It’s a process goaltender Caleb Coyle experienced more during the 2015-16 campaign than some athletes face their entire career.
Through it all, the Summerside native refused to give up, and is now in his first year with the Kensington Monaghan Farms Wild of the New Brunswick/P.E.I. Major Midget Hockey League.
“It’s been a long road, but it’s paying off now,” said Coyle, 16.
After being named the P.E.I. Bantam AAA Hockey League’s top goaltender in 2014-15, Coyle was cut from three teams – Wild, Summerside’s midget AAA club and the provincial under-16 squad – and spent his first year of midget eligibility playing AA in Summerside.
Support
Coyle admits getting cut was difficult, but a strong support system helped him remain positive.
“My parents (Pat and Lori Coyle) have been really helpful,” said Coyle. “They kept saying, ‘There’s always next year, just go out and work hard.’
“Last year, the players made it easy. They are great friends, and I had lots of fun.
“I learned to let a goal in, and build the mental part of my game.”
Coyle, a Grade 11 student at Three Oaks Senior High School in Summerside, returned to the Wild training camp this season, and beat out five other goaltenders to form one half of the team’s goaltending tandem with incumbent Luke Oliver.
“It’s a great story for any other kid who has been cut from a team, and feels you have nowhere to go,” said Wild head coach Kyle Dunn. “There’s a kid who could have given up on everything, but he stayed positive, came back to earn a position and is now fighting for the No. 1 spot.”
Kensington’s goaltenders play on a rotating basis. Oliver is expected to start in Miramichi on Friday, and Coyle’s the probable starter against Fredericton at home Saturday.
“I’m really impressed with Caleb’s play,” assessed Dunn. “Caleb is working hard, he’s a great kid in the dressing room and is very positive. . .
“We are very fortunate to have two good goaltenders.”
It’s a process goaltender Caleb Coyle experienced more during the 2015-16 campaign than some athletes face their entire career.
Through it all, the Summerside native refused to give up, and is now in his first year with the Kensington Monaghan Farms Wild of the New Brunswick/P.E.I. Major Midget Hockey League.
“It’s been a long road, but it’s paying off now,” said Coyle, 16.
After being named the P.E.I. Bantam AAA Hockey League’s top goaltender in 2014-15, Coyle was cut from three teams – Wild, Summerside’s midget AAA club and the provincial under-16 squad – and spent his first year of midget eligibility playing AA in Summerside.
Support
Coyle admits getting cut was difficult, but a strong support system helped him remain positive.
“My parents (Pat and Lori Coyle) have been really helpful,” said Coyle. “They kept saying, ‘There’s always next year, just go out and work hard.’
“Last year, the players made it easy. They are great friends, and I had lots of fun.
“I learned to let a goal in, and build the mental part of my game.”
Coyle, a Grade 11 student at Three Oaks Senior High School in Summerside, returned to the Wild training camp this season, and beat out five other goaltenders to form one half of the team’s goaltending tandem with incumbent Luke Oliver.
“It’s a great story for any other kid who has been cut from a team, and feels you have nowhere to go,” said Wild head coach Kyle Dunn. “There’s a kid who could have given up on everything, but he stayed positive, came back to earn a position and is now fighting for the No. 1 spot.”
Kensington’s goaltenders play on a rotating basis. Oliver is expected to start in Miramichi on Friday, and Coyle’s the probable starter against Fredericton at home Saturday.
“I’m really impressed with Caleb’s play,” assessed Dunn. “Caleb is working hard, he’s a great kid in the dressing room and is very positive. . .
“We are very fortunate to have two good goaltenders.”
Adjustments
Along with a faster pace and harder shots, Coyle, who practised with the Wild on a few occasions last season, discussed other adjustments coming from midget AA: “It’s about dialing in at practice, focusing and being ready for every game. Tracking the game, looking all around the ice and knowing where everyone is at is a lot harder because everything is faster.”
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Coyle, who enjoys working with Wild goaltending coach Nelson MacAulay and Oliver, is pleased with his play, but acknowledges there’s room for improvement.
“Nelson has been a big help for my game,” offered Coyle. “Every week we go over the goals that go in, we do drills in practice on how those goals went in and how we can improve.”
Looking ahead, Coyle added, “I’m looking to keeping everything close, making saves whenever we need a big save and giving us a chance to win every game.”
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Numbers
Kensington Wild goaltender
Caleb Coyle’s statistics:
Games: 10.
Wins: 4.
Losses: 5
Goals-against average: 3.35.
Save percentage: .898.
