Lloyd doesn't make Barons' roster, but he's glad to be with SteelHounds

The Youngstown team's affiliation with the Cleveland Barons is paying off.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- When 21-year-old Darryl Lloyd was considering where he wanted to continue his professional hockey career, he was looking for something special.
Youngstown SteelHounds coach Jean Laforest came through, packaging an offer to play for the first-year Central Hockey League team with an opportunity for a tryout at the next level.
Because the SteelHounds have an affiliation agreement with the Cleveland Barons of the American Hockey League, Laforest was able to send two SteelHounds prospects -- Lloyd, a forward, and Marc-Andre Roy, a defenseman -- to the Barons' recent camp in Parma.
"He said I could send you to the Barons camp and I said OK," Lloyd said of their negotiations. "They sent me down, but I couldn't be happier to be with the SteelHounds."
Equivalency
In minor league hockey, the AHL is considered to be the equivalent of Triple A leagues in minor league baseball. CHL teams with affiliations with AHL or National Hockey League teams are considered on par with Double A baseball teams.
Lloyd and Roy were released by the Barons, but Lloyd, who estimated that 44 players were in camp, said he appreciated the opportunity.
"The experience was pretty good to be able and see what the next level is supposed to be like," said Lloyd, a 5-foot-10, 195-pound wing who played for the CHL's Laredo Bucks during 2004-05.
"The guys were pretty good up there -- it's a little faster hockey," said Lloyd of the AHL level of play. "It was my first time playing with these new rules so I really didn't know what to expect. So I'm looking forward to having a good season here this year and maybe moving up next year if I can."
A native of Pickering, Ontario, Lloyd's Bucks advanced to the CHL Finals, losing to the Colorado Eagles.
"They had a better team than us last year," said Lloyd, who scored 13 goals and 22 assists. 'We hit a losing streak there for a while -- I think it was like 10 games in a row.
"Then Coach [former Pittsburgh Penguin Terry Ruskowski] had a little talk with us," Lloyd said. "After that, we won like 13 games in a row."
Secret to Bucks' success
Lloyd said the secret to the Bucks' success was hard work.
"We weren't very talented, but we worked hard," said Lloyd, who said he admires Darcy Tucker of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Martin St. Louis of the Tampa Bay Lightning. "Those small guys work hard and that's what I like to do."
Lloyd said his philosophy up front is simple: "If goals come, they come. If they don't, I do something else up there to help.
"It's always been my dream [since being] a little kid to go to the NHL," Lloyd said. "Instead of going to school, this is my job. I love my job and if it takes me further, I'll be happy with it. If not, then I'll just keep on going -- just never give up.
"I'm only 21," Lloyd said. "I didn't play my last year of junior -- instead, I went to Laredo as a pro."
Getting adjusted
After living on the U.S.-Mexican border, Lloyd said getting readjusted to winter will be a challenge.
"I'm going to start wearing sweaters again," Lloyd said. "By the looks of it, it looks like a great town. I just can't wait to play the rest of the year here."
Although the SteelHounds are an expansion team, Lloyd said he feels the team can succeed with hard work.
"That's all to be determined by how hard we practice," Lloyd said. "I know what I can do, but I think I can do better than last year.
"Last year was different because I was a rookie, but now I have a little bit more confidence. I think I can do a lot more to help the guys out."
Lloyd said a benefit from qualifying for the Finals was air travel.
"We had to fly to Colorado -- that was nice," said Lloyd who's aware of the long motor-coach trips awaiting the SteelHounds from Ohio to the Desert Southwest.
"There are going to be long bus trips for us, 24-hour days," said Lloyd, adding that he and his teammates may "get to know the guys a lot more than maybe you wanted to."
williams@vindy.com