Kyle Hope on a Relentless Pursuit of Victory
Kyle Hope of the Oshawa Generals - Photo copyright Aaron Bell/OHL Images
It has been a real up and down season for Blenheim’s Kyle Hope, his third in the OHL with the Oshawa Generals. Despite serving a 10-game suspension for a hit he threw earlier this season, the young defenseman has already surpassed his point totals from last season, in less than half the games.
“The key to my offensive game has been just taking care of my own end first and not getting ahead of myself trying to do too much,” says Hope about his increased point production this season with the Generals. “This year I have been letting things come to me and it’s been working out so far. Hopefully keep it going.”
Last year, Hope bounced back and forth between the wing and playing on the blueline, the position he grew up playing minor hockey at in Chatham-Kent, but this season, finds himself as a defender once again,
“Being back on the blueline full time this year has been great,” explain Kyle Hope, “We have a unbeleivable coach in former NHLer Joe Cirella who does a great job working with us individually and as a group. Were coming along nicely. I believe and will have a great second half.”
Despite his individual success and improvement, which has been catching the eye of many in the hockey world, Hope is more focuses on the “relentless pursuit of victory,” a phrase which has been the goal and mantra of his Oshawa Generals this season. Although the Generals have struggled at times this year, Hope believes they are destined for big things in the second half of the season.
“The team goal has always been the “relentless pursuit of victory” this season and things haven’t fallen our way so far with injuries, suspensions, and now guys at the World Juniors, but I believe in the guys in our locker room and with our new head coach Gary Agnew, who does a faboulous job with video and helping us become pros. It won’t be long before we start piecing together a lot more wins.”
Kyle Hope and the Oshawa Generals have a busy start to the New Year playing Owen Sound (January 1), Belleville (January 4), Kitchener (January 6), and Brampton (January 8).