George Lyle

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.

Playing career

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 Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1970–71 Nor'Wes Caps BCJHL — — — — — — — — — — 1972–73 Calumet-Houghton Chiefs USHL 33 23 16 39 42 — — — — — 1973–74 Michigan Tech University WCHA 19 9 13 22 20 — — — — — 1974–75 Michigan Tech University WCHA 38 37 19 56 76 — — — — — 1975–76 Michigan Tech University WCHA 43 47 41 88 42 — — — — — 1976–77 New England Whalers WHA 75 39 33 72 62 5 1 0 1 4 1977–78 New England Whalers WHA 68 30 24 54 74 12 2 1 3 13 1978–79 New England Whalers WHA 59 17 18 35 54 9 3 5 8 25 1978–79 Springfield Indians AHL 4 2 4 6 6 — — — — — 1979–80 Detroit Red Wings NHL 27 7 4 11 2 — — — — — 1979–80 Adirondack Red Wings AHL 33 23 9 32 40 — — — — — 1980–81 Detroit Red Wings NHL 31 10 14 24 28 — — — — — 1980–81 Adirondack Red Wings AHL 40 20 16 36 84 18 9 9 18 34 1981–82 Detroit Red Wings NHL 11 1 2 3 4 — — — — — 1981–82 Hartford Whalers NHL 14 2 12 14 9 — — — — — 1982–83 Hartford Whalers NHL 16 4 6 10 8 — — — — — 1982–83 Binghamton Whalers AHL 56 19 24 43 63 4 1 2 3 8 WHA totals 202 86 75 161 190 26 6 6 12 42 NHL totals 99 24 38 62 51 — — — — —

Awards and honours Award Year All-WCHA First Team 1975–76