Kristian Lyon quickly made a name for himself in the Battlefords, using his positioning and lightning-like reflexes to backstop the team to continued success down the stretch. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

The Lyon king

Stars netminder, Lyon reflects on first year in the Battlefords

May 20, 2020 | 3:00 PM

It is said the lion is the king of the jungle; but as hockey fans in the Battlefords can attest, it’s the ice rink where one Lyon made his mark last season.

Goaltender, Kristian Lyon was acquired by the Battlefords North Stars at the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) trade deadline, Jan. 10.

Upon joining the Stars, it didn’t take long for the Langley, BC., product to make an impact with the team and solidify himself as a threat each night between the pipes.

In his first game wearing the North Stars’ black and silver threads, Lyon turned in a 42-save shutout performance against Melville, in a highlight night for the backstopper that would set the precedent for what was to come in the Battlefords’ crease.

Lyon would go on to post an 8-1 record down the stretch for the first-place Stars, along with a .933 save percentage, ranking amongst the very best at the position.

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Following up his shining numbers with a 3-1 record and .922 save percentage in the playoffs, the 19-year-old’s stellar play would help lead the Battlefords to just a win away from moving on to the playoff semifinals before the season was prematurely cancelled due to COVID-19 precautions.

Lyon saw a lot of reason to celebrate with his Stars’ teammates last year, as the Langley, BC., product won a staggering 11 of his 13 starts between the regular season and playoffs. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Lyon said while it was a tough way to end the year, he knows the team was a special group that was capable of doing some serious damage had they had the chance.

“It’s too bad what happened [with the season],” he said. “I think we had the team to go all the way and be a national championship team. We had leaders up and down the lineup and amazing coaches, along with the best fans in the whole league supporting us every home game.”

That competitive spirit and passion for the game has been a key element to Lyon’s success between the pipes.

Lyon began playing hockey at just four years of age, and as he tells it, it didn’t take long for him to gravitate towards his true passion of suiting up in goal. Inspired by an older cousin to try the position, Lyon took to the net almost immediately, and the rest as they say, is history.

“By year two I became a goalie and had my own pads, and right away it was for me,” he said with a laugh. “I just like how you can have an impact on games [from the goal position]. You’re out there for the full 60 minutes and you can stop every puck and be the hero or you can let in a whole bunch of goals and be the guy who loses the game for the team. I kind of like that pressure.”

While moving to the Battlefords from his hometown Langley Rivermen marked Lyon’s first time leaving home, the netminder said he’s grateful for the support he’s received along the way to help make the community and team alike, a secondary home away from home.

“It was my first time moving away from home and everyone, from teammates to the people in the Battlefords, and my billet family, they were all amazing people and welcomed me with open arms to make it an easy transition,” he said. “I can’t wait to get back there next year; hopefully the season starts on time and I think it will. I’m kind of missing it right now.”

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1