Thursday, March 24, 2011

Lyle Named Knights’ “A” Head Coach

Press Release

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights are proud to announce the recent hiring of Justin Lyle as the WBS Knights Junior A Head Coach. Justin has spent the last three years in Indianapolis, Indiana as the Associate Head Coach of the Indiana Ice in the United States Hockey League (Junior A Tier I).

“This is a great opportunity to grow a great program,” stated Lyle. “The Knights have all the resources and people in place to grow junior hockey in Northeast PA and I am proud to be a part of that now.”

While working with the Ice, Lyle learned firsthand the dynamics of running a Junior A Tier I hockey organization. “Justin has a lot to offer for the Knights,” stated General Manager, Paul Maciejewski. “He knows the game inside and out, from the coaching aspects to the operations and the structure of a top level junior club. He is focused on developing each and every player and moving them onto the next level.”

Lyle played a significant role while coaching all three years in Indiana, especially in 2009 when the team was crowned Clark Cup champions after an impressive regular season and post season run. Lyle was also named the Assistant Coach for Team USA at the World Junior A Challenge in Penticton, British Columbia, Canada in 2010 where they brought home the Gold Medal. He didn’t stop at coaching either; the last few years Lyle has worked right up front in the head offices of the Ice, dealing with budgets, recruiting, billet family relations, player placement and video breakdown. He wore a lot of hats within the organization and brings a wealth of knowledge to the Knights.

Prior to working with the Ice, Lyle was a linesman in the American Hockey League along with working for the Junior Development Program where he worked in the USHL as well. It would be safe to say that hockey is in Lyle’s blood, due to the simple fact that before his 5 year officiating stint he worked as a Hockey Director at Polar Ice Entertainment in Chandler, AZ. Before working in the hockey industry, Justin played in the USHL where he won a Clark Cup with the Omaha Lancers. From there he went on to receive a Division I scholarship to play college at the University of Alaska Anchorage.

The Knights are very excited in what Justin has to bring to the table. On behalf of the Knights organization, we wish Justin the best in his first year and look forward to the continuation of building an elite junior program.

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

No comments: