George Lyle (ice hockey)

George Wallace Lyle (born November 24, 1953) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. Between 1976 and 1983 he played 99 games in the National Hockey League with the Detroit Red Wings and Hartford Whalers, as well as 202 games in the World Hockey Association with the New England Whalers.

George Lyle
Born (1953-11-24) November 24, 1953 (age 70)
North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Height6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
PositionLeft wing
ShotLeft
Played forNew England Whalers
Detroit Red Wings
Hartford Whalers
NHL draft123rd overall, 1973
Detroit Red Wings
Playing career1976–1983

Playing career

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Lyle was selected 123rd overall in 1973 after transferring to Michigan Tech. He then spent three years at Michigan Tech where they were NCAA Champions in 1975 and runner up in both 1974 and 1976 NCAA tournament. In 1975-76 he was placed on the WCHA first all-star team and earned All-American honors after scoring 47 goals in 43 games during the 1975–76 schedule.

Lyle opted to begin his pro career with the WHA's New England Whalers in 1976–77. After scoring 39 goals for the club [team record] he was presented the Lou Kaplan Trophy as the league's top rookie. He continued to be a solid worker for another two seasons before the Detroit Red Wings reclaimed him as a part of the 1979 NHL Expansion Draft. He split the next two seasons between the NHL and the AHL's Adirondack Red Wings. In 1981 he scored 18 points in as many playoff games when he helped the Wings capture the Calder Cup.

After a slow start in 1981–82, Lyle was placed on waivers and picked up by Hartford. He averaged a point per game in 14 contests for his new club before sustaining a season ending eye injury. The veteran scorer retired in 1983 after playing 16 games for Hartford and spending the rest of his time with the Binghamton Whalers of the AHL.

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
1970–71Nor'Wes CapsBCJHL
1972–73Calumet-Houghton ChiefsUSHL3323163942
1973–74Michigan Tech UniversityWCHA199132220
1974–75Michigan Tech UniversityWCHA3837195676
1975–76Michigan Tech UniversityWCHA4347418842
1976–77New England WhalersWHA753933726251014
1977–78New England WhalersWHA68302454741221313
1978–79New England WhalersWHA5917183554935825
1978–79Springfield IndiansAHL42466
1979–80Detroit Red WingsNHL2774112
1979–80Adirondack Red WingsAHL332393240
1980–81Detroit Red WingsNHL3110142428
1980–81Adirondack Red WingsAHL402016368418991834
1981–82Detroit Red WingsNHL111234
1981–82Hartford WhalersNHL14212149
1982–83Hartford WhalersNHL1646108
1982–83Binghamton WhalersAHL561924436341238
WHA totals202867516119026661242
NHL totals9924386251

Awards and honours

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AwardYear
All-WCHA First Team1975–76[1]

References

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  1. ^ "WCHA All-Teams". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
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