Kyle Reeves
April, 1999
by: William Overin
The Hardest Shot in the West Coast Hockey League
This year Kyle played in the WCHL All-Star game where he had a hat-trick and was declared the game's MVP. In addition to winning this award, Reeves also won the hardest shot award handed out by The Idaho Statesman Newspaper.
Many league watchers have questioned why Kyle is not playing in the IHL/AHL or even the NHL. Unfortuantely for Kyle, he has been passed up by the powers of these leagues for having a "bad-attitude. It seems that Kyle was drafted by the St. Louis Blues and played for the Peoria affiliate. Play may not be the choice word because Kyle spent much of his couple of years there on the bench. After growing weary of this situation, Kyle asked to be released from his contract. He has traveled through numerous minor affiliations and eventually landed here in San Diego at the beginning of last year.
Kyle's poor fortune has turned into the Gulls' bounty. This year he led the league in scoring for most of the season, eventually conceding this title to Anchorage's Yvan Corbin. Kyle will hopefully return next year to dazzle the San Diego crowd with his awesome shooting ability.
William Overin: You grew up in Winnipeg - were you a big Jets fan?
Kyle Reeves: Growing up, that was pretty much the only hockey team around there. It's kind of like that in Canada. The closest NHL team is usually most of the kids' favorite team.
WO: Are you a Phoenix Coyote's fan now?
KR: No, not really. I really don't have any attachment to them. It's unfortunate that Winnipeg lost their team. I guess I would have to say that I don't really have a favorite hockey team.
WO: Do you follow the NHL at all?
KR: Not really.
WO: What led to your signing with the Gulls?
KR: There was an opportunity that came up a couple of years ago. I thought it would put myself in a good position to win a couple of championships. So far things have worked out really well.
WO: Do you think you'll return next year?
KR: That I can't even comment on now. It's too far away to even start to think about.
WO: Have they talked to you about it?
KR: No, they haven't talked to me about it. Whether that's a good sign or a bad sign, I don't know. We'll just have to wait and see what happens next year.
WO: The Gulls had the big trade earlier this year that brought Mike Taylor here. Do you think that he brought a lot to the team?
KR: I think so. I think Mike is another skilled centerman, and he stepped in really well.
Right now, I think that we have three pretty good lines that can all hit, that can all keep the puck deep and cycle it. You end up scoring a lot of goals with three lines like that.
WO: What was it like playing against the Canadian National team in the All-Star game?
KR: It was good, a good experience. I think that we were really well coached - a really good game plan. It was a high level of intensity of hockey. We had some really good players in that game. It made for a very exciting game to watch.
WO: What do you think of your own performance? You had the hat trick, were selected the games MVP, and had your jersey sent to the Hockey Hall of Fame?
KR: I think my performance was just a reflection on the team. I was surrounded by quality players. Mike (Taylor) and B. J. (MacPherson) played extremely well that game. I was just fortunate enough to score a couple of goals. There was so much skill that it just made the game so easy to play.
WO: I'd like to talk about your stick a little bit. You have one of the longest ones around; what are its advantages?
KR: I just think that using a stiff long stick can be an advantage if you can play with it. I compromise a bit on my stick handling, but I think I make up for it by intercepting more passes. The longer stick gives you more velocity on your shots.
WO: How did you come to discover that?
KR: I probably just got too lazy to cut them off - probably the biggest reason.
WO: I was reading something written in the San Diego Union Tribune before the season started where you were quoted as saying, "We have to be more disciplined. We had some problems last year because we shot ourselves in the foot. We have to cut down on our penalty minutes."
The Gulls once again led the league in penalty minutes. Do you think the team did what you said they needed to do?
KR: Well, I don't think we did a very good job of being a disciplined hockey team in a lot of key games by taking penalties. Again, we got through it all right. Our team does better when we can roll three lines without worrying about killing penalties. We did lead the league again in penalty minutes, and that's something that I think will catch up to a team sooner or later. Fortunately we got out of it this year and still finished in first in our division.
WO: What happened in the Blues' organization that led to your being "black-balled"?
KR: That's just a case where my hockey career has dealt with a lot of people who are incapable of making decisions. A lot of players run into it. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people that make decisions that aren't qualified to do so. I'm no angel myself, but for one reason or another, things just didn't work out there.
WO: Do you feel that it's unfair?
KR: Oh I mean it's unfair for a lot of players to get "black-balled" and play at a level they probably shouldn't play at. It happens to a lot of players - not just myself. I guess that's just a part of life. It happens all over.
WO: Why are you called the "Kook"?
KR: I don't know. B. J. came up with that name. It's a name from being a little bit different. A lot of times trying to deal with a lot of things that happen in this league is enough to make anybody go a little bit kooky. (laughs)
WO: You led the league for most of the season in goal scoring. Did you feel any pressure trying to achieve the scoring title, or did it even matter to you?
KR: It didn't really even matter. I just always try to focus on doing what I need to do as a player. I don't really even worry on what the other players around me are doing. I just try to do my job, and if I can be successful doing a good job, I can usually help the team win. I don't really feel any pressure to score. It's just something that I've done, and it's just something that's a part of my job.
WO: How did you feel about being selected by the league to the WCHL first team?
KR: It was pretty good because it's (the award) voted on by coaches. I guess that it means I have a pretty good reputation of being a decent hockey player. When you look at who got selected as forwards: (League MVP Hugo) Belanger (of the Phoenix Mustangs) and Keith Street (of the Anchorage Aces) who are very skilled hockey players, so I was very honored to be in company with those guys.
WO: Tell me about your dog Nestle. Where did you get her, and why did you name her Nestle?
KR: I got her in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and that was her mother's name. For about a week, she had no name. I couldn't come up with one, so I had to steal her mother's name - probably the easiest thing for me to do.
WO: I noticed you and Jamie Allen had some words with each other during a shoot-out against Phoenix earlier this year. Do you recall what happened there exactly?
KR: Not really. That guy - there's a few guys in the league and he's one of them - that really serve no purpose as a hockey player. I think he's a very unskilled guy that makes his living bottom-feeding, trying to hurt guys. But again, that's just my opinion. It just gets sickening to play against guys like that night after night, and the officials let them get away with what they get away with.
WO: What was going on with you and (Steve) Dowhy (of Bakersfield) the other night? I noticed you had some words with each other.
KR: That's a rivalry too. It's been for a year or so. Hopefully one day, that will be resolved as well.
WO: I noticed you tried to do something about it, but (Nick) Hriczov stood in the way?
KR: Yeah, one day it will be resolved. Things will come to a head one of these days, but we'll have to wait until next year.
WO: Do you recall the goal you managed to score in the midst of Cal Ingraham's horrific one minute and fifteen second hat trick earlier this year?
KR: I do actually.
WO: How did you manage to score that goal? Everything seemed to be going on at the other end.
KR: It was a pretty crazy couple of minutes there - having a guy score three goals in just over a minute. I think that we defensively just let down. Probably in the midst of him scoring, they decided to lay down. There were four goals scored in two minutes there, so I think there was just a lot of bad defensive play there - people out of position for whatever reason.
WO: How about those two goals you scored against Gene Bono of Phoenix on February 20th? (Where Reeves fired two shots from the left circle in almost the exact same position within two minutes and managed to score both goals.) The first goal was pretty amazing, but the second one was just unbelievable. How did you manage to do that?
KR: It was kind of a weird situation. It was two exact plays that popped up in a couple of minutes. Fortunately, both pucks managed to go in, and one was my fiftieth goal. That made it a little bit sweeter. It was a situation I haven't seen too many times in hockey, where the exact same situation and the exact same result occurs. I was quite ironic I think.
WO: Do you think you were responsible in any way for him being waived, because he was waived soon after this?
KR: Yeah that might have had something to do with it. I hope not though.
WO: You stated back in January that you would continue to play for the Gulls as long as Martinson was the head coach - why?
KR: Well Steve obviously likes to have a winning team. If I'm going to play hockey at this level, it's going to be to win championships. I think that the second I play hockey for any other reason - it's the time for me to retire.
WO: What would you do if you retired?
KR: That - I don't know. That's the reason I'm playing right now. For me, I just want to be part of an organization that wants to win - that wants to bring home a cup.
WO: Have you played on a lot of teams like that in other leagues?
KR: I've played on some teams that were either really good teams or really bad teams. When there's twenty teams going for a title or like the eight teams here, not everyone can win. It's fortunate I won last year, and I've won a few other championships. That's what I'm playing for now - just a few more rings.
WO: How much longer do you think you'll play?
KR: I'm thinking about three more years. Three more years will probably be enough.
WO: Are you going to play roller hockey this summer?
KR: I don't think so. I think I may just take the summer off and do some school work - try to get going on something like that.
WO: So that in three years you'll have something?
KR: (laughing) Hopefully - yeah. It's a big question mark, but I think I have some good experience from my travels.
WO: You've had to make some good connections from your hockey experience.
KR: I think so.
WO: When you aren't on the ice, what do you like to do?
KR: I like to fish. Unfortunately there aren't too many lakes around here. I like to do as many outdoor activities as I can and play with my dog. This year it seems it's been so hectic with our schedule that relaxing's getting to be a big part of my days.
WO: Who are the people that you look up to the most in life?
KR: Well obviously, I look up to my parents and my family. I had a very good upbringing. I'm very glad because I see a lot of kids that don't get the best of homelives. Friends and family from back home with some pretty good morals. They have a good understanding of how life's supposed to work.
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