BY SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW
His father was one of the best Sudbury natives to ever play for the Sudbury Wolves and grace the rinks of the NHL.
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Craig Carlyle?s punishing style of defensive play has been a welcome addition with the Sudbury Northern Wolves |
Now, Randy Carlyle?s son, Craig is following in his father?s footsteps and playing junior hockey in the Nickel City.
In September, the Sudbury Northern Wolves hoisted Carlyle from the Salmon Arm Silverbacks of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL).
The rugged defenceman is eager to prove his worth for the Northern Wolves.
The five-foot-eleven, 190-pound, stay-at-home defenceman relishes physical play and has plenty of experience in junior hockey.
At 17 he played a season of junior hockey in Manitoba with the Winnipeg South Blues. He then spent a season
playing for the Cleveland Junior Barons in the North American Hockey League.
Carlyle, 19, is typically one of the first guys at the rink on game day. He can be found taping his sticks, checking his gear and getting his mind ready for the ice battle his body is about to endure.
Though he?s not a physically big presence, Carlyle has an intimidating style and plays with an imposing edge to his game.
He will punish opposing forwards who dare to enter the slot and always tries to hit players along the boards looking to sneak the puck into the slot. He can also handle himself in a scrap.
In a game against Northern Michigan earlier this year, he was challenged to a fight. He responded by one-punching the other combatant to the ice with one devastating uppercut.
?My game is simple. I?m not here to score goals. I am here to prevent them,? said Carlyle. ?I make sure people pay the price when they stand in front of the net.?
Carlyle?s hockey bloodlines are thick and solid. His father was a NHL star for 17 seasons, winning the Norris Trophy as the league?s best defenceman in 1981 while playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
If there?s been any pressure on Carlyle to live up to his father?s career, it hasn?t bothered him to much.
?Having a man like Randy as a dad is something I?ve dealt with my whole life. It?s followed me everywhere I?ve
gone,? said Carlyle. ?There?s a little bit of pressure, but it doesn?t get to me.?
In fact, Carlyle is relishing the opportunity to play in Sudbury.
?Following in my father?s footsteps is special and I am pretty excited about the opportunity. I am a long way from where I would like to be, but it?s a nice feeling playing in a place where my dad once played,? said Carlyle.
?My aunts and uncles live here, so it?s great to play somewhere with a lot of support from my family.?
Northern Wolves head coach Jason Stos knows Carlyle is a definite asset to the team.
?Craig?s biggest asset is he brings 100 per cent of everything he can do to every game,? said Stos. ?He?s a leader,
who plays hard and tough. You can tell he?s been around the game for a long time because he has a great
understanding of the game.?
Stos sees Carlyle as a positive influence to his teammates.
?Craig?s desire to win and his hard work ethic is rubbing off on the other players,? said Stos. ?It?s like a good flu.
Craig hates to lose and it causes a good chain reaction with everybody else.?
Carlyle was born in Pittsburgh. He started playing hockey when he was four years old.
