Paul Byron's wife Sarah Byron and their relationship history

Montreal Canadiens left winger Paul Byron was selected 179th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the sixth round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut with the Sabres in 2011 before being traded to the Calgary Flames.

Paul Byron is married to Sarah Leblond. Paul Byron had a difficult start to his professional career before firmly establishing himself. He was fortunate to have Sarah by his side.

Sarah and Paul were classmates in college. They went to the same college in Hull called Heritage College. According to the Montreal Gazette, Paul was playing junior hockey with the Gatineau Olympiques at the time.

Sarah's father owned a Canadian Tire store. The store also marked Sarah and Byron's first step towards advancing their relationship. When Paul's car broke down, he approached Sarah to help him fix it, and that's how they got closer. Their friendship appears to have brought them closer together, and the Byrons consider each other best friends.

The couple officially tied the knot in July 2014. The two have two adorable kids, who are only a year apart in age: daughter Elianna and son Brysen Byron.

Paul and Sarah faced a challenging first year of the relationship

Paul and Sarah had a difficult first year together. Paul, who the Buffalo Sabres drafted, went to Portland in the American Hockey League to pursue his dream of playing in the NHL. He recalled:

"We broke up that first year because the long-distance relationship wasn't really working well for us. I was a seven-hour drive away in Portland. We tried to see each other from time to time and meet up halfway on days off, but it was hard.

"We were separated for a short time before we finally got back together because we knew we were made for each other. Then she changed programs at the University of Ottawa, which allowed her to come and live with me for a bit in Portland. That's when I knew everything was going to work out with us."

For Sarah, the beginning of the relationship was filled with questions:

"At the end of the first year, nothing was certain. I didn't know what I was getting myself into. I was 19 years old, I'd just started university and I didn't really know what I was going to do career-wise.

"He wasn't in the same city and I was questioning things. I didn't know what hockey could bring and if I was ready to be separated from my family. There were big decisions to make, so we were apart for two months. But when he came back, we were like magnets. That's when we said that we were all-in."

Following a trade to the Calgary Flames, Paul and Sarah relocated to Western Canada.

Paul Byron said:

"She was 21. She followed me across the country. I was called up by Calgary, so she was left on her own in a place she didn't know and forced to make new friends. She definitely made a lot of sacrifices so we could be together, and we were still far away from her family."

But despite all the odds, the couple has settled together and is living peacefully with their kids.