Tag: Dean Malkoc

Malkoc, Wallin, Vrooman to be saluted by Scouts Foundation

OKOTOKS, Alta. (March 25, 2025) — Veteran scouts Dean Malkoc and Jesse Wallin, along with retired broadcaster Dean (Scooter) Vrooman, will be honoured by the Western Canada Professional Hockey Scouts Foundation at its second annual Wall of Honour induction dinner in Okotoks on July 29.

Malkoc and Wallin will be presented with the Two Glens’ Honourarium, while Vrooman is to be given the Bob Ridley Golden Microphone Honourarium. Each of the recipients also will receive a financial award that is to be given to a charity of their choosing.

The Two Glens’ Honourarium was cast in the memories of Glen Cochrane (left, above) and Glen Dirk, two long-time scouts who passed away from cancer in 2024.  It is to be presented annually to a deserving scout, or scouts, who display camaraderie, competitiveness, dedication and humour, all traits that were in ample supply with the much beloved Cochrane and Dirk.

Wallin has been in the scouting game since 2013, first with the St. Louis Blues and now with the Detroit Red Wings. After six seasons as an amateur scout with the Blues, he now is in his sixth season as Detroit’s head amateur scout.

“I was really honoured when I was told I would be receiving this award,” Wallin said. “I had no idea . . . I wasn’t expecting it.”

Wallin had known Dirk and Cochrane for a long time, so this award really carries some meaning with it.

“I met Glen during the draft process in my draft year,” Wallin said, “and when I spent a bit of time with New Jersey. I met Glen Cochrane through Peter Anholt quite a while ago.

“To be associated with them was a real privilege.”

Malkoc was especially close to Dirk, often looking at him as a father figure. 

From Vancouver, Malkoc has been scouting with the Boston Bruins since 2007. After 15 seasons as an amateur scout, he now is in his third season as Boston’s director of amateur scouting.

Meanwhile, Ridley called Medicine Hat Tigers’ games on radio, handling more than 4,000 games over 52 seasons — he also drove the team’s bus for 45 of those seasons — before retiring in August 2022.

The Golden Microphone is to recognize a member of the media or broadcasting profession for their dedicated years of service at the major junior level.

Vrooman, who grew up in Beaverton, Ore., was the play-by-play voice of the Portland Winterhawks for more than 30 seasons. He called games from 1982-2007 and was part of the broadcast team, with his son Todd handling play-by-play, from 2012-19. Dean retired after the 2018-19 season.

“I am honoured to have been selected for the Golden Microphone award,” Vrooman said after Ridley informed him of the honour. “I am just very gratified and appreciative that I am being recognized for my career accomplishments.”

“Dean is a terrific choice as the first recipient of this honour,” said Gregg Drinnan, a member of the selection committee who also is the Foundation’s editor and historian. “He had a whole lot to do with establishing the Winterhawks in Portland and for the success the franchise has had. There was a time when he was as much the face of the franchise as anyone.”

Tickets for the second annual induction dinner now are available on the Foundation’s website — hockeyscoutsfoundation.com.

For more information, contact:

Garth Malarchuk, WCPHSF Chairman of the Board

gmalarchuk@torontomapleleafs.com

Tim Lenardon, WCPHSF Co-ordinator

timlenardon78@gmail.com

Gregg Drinnan, WCPHSF Editor/Historian

greggdrinnan@gmail.com

Hockey world, Foundation in mourning

The Western Canada Professional Hockey Scouts Foundation and its members are mourning the loss of veteran scout Glen Dirk, who died on April 17 after a battle with cancer. He was 85.

A native of Loon Lake, Sask., he had been in hospice in Sechelt, B.C.

A memorial service is scheduled for Woodlawn Mt. Cheam Funeral Home (45865 Hocking Ave.) in Chilliwack, B.C., on Monday, June 10 at 1 p.m.

Dirk had been with the New Jersey Devils since 1994-95, having joined them after spending one season with the Washington Capitals. He was actively scouting for the Devils until two weeks before his death.

In his early scouting days, he worked in the WHL, with the Regina Pats, Spokane Chiefs and Kamloops Blazers.

In 1990, Dirk was a part-timer with New Jersey while working with Kamloops and pushed hard for the Devils to draft Kamloops D Dean Malkoc, which they did in the fifth round.

“Thank you to the man who trusted in my ability and forever changed my life,” Malkoc wrote in tribute. “Dirky started out as the scout who drafted me but turned into a life-long friend and mentor. His friendship was genuine, full of jokes and laughter, and I always looked forward to sharing time with him.

“His success in hockey equaled his love for his family, including his children, grandchildren and, maybe his best friend of all, Sam. He was a great scout, incredibly witty and intelligent and I will miss being the centre of his jokes.”

Glen Sanders, who will be one of the inaugural inductees into the Foundation’s Wall of Honour in Okotoks, Alta., on July 30, noted: “We are all going to miss Glen and his great stories. RIP Buddy.”

Dirk was recognized with a Recognition and Dedication Service Award at the Foundation’s startup banquet on Sept. 30 and is to be recognized at the inaugural Wall of Honour dinner in Okotoks. He was presented with his commemorative belt buckle on the night before he died.

Dirk won two Memorial Cup titles with Kamloops (1992, 1994) and three Stanley Cups with New Jersey (1995, 2000, 2003).

“Success followed Dirk wherever he went,” wrote Gabriel Foley of Pro Hockey Rumors. “He played a key role in building a Kamloops Blazers squad that would win both the 1992 and 1994 Memorial Cup. His championship-winning traditions quickly transferred to the NHL, with Dirk’s first season with the Devils being their 1995 Stanley Cup-winning season. He’d go on to play a role in the 2000 and 2003 Cup wins, as well as the 2001 and 2012 runner-up seasons.”

In a statement, the Devils said: “Affectionately known as ‘Dirky,’ his family wanted us to know that he passed away early Wednesday morning (April 17) surrounded by his two daughters, their spouses and his grandchildren. Recently in hospice, he cherished the calls and messages that came his way and passed along his good wishes to many. He loved his hockey family like he loved his family — fiercely loyal, generous, and truthful.”

Joe Ferras, a Devils’ scout for the past seven seasons, was a dear friend. Ferris wrote: “He was an amazing man, mentor, father and great friend, and we have all been better people for having had him in our lives.”

Ron Delorme, one of the Foundation’s directors, is among those whose career has Dirk’s fingerprints on it.

“He was without a doubt the most quick-witted, humble and by far the funniest man I have known,” Delorme said. “When I broke in 38 years ago, he represented the man I wished to be . . . He turned heads every time he talked.

“I’d like to believe that all scouts, young and old reading this, know exactly who I am talking about, and I am fairly certain most of the veteran scouts from previous years know, too.

“I’ve worked in the same field and have known Dirky for 38 years, and I had the opportunity to give him a heartfelt thanks for what I have learned from such a great man.

“RIP Dirky.”

Craig Demetrick, a former NHL scout, posted on X (formerly Twitter):

“Like for many of us that came into the scouting game on the West Coast,  Dirky was a huge influence and mentor for me. He was a larger-than-life character with his classic one-liners that always made me laugh! Sad to hear this news!

“Rest in Peace my friend!”

Milan Dragicevic, a former Regina Pats defenceman who is well known in the hockey circles of B.C.’s Lower Mainland, wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “What a great sense of humour, one of the best  in the game, Dirky listed me in 1982 when he was scouting for the Regina Pats, stayed in touch over 40 years, he will be missed, one of my favourite hockey people.”

There is a complete obituary right here.

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Ed Chadwick, a former NHL goaltender who began his scouting career in 1968 with the Pittsburgh Penguins, died in Fort Erie, Ont., on April 23. He was 90. . . . Chadwick is the last Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender to have played every game in a single season. He actually played the entire schedule twice, in 1956-57 and 1957-58 when a regular season comprised 70 games. . . . He totalled 184 regular-season games between Toronto and the Boston Bruins, then spent six seasons in the AHL before retiring. . . . After scouting with Pittsburgh for one season, he moved on to the Oakland/California Golden Seals (1969-72), New York Islanders (1972-79), Buffalo Sabres (1979-82) and Edmonton Oilers (1982-2001). . . . He was with the Oilers for five Stanley Cup titles (1984-85-87-88-90) and his name is on the Stanley Cup three times (1985-87-90)

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The scouting world also has lost Mike Leier, who spent a few seasons scouting for the Kamloops Blazers about 10 years ago. Leier died early in March in Saskatoon. He was 62. . . . Matt Recchi, then the Blazers’ director of player personnel, hired Leier about 10 years ago. “He worked with me for four or five years,” Recchi said, “. . . then left as he was busy with his Cob’s Bread store. . . . Mike never scouted before I hired him, but he was an excellent scout, and a great family man.” . . . There is a complete obituary right here.

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Greg Meachem, who covered the WHL’s Red Deer Rebels for more than 40 years, died in a Red Deer hospital on April 18. He was 71. . . . The Rebels announced his death on social media, saying he died “after a brief illness.” . . . He spent 35 years in the sports department at the Red Deer Advocate, before joining the Rebels as the writer for their website in 2016.