OHL Season Ends for Kyle Hope, Future Still Bright
Kyle Hope Oshawa Generals - Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images
For Junior Hockey players, watching a season end is never easy. It signifies one less year of eligibility, and one less season to prove you have what it takes to move to the next level. Blenheim’s Kyle Hope had his season with the OHL’s Oshawa Generals end this past weekend as his team was eliminated from the playoffs, but he’s setting his sights on bigger things in the future.
“My personal hockey goals are to become a professional hockey player at the NHL level and be a role model for younger kids growing up,” said Hope.
These might sound like lofty goals for a young hockey player from Blenheim, Ontario, and Hope understands he’ll need to work hard during this offseason to achieve these goals.
“This offseason I am planning on just becoming overall stronger as a player. I feel if I focus on becoming stronger, my game will become more complete with being stronger on pucks down low and in the corners.”
The Oshawa Generals were eliminated by the Niagara IceDogs with a 7-3 loss on the weekend marking the end of a Chatham-Kent contingent of OHL players which orginally included Hope, as well as Dane Fox (Thamesville) and Seth Griffith (Wallaceburg) who were playing for the London Knights.
Recently, Chatham-Kent players, most of whom are Chatham-Kent Cyclones alumni, such as Ryan Jones and TJ Brodie have experience success at the next level, and now, Hope, Griffith, and Fox are trying to duplicate this success with strong performances in the OHL,
“Chatham-kent players have been finding success at the OHL level in my opinion as they have had more accessibility,” said Hope. “As a group we are learning younger the work and dedication it takes to become a professional and it is our job to pass it on to the younger groups so they can be successful at the next level.”
Although one season is ending for Hope and other Chatham-Kent hockey players, this offseason will be crucial in the development of these young players as they shoot for higher levels.
You are defiantly an excellent role model for my son JayC. He loves watching and reading about both you and your brother Brett. Both of you should be very proud of your hockey careers and your friendships with the younger generation of hockey players, you never hesitate to take the time to talk to them and make them feel important and that means the world to a child. Keep up the great work, see you on the ice next season.