Tag: Bruce Haralson

Get your tickets now! Here are five more Wall of Honour inductees . . .

It’s only two months, plus a few days, until the inaugural induction dinner for the non-profit Western Canada Professional Hockey Scouts Foundation’s Wall of Honour. . . . It’ll all happen at the Centennial Arena in Okotoks, Alta., on Tuesday, July 30. . . . Buy a ticket and come an spend an evening with the scouting community. There’ll be good food, lots of laughs, a couple of Hot Stove sessions with prominent hockey people and the induction of 45 past and present-day scouts. . . . Tickets are available at the Foundation’s website (hockeyscoutsfoundation.com). . . . In the meantime, here are five more soon-to-be Wall of Honourees. . . . For more bios, visit the Foundation website and click on Wall of Honour.

BRUCE HARALSON

(May 2, 1948 —)

Born in Grande Prairie, Alta., and raised in Dawson Creek, B.C., he spent 36 years as an NHL scout. . . . Got his start in scouting with the WHL’s Great Falls Americans/Spokane Flyers. Hired by the Edmonton Oilers to be chief scout for Kamloops Jr. Oilers. . . . Joined the Pittsburgh Penguins, spending four seasons (1984-88) as an amateur scout and one as director of scouting. . . . Then it was on to the Hartford Whalers for seven seasons, the last one as director of amateur scouting. . . . Best known for his time with the Detroit Red Wings (1996-2020), starting out as an amateur scout and finishing with 12 seasons as a pro scout. . . . Retired in 2020. . . . Was part of four Stanley Cup championships with Detroit (1997, 1998, 2002, 2008).

VAUGHN KARPAN

(June 20, 1961 —)

Born in Flin Flon and raised in The Pas, Karpan played a key role in the Vegas Golden Knights’ 2023 Stanley Cup championship as assistant GM, player personnel. . . . Began scouting career with the Winnipeg Jets in 1992, working for five seasons as an amateur scout. . . . Made the move to Phoenix and spent nine seasons with the Coyotes, the last four as director of amateur scouting. . . . Then was with the Montreal Canadiens for 11 seasons, as amateur scout, then pro scout, then director of professional scouting. . . . Joined the Golden Knights as director of player personnel in 2016. . . . Twice represented Canada in the Olympic Winter Games (1984, 1988) as a player. Played 228 games with Canada’s national team over four seasons. . . . Inducted into the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame (player) in 2013.

BILL LESUK

(Nov. 1, 1946 —)

From Moose Jaw, he played in the NHL with the Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers, Los Angeles Kings and Washington Capitals before signing with the WHA’s Winnipeg Jets. Won three WHA championships (1976-78-79) in four seasons there. . . . Won a Stanley Cup with Boston in 1970. . . . After the WHA folded, he spent one more season with the Jets before joining team’s scouting staff. . . . After nine seasons was named director of scouting. Made move to Phoenix with the Jets and was the Coyotes’ director of scouting for four seasons. . . . Followed that with three seasons as the Chicago Blackhawks’ director of amateur scouting and one (2005-06) as an amateur scout with the Bruins. . . . In junior B and A, he played six seasons under coach Jack Shupe in Weyburn. . . . Inducted into Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame (player) in 2009.

CLARE ROTHERMEL

(April 7, 1923 — July 1, 2008)

A Regina native, he was hired as a scout by the Pittsburgh Penguins when they entered the NHL in 1967. . . . Also worked with the Washington Capitals. . . . Retired from scouting in July 1989. . . . Was in the Canadian Navy at 17 and stationed in the South Pacific during the Second World War. . . . Returned home to work for SaskPower and then start his own business, CR Electric. . . . Was manager and coach of the senior Regina Caps for two years in the late 1950s. . . . Was president of the Western Canada Senior Hockey League and the Saskatchewan Senior Hockey League. Gave up those positions in October 1968 when named first commissioner of the Saskatchewan Amateur Junior Hockey League. . . . That love of hockey led him to scouting. . . . Became an excellent wood carver in his latter years.

DELBERT (DEL) WILSON

(Dec. 29, 1926 — Nov. 5, 2015)

Born in Craik, Sask., he scouted in Western Canada for the Montreal Canadiens for 47 years. . . . The Canadiens won 18 Stanley Cups while he was with them. He ended up with three Stanley Cup rings, which weren’t presented to scouts until 1986. . . . Played goal with the Regina Pats in mid-1940s. . . . One of the founders of what now is the WHL. . . . Was general manager of the junior A Pats (1956-68). . . . Later was part of a group that purchased the Pats, then was GM for six seasons, including Memorial Cup title in 1974. . . . The Del Wilson Trophy is awarded annually to the WHL’s top goaltender. . . . Won the Saskatchewan men’s amateur golf championship in 1957. . . . Inducted into the Regina Sports Hall of Fame (2006), Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame (2010) and Saskatchewan Hockey Hall of Fame (2013).

Barnes of Postmedia shines bright light on scouting fraternity

The headline on the Calgary Herald website reads: “The road warriors of sports: NHL scouts have always been appreciated, but never publicly. Until now.”

Dan Barnes, a veteran sports journalist who works out of Edmonton for Postmedia, wrote a lengthy piece about NHL scouts that appeared in newspapers and on websites on Saturday (March 9).

He led the story by explaining how as many as 100 scouts would hang around for a day after the NHL draft and take part in a best-ball golf tournament that was a social event that allowed them to let loose for a few hours after a long, stressful season. It also showed what a close fraternity this bunch is, despite the fact they are in almost constant competition with each other on the scouting trail.

That annual gathering has gone away, however, thanks to the draft having evolved from a 12-round marathon to an event that ends quickly on its second day.

“Old scouts, however, are nonetheless determined to gather the fraternity on an annual basis and continue shining a spotlight on pioneers of their profession,” Barnes writes.

“The Western Canada Professional Hockey Scouts Foundation was formed for that reason and will fete its inaugural Wall of Honour inductees on July 29 in Okotoks, Alta. Forty-five men will be honoured for their dedication and accomplishments, 19 posthumously . . .”

This is a rich read and will take you at least two cups of coffee. But it’s well worth it.

You’ll find quotes and stories from the likes of Kevin Prendergast, Mike Penny, Wayne Meier, Bruce Haralson, Ted Hampson, Archie Henderson, Vaughn Karpan and Scott Bradley, all of whom will be among the inaugural class of inductees at the Wall of Honour celebration in Okotoks.

Retired scout Wayne Meier has three Stanley Cup rings from his time with the Pittsburgh Penguins. (Photo: Gregg Drinnan)

“At the end of his 30-year career, Henderson did the math,” Barnes writes. “He was 65 and estimated he had been at 6,000 games and spent 19 calendar years away from home.”

Henderson told Barnes: “I was away from my wife and my family, my kids, my parents for 19 years of my life. And how many people can sit back and say they would be willing to give up that many nights?”

These were and are a special breed and Barnes shines a nice, bright light on their profession.

His complete story, along with some terrific photos, is right here: https://calgaryherald.com/sports/nhl-scouts-wall-of-honour-inductees-okotoks

Scouts’ Wall of Honour to open with 45 inductees

The Western Canada Professional Hockey Scouts Foundation will induct 45 members of the scouting fraternity into its Wall of Honour this summer.

The banquet is scheduled to be held in Okotoks, Alta., on Monday, July 29.

Comprising three Matrix screens, the WCPHSF Wall of Honour video presentation will be on permanent display at the Centennial Arena in Okotoks.

The first inductees feature five pioneers of the scouting fraternity, including Danny Summers, who returned from the Second World War to play for the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers before getting into scouting, and Murray (Torchy) Schell, who spent summers as an assistant equipment manager with the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders while he was scouting.

Also being inducted will be 17 scouts from the Early Era (1968-80), including Elmer Benning, who put more than 1 million miles on one car while on the scouting trail; Pat (Paddy) Ginnell, who was a legendary junior coach before turning to scouting; and Del Wilson, a long-time scout who also was a founding father of the major junior WHL.

There also will be 20 scouts from the Modern Era (1981-present) inducted, including Vaughn Karpan, who has been a key figure with the Vegas Golden Knights; Al Murray, one of the architects of the Tampa Bay Lightning’s success; and Barry Trapp, who retired in August 2023 after more than 60 years in the game.

Rounding out the inaugural class will be Lorne Frey and the late Graham Tuer, both of whom had lengthy scouting careers in junior hockey.

Garnet (Ace) Bailey also will be honoured. Bailey scouted for the Edmonton Oilers and then the Los Angeles Kings. He was en route to the Kings’ training camp aboard United Airlines flight 175 when it crashed into the South Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City on Sept. 11, 2001.

“Our selection committee did an excellent job of recognizing these candidates for the Wall of Honour,” Foundation president Erin Ginnell said. “These scouts are not only builders of the game that put thousands of players into the NHL and pro ranks, but also represented their teams and the game with class, professionalism and determination to succeed.  “A lot of these honorees were real mentors to people like myself when I first started; they were always there with help travelling, directions, and generally just made you feel a part of the fraternity.”

The complete list of inductees (* – denotes deceased):

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: *-Garnet (Ace) Bailey.

PIONEERS: *-George Agar, *-Frank Currie, *-Murray (Torchy) Schell, *-Danny Summers, *-Cecil (Tiny) Thompson.

EARLY ERA (1968-1980): *-Elmer Benning, *-Bart Bradley, *-Lorne Davis, *-Gerry Ehman, *-Barry Fraser, *-Pat Ginnell, Ted Hampson, *-Charlie Hodge, Earl Ingarfield Sr, *-Lou Jankowski, Marshall Johnston, Bill Lesuk, *-Ian McKenzie, *-Gerry Melnyk, Bob Owen, *-Clare Rothermel, *-Del Wilson.

MODERN ERA (1981-present): Scott Bradley, Craig Button, John Chapman, George Fargher, Tony Feltrin, Bruce Franklin, Bruce Haralson, Archie Henderson, Les Jackson, Vaughn Karpan, Ross Mahoney, Bert Marshall, Wayne Meier, Al Murray, Gerry O’Flaherty, Kevin Prendergast, Blair Reid, Glen Sanders, Peter Sullivan, Barry Trapp.

JUNIOR: Lorne Frey, *-Graham Tuer.

As well, five scouts from Western Canada were honoured at the Sept. 30 startup banquet in Okotoks with the WCPHSF’s Recognition and Dedication Service Award. Those five are Ron Delorme, Glen Dirk, Garth Malarchuk, Don Paarup and Mike Penny.

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“Our committee’s selections were primarily based on years of combined service as a scout and/or an association to the scouting process,” Garth Malarchuk, the Chairman of the Foundation’s board of directors, said. “I think everyone who has been associated with the scouting fraternity will agree that this is a pretty impressive group of individuals that we will be honouring. “Trust me, our committee could easily have added another 15-20 deserving individuals to this list, but we had to cut it off somewhere.” Moving forward, we certainly don’t want to miss anyone and the plan is to keep adding individuals to our Foundation’s Wall of Honour on an annual basis.”

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The startup banquet on Sept. 30 was a rip-roaring success, highlighted by a roast of Hockey Night in Canada host Ron MacLean, along with silent and live sweater auctions. If you weren’t fortunate enough to attend, you are able to find a highly entertaining video of Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman roasting MacLean at hockeyscoutsfoundation.com.

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Planning is well underway for the inaugural induction banquet on July 29 in Okotoks. Banquet details, including information on tickets, will be announced in the near future.