Coaches' Award for excellence in his Senior year.

Dan began his professional career in the East Coast Hockey League with the Greensboro (North Carolina) Monarchs. He was a candidate for the league's Rookie of the Year award and won the Monarchs' MVP award. His hard work and play won him an invitation to attend the inaugural training camp of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks for the next season.

During his second year with Greensboro, Dan was called up to Winnipeg's American Hockey League affiliate, the Moncton (New Brunswick) Hawks and helped the Hawks to the Calder Cup finals, losing to the Portland Pirates in six games.

After the 1993/94 season Dan was signed as a free agent to a three year contract by the Los Angeles Kings of the N.H.L.

Dan went to the L.A. Kings training camp in 1994 but was assigned to the Kings' International Hockey League affiliate - the Phoenix Roadrunners. Dan won the "Iron Man" award for playing the entire season without a game missed due to injury.

On June 24, 1995, Dan and Mary Beth Friel were married. Mary Beth was an All-Conference gymnast for Bowling Green State University.

Dan spent the 1995/1996 season in Phoenix with the exception of being called up for four games with the LA Kings. He was named captain of the Roadrunners and won the team's "Most Valuable Player" award. Dan holds the Phoenix record for most short handed goals in a season (6).

Dan played the entire 1996/1997 with the Kings playing in 79 of the 82 games.

The Kings penalty killing unit set a team record of 87.2% efficiency in the 1996/97 season, a percentage which ranks fifth best all time in the N.H.L. record book.

At the end of the 1996/1997 season, Dan was voted "Most Popular Player" by the Kings Booster Club, an honor he shared with Ian Laperriere, and he was the recipient of the King's "Community Service Award" which he shared with goalkeeper Byron Dafoe.

The Phoenix Roadrunners announced they would be ceasing operations as of the end of the 1996/1997 season. They also announced the selection of Dan to the All-Time Best Phoenix Roadrunner Team.

Dan was assigned to the Long Beach Ice Dogs of the International Hockey League at the start of the 1997/1998 season but was recalled to the Kings after 8 games and he finished the season with the Kings playing in 65 games in the regular season.

Dan's stats for the season were:

For the 1998/1999 season, Dan played up and down between the Kings and the IHL Long Beach Ice Dogs.  He was awarded the Unsung Hero Award by his Ice Dog teammates and the Kemper Award by the Ice Dog organization for professionalism on and off the Ice.  During the season, "So Your Son Wants to Play in the NHL" a book co-written by Dan and his father was published by Sleeping Bear Press in the US and by McClelland & Stewart in Canada. 

 For the season, Dan's stats were:

During the 1999-2000 season, Dan was with the Kings for the entire season although he did play several conditioning games for the Kings minor league affiliates.