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SHOW ALL DISCUSSIONSNew Westminster's Kyle Turris puts in extra at Coyotes' practice
Started: November 6, 2008 1:14pm
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| vancouversun said: Cam Cole, Vancouver Sun columnist Published: Wednesday, November 05, 2008 VANCOUVER - Kyle Turris was one of the last players allowed to leave the ice Wednesday at GM Place, as three Phoenix Coyotes assistant coaches put him through a gut-busting series of stops and starts at centre ice. More punishment, after Wayne Gretzky made the 2007 first-round draft pick from New Westminster a healthy scratch Tuesday night in Calgary? "Ah, it's good for him. He's 19 years old," scoffed Gretzky, grinning. "My kids, they like to work hard, they practise hard, and as I tell them: the guys who don't play as much gotta stay and do a little bit extra. Shane Doan plays 22 minutes a night, so the guy that plays six minutes better do more than triple what Shane does the next day." Gretzky has no doubt Turris is going to be an impact player for years to come with the Coyotes. But he isn't there yet. "Kyle's been good," Gretzky said. "As I told Kyle, this is a long process here, he's going to be here a long time. And he's a tremendous young man. In a lot of ways, I was a similar kind of player as he is, and you play out of instinct and out of feel, and out of confidence - and whether you're 19 or 39, confidence is an issue. "He's probably used to playing 20-22 minutes a game, and when he's playing 11-12-13, it's an adjustment, but I told him we're not going to do anything that's going to be a detriment to his career. I'd rather have him here under my watch, and under the organization's watch, to make him a better player, and I know one day he's going to be a huge part of this team." Turris has just a goal and three assists in nine games, and is minus-4. "He's the kind of player that needs to play on one of the top two lines. But [Olli] Jokinen's playing 22 minutes a game, [Martin] Hanzal is playing 18 minutes - and there's only so many minutes," Gretzky said. "But he's going to get his chance." Whether that will be tonight or not, the coach wasn't saying. "I'm really hoping so," said Turris, who's living with former goalie, now broadcaster Darren Pang and his family in Phoenix. "Growing up in Vancouver, dreaming of one day playing in GM Place, either for or against the Canucks ... I can't believe it's here." He has bought "a lot" of tickets to the game, he said, for family and friends, "but I can't thank all those people enough. They supported me through minor hockey and junior, and they've always been there for me, so I'm not too worried about the price." But it would be a lot happier occasion if he's in the lineup. "I'm just going to work hard in the pre-game skate and hopefully come game time, I get the nod," Turris said. "But it's the coach's decision." ccole@vancouversun.com © Vancouver Sun 2008 |
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