# 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.

## 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 | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | 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 | WHA totals | WHA totals | 202 | 86 | 75 | 161 | 190 | 26 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 42 |
| NHL totals | NHL totals | NHL totals | 99 | 24 | 38 | 62 | 51 | — | — | — | — | — |

## Awards and honours

| Award | Year |
| All-WCHA First Team | 1975–76 |