When he played for the BC Hockey League's Burnaby Express, Kyle Turris had an inate ability to make the difficult things look easy.
Tonight, Turris will try to set aside the emotion and pressure that comes with playing his first game as a National Hockey League pro in an arena he grew up just minutes from.
The New Westminster, B.C. native quickly ascended to the NHL following his freshman season at the University of Wisconsin and just ten months after being drafted third overall by the Coyotes out of the BC Hockey League.
A brief three-game stint at the end of the 2007/08 regular season showcased Turris's potential as an offensive star.
But a month into his first full NHL season, Turris is finding that the adjustment to the best league on the planet has its peaks and its valleys. The 19-year old has scored a goal and three assists in nine games and has been a mainstay on the Coyotes power-play.
But he's also been in a dogfight with a group of veteran stars (Shane Doan, Olli Jokinen) and talented youngsters (Peter Mueller, Martin Hanzal, Mikkel Boedker) for top-six minutes. For the first time in his young career, Turris watched from the press box when Phoenix visited Calgary on Tuesday.
So while Turris may have to make a few more appearances at General Motors Place before his NHL star power matches the reputation he built in the BC Hockey League, he's already well on his way. For the dozens of friends and family who will be on hand to witness his pro debut in his hometown, he's already there.
