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 North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Height	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight	205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Position	Left wing
Shot	Left
Played for	New England Whalers Detroit Red Wings Hartford Whalers
NHL draft	123rd overall, 1973 Detroit Red Wings
Playing career	1976–1983

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 season						Playoffs
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

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database
• Hockey Draft Central