ABOUT
R.C. Lyke, a native of Poughkeepsie, NY, grew up playing AAA hockey for the Ramapo Saints. He went on to play for Suffern High School for two years, where he stood out as a defenseman, leading his team, the county, and the district in points by a defenseman. For his efforts, R.C. was named to both the All-County and All-District teams while helping lead the perennial New York State powerhouse to two Final Four appearances.
R.C. enjoyed a highly successful Junior A career, including a stint in the NAHL, where he won a Robertson Cup Championship with the Springfield Jr. Blues. He also played for the Bismarck Bobcats in the AFHL, serving as team captain and being selected to represent the league in the King of the Hill tournament as part of the AFHL All-Star Team. He finished his junior career in the OPJHL with the Syracuse Crunch, where he captained the team and was selected as an All-Star. Coach Lyke earned an athletic scholarship to play NCAA Division I hockey at Mercyhurst University. While at Mercyhurst, R.C. quickly gained the respect of his teammates as a key part of their defensive core, which anchored the team’s MAAC Championship run and appearance in the NCAA Division I National Tournament. Years after graduating, he was inducted into the Mercyhurst University Hall of Fame for his accomplishments with the men’s hockey program.
Following his collegiate career, R.C. played seven years of professional hockey in the IHL, UHL, CHL, and SPHL. He concluded his pro career with the Richmond Renegades in the SPHL, serving as a player-coach during his final two seasons. Known as a solid, hard-hitting, and tough defensive defenseman, R.C. played 418 professional games, recording 20 goals, 71 assists, 91 points, and 632 penalty minutes.
After retiring from professional play, R.C. transitioned seamlessly into coaching. In 2009, he founded the Richmond Generals AA/AAA Youth and Junior A hockey organizations. Over a 12-year span, he developed the Generals into a nationally recognized developmental program. Behind the bench, Coach Lyke amassed an impressive record, securing over 769 regular-season and playoff wins in 1,071 games. Under his leadership, the Generals captured two Regular Season League Championships, five Southeast Regular Season Division titles, five Southeast Playoff Conference Championships, four Southern Conference Championships, and two National Championships. He was nominated for “Coach of the Year” seven times during his tenure and won the MetJHL “Coach of the Year” award for the 2013–2014 season.
Coach Lyke has also served as Head Scout for several organizations, including the Topeka RoadRunners and Aberdeen Wings of the NAHL, the Carleton Place Canadians of the CCHL, and the Twin City Thunder of the NCDC.
What Coach Lyke takes the most pride in is his ability to help players reach the next level while developing them into successful young men off the ice. To date, he has helped more than 700 players realize their dreams of playing in the CHL, USHL, NAHL, CJHL, NCAA, and CIS, as well as advancing to professional ranks—including the NHL.