Doyle working on opportunities

By Lethbridge Herald on December 20, 2024.

Herald photo by JUSTIN SEWARd Lethbridge Hurricanes Tristen Doyle attempts to keep the puck in front of him as Lukas Hansen of the Saskatoon Blades tries to skate passed him during recent WHL action.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

Lethbridge Hurricanes defenceman Tristen Doyle is taking advantage of opportunities in his third WHL season after coming back from an early season injury.

“The injury set me … back but I mean (I) got back, started working hard and putting in the work and feel like I’m back to where I was before,” said Doyle.

Doyle’s focus coming into his third season is to assist the younger guys and having the opportunity to play more minutes.

“(I’m) trying to drive offence for our team to help them win,” said Doyle.

Doyle wants to work on lessening the opportunities in his own zone.

Doyle has grown in his three years.

“I just feel like I’m definitely more confident than I was when I was 16,” said Doyle.

“Just being an older guy (and) having more games played in the league definitely helps me out”.

Doyle says it’s been good, when asked about helping the four younger defenceman on the team.

“They (are) always asking questions and (I’m) always there to help them and it’s been good,” said Doyle.

Doyle thinks what has made him successful is using and talking to his teammates on and off the ice.

“Just helping out with other guys and knowing where other guys are going to be, that’s probably the biggest thing for me,” said Doyle.

“I thought Doyler really applied himself in the offseason to get himself off to a good start,” said Bill Peters, Canes head coach.

“Again, he’s a guy who drives offence big time for us and a guy who’s doing a real good job in all three zones in my opinion. He makes good reads in the neutral zone, plays hard in the defensive zone and has a good skill set offensively to get the puck to guys in good spots.”

Peters praised Doyle’s skill set in a recent game.

“It might’ve been our third goal where he did a great job four on four and he finds Wormy (Logan Wormald) on the back door with a backhand pass. So that’s an elite play by a good player,” said Peters.

 The 18-year-old Bonnyville product has 13 assists in 20 games this season and had a career year last season when he five goals and 20 assists in all 68 games.