Welcome to a site where we sometimes provide food for thought, and often provide information about the Western Canada Professional Hockey Scouts Foundation.
OKOTOKS, AB (April 1, 2026) — Four men who combined to spend more than 100 years working for NHL teams will share in the Ace Award when the non-profit Professional Hockey Scouts Foundation holds its annual Wall of Honour induction dinner in Okotoks on Aug. 28.
Lorne Davis, Del Wilson, Ted Hampson and Marshall Johnston will be honoured on an evening when 21 other scouts will be inducted into the Wall of Honour. Davis, Wilson, Hampson and Johnston were among the original inductees in 2024.
The Ace Award is presented in honour of the late Garnet (Ace) Bailey, a longtime NHL scout. He was the Los Angeles Kings’ director of pro scouting and was en route to their training camp when the plane he was on was hijacked and deliberately flown into the South Tower of New York City’s World Trade Centre on Sept. 11, 2001. The Ace Award is presented annually to an individual or individuals who are seen to have made outstanding contributions and efforts to the NHL scouting profession.
This year’s recipients are recognized by those in the scouting fraternity for their dedication to the profession and their willingness to help those who were working to follow in their footsteps.
“Congratulations to Lorne, Del, Ted and Marshall, all of whom deserve to be honoured with the Ace Award,” said Erin Ginnell, the Foundation’s president. “All four gentlemen are pillars in the scouting community, not only for their successes but by also being the great people that they have been over the many years of scouting.”
Archie Henderson, a now-retired scout and a member of the Wall of Honour, chaired the selection committee.
“I went back and looked at the history of these guys; I would encourage hockey fans to do the same and look at what these guys did, not just in their scouting careers, but as players and executives,” Henderson said. “The number of championships they won . . . the number of teams they impacted is amazing.
“The one word I would use to describe the four of them is ‘passion’ . . . they had to have passion for hockey and the game of life to do what they did. They were iconic, not just in scouting but in all different facets and levels of North American and international hockey.”
Davis, who died in 2007 at the age of 77, was an NHL scout for more than 40 years — 29 of those with the Edmonton Oilers and 10 with the St. Louis Blues. He also worked with the New York Rangers and the WHA’s Houston Aeros. During his time with the Oilers, he helped the organization win five Stanley Cup titles. He also won a Stanley Cup as a player with the 1952-53 Montreal Canadiens. He has been a member of the Regina Sports Hall of Fame since 2003.
Wilson, who died in 2015 at the age of 88, was a scout with the Montreal Canadiens for 47 years, during which time they won 18 Stanley Cup titles. He also was an owner and general manager of the Regina Pats, and a founder of what now is the Western Hockey League. The Del Wilson Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the WHL’s top goaltender. He is a member of the Regina and Saskatchewan sports halls of fame, and the Saskatchewan Hockey Hall of Fame.
Hampson didn’t go scouting until ending his playing career at the age of 44. He started his scouting career with NHL Central Scouting, before moving on to the St. Louis Blues (21 years), Colorado Avalanche (2) and Vancouver Canucks (10). He was 85 when he retired in 2022. He is a member of the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame.
Johnston, 84, moved from the New Jersey Devils’ coaching staff to become director of player personnel in 1983, a role he filled through nine seasons. He then spent nine seasons with the Ottawa Senators as director of player personnel and then general manager. He followed that with three seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks and 11 as director of pro scouting for the Carolina Hurricanes, winning the Stanley Cup with them in 2006. He has been inducted into the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame — he was a regular on Canada’s national team in the mid-1960s — and the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame.
In 2025, the Ace Award was presented to two veteran scouts — Mike Penny and the late Barry Fraser. The initial recipients, in 2024, were former team executive and long-time play-by-play man Dennis Beyak and Gregg Drinnan, a sports journalist for more than 40 years.
You are able to follow the PHSF and its happenings at its website — hockeyscoutsfoundation.com.
OKOTOKS, AB (March 10, 2026) — The Western Canada Professional Hockey Scouts Foundation has undergone a name change.
With an eye to the future and as it moves to expand its footprint, the non-profit organization’s board of directors has changed its name to Professional Hockey Scouts Foundation (PHSF).
“Our foundation has grown and evolved since its inception so that expansion to other areas in North America and possibly Europe was inevitable,” said PHSF president Erin Ginnell. “Transforming to the Professional Hockey Scouts Foundation will allow us to continue to honour and help scouts with a global reach and also continue to give back to the game by reaching a wider range of people and organizations in need.”
The PHSF is in only its third year of existence, having introduced itself to the world with its inaugural dinner on July 30, 2024, in Okotoks. That dinner provided the Foundation with the seed money to have its Wall of Honour video display installed in the Viking Rentals Centre, the home of the BCHL’s Okotoks Oilers.
The Foundation inducted 44 past and present-day scouts into the Wall of Honour in 2024 and added 30 more at its second annual banquet in 2025. The third annual banquet, in Okotoks on Aug. 28, will include the induction of 21 honourees.
As well, the PHSF is to play host to its second annual Celebrating Indigenous Hockey Legends banquet on Sept. 29, one day before Truth and Reconciliation Day, this time in Kelowna.
“Transitioning from a Western Canada focus to a broader global identity has always been central to our vision,” said PHSF vice-president Ross Mahoney. “From the beginning, our goal has been to build an organization with international reach and impact.
“With our Foundation officially established as the Professional Hockey Scouts Foundation, we are proud to be expanding our efforts beyond Western Canada. We are actively supporting initiatives in Eastern Canada and laying the groundwork for continued growth into the United States.”
The name change reflects the Foundation’s desire to grow into a national and, eventually, an international entity.
There already is a move afoot aimed at establishing a PHSF chapter in Eastern Canada. An organizing committee is in the works, while discussions are ongoing involving the location of a Wall of Honour.
While revealing its name change, the PHSF also announced it has been designated a registered charitable organization by the Canada Revenue Agency. The Foundation, which had been operating under Alberta’s Societies Act, had applied to the CRA early in 2025.
“Obtaining our charity status with the CRA took considerable time and effort, but it will be well worth the wait and expense,” said Garth Malarchuk, the PHSF’s chairman of the board. “It significantly enhances our fundraising capabilities and provides our foundation with greater opportunities to deliver meaningful financial assistance to individuals, communities, and charitable organizations in support of sports initiatives, as well as medical and educational needs.”
The PHSF’s website remains at the same address — hockeyscoutsfoundation.com — and there always is more organizational information available there.
OKOTOKS, Alta. (Feb. 4, 2026) — Ron Delorme, a former NHL player who has spent 40 years scouting with the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks, is the 2026 recipient of the Two Glens’ Honourarium from the non-profit Western Canada Professional Hockey Scouts Foundation.
Ron Delorme, at the Foundation’s 2014 Wall of Honour induction dinner.
The Foundation made the announcement today.
Delorme, 70, will be honoured at the Foundation’s third annual Wall of Honour induction dinner in Okotoks on Aug. 28.
The Two Glens’ Honourarium was created by the Foundation in memory of Glen Cochrane and Glen Dirk, two beloved members of the scouting community who lost battles with cancer early in 2024. It is presented annually to an individual or individuals who are dedicated to the profession and show humanitarian values and goodwill in their day-to-day lives.
The honourarium carries with it a financial benefit with the honouree able to present it to a charitable organization or an individual who requires assistance with medical and/or mental health challenges.
“Ron was a mentor to a lot of us . . . we all looked up to him,” said Scott Bradley, who chaired the selection committee. Bradley, who is in the Wall of Honour, is in his 33rd season with the Boston Bruins, now as senior advisor to the general manager. “I’m just so happy that Ron is going to get this award. I really can’t say enough about him.”
“Ron is the perfect candidate for the Two Glens’ award,” added Erin Ginnell, the Foundation’s president. “With 40 years of scouting behind him, he has helped so many fellow scouts and has been a mentor to a lot of us over the years. So many miles and so many laughs . . . he’s one of kind.”
After a knee injury ended Delorme’s nine-season professional playing career, he joined the Canucks’ scouting staff in 1986. In 2000, he was promoted to chief amateur scout, a position he filled for 22 seasons before stepping back to amateur scout. Add it all up and he now is in his 40th season as a Canucks’ scout.
A native of North Battleford, Sask., Delorme, who is Cree, grew up in Cochin, Sask. He has long been heavily involved in working with Indigenous youths both on and off the fields of play.
He is a member of both the Saskatchewan Hockey Hall of Fame and the B.C. Hockey Hall of Fame.
The Two Glens’ Honorarium was first presented in 2025 when veteran scouts Dean Malkoc and Jesse Wallin were honoured.
OKOTOKS, Alta. (Nov. 19, 2025) — Jim Bzdel, a veteran of more than 30 years in the scouting game, and Garnet (Ace) Bailey, who was part of seven Stanley Cup-winners as a player and/or scout, headline the Class of 2026 that will be inducted into the Western Canada Professional Hockey Scouts Foundation’s Wall of Honour next summer.
The induction dinner is to be held in Okotoks on Aug. 28.
All told, the Foundation will induct 20 scouts — one (Bzdel) from the early era (1968-80), 17 from the modern era and two from the major junior game.
“I want to congratulate all of the individuals and their families on being selected to the WCPHS Foundation’s Wall of Honour,” said Scott Bradley, one of the Foundation’s directors and the chairman of the Wall of Honour selection committee. “This will be our third induction banquet, and there are still many more individuals to be honoured in the years ahead.”
Bzdel, 91, has lived in Regina since 1954. He spent 24 years working for the City of Regina, choosing to retire in 1993 and get into scouting on a full-time basis. He had started his scouting career with the WHA’s Los Angeles Sharks in 1972, and also worked with that league’s Cincinnati Stingers. In the NHL, he scouted for the Hartford Whalers, Toronto Maple Leafs, St. Louis Blues and San Jose Sharks before retiring in 2002.
Bailey was the Los Angeles Kings’ director of pro scouting and was en route to training camp on Sept. 11, 2001, when his flight was commandeered and flown into the South Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. He was 53. As a player, he won a Memorial Cup (Edmonton Oil Kings, 1966), Calder Cup (Hershey Bears, 1969) and two Stanley Cups (Boston Bruins, 1970, 1972). He worked as a pro scout with the Edmonton Oilers for 13 seasons, helping them win five Stanley Cups, before moving to the Kings in 1994.
The WCPHS Foundation’s Ace Award is named in honour of Bailey. It is awarded annually to a person, or persons, who have exceeded expectations in helping those in the scouting fraternity.
Also included in the Wall of Honour’s Class of 2026 are Mike Barnett, once Wayne Gretzky’s long-time agent and now a senior executive with the New York Rangers; Dan Ginnell, whose father, the late Pat Ginnell, and brother Erin both are in the Wall of Honour; and twin brothers Rich and Ron Sutter, whose brother Duane was inducted in July.
The list is rounded out by Craig Channell, Paul Charles, Marcel Comeau, Jeff Crisp, Marshall Davidson, the late Laurence Ferguson, Thomas Gradin, Randy Hansch, Ryan Jankowski, Kelly Kisio, the late Jack McIlhargey and John Williams. Ray Dudra and the late Mark Johnston will be inducted as major junior scouts.
“Congratulations to the members of the outstanding Class of 2026 who have been selected to the WCPHS Foundation’s Wall of Honour,” offered Foundation president Erin Ginnell. “It’s always a tremendous honour to be recognized by your peers, especially with so many deserving scouts.
“I’m looking forward to a great evening and catching up with all involved.”
The Foundation has been in existence since 2023. It will hold its third annual Wall of Honour induction ceremony during a dinner in Okotoks on Aug. 28. The dinner has been moved from late July in order to strengthen the Foundation’s partnership with the Yuill Foundation, which is to hold its second annual Golf Classic in Medicine Hat on Aug. 27.
The Wall of Honour, featuring a rolling video display that includes brief bios of each inductee, is located in the Viking Rentals Centre in Okotoks.
The 20-member Class of 2026 will bring the total number of Wall of Honour members to 94.
Information on ticket availability for the banquet will be released early in 2026.
With the Western Canada Professional Hockey Scouts Foundation’s second annual Wall of Honour induction dinner approaching, we are introducing the 29 members of the Class of ’25 right here. . . . The dinner is scheduled for July 29 in Okotoks, Alta., and is scheduled to feature A Night With the Sutters. . . . Tickets for the dinner are available on the Foundation’s website (hockeyscoutsfoundation.com). . . . The third of our 2025 inductees to be introduced here is Erin Ginnell, who also happens to be the Foundation’s president. His father, the legendary Pat Ginnell, was among the inaugural inductees in 2024.
ERIN GINNELL
(Sept. 9, 1968 —)
Born in Flin Flon, he followed his father, Pat (Paddy), into scouting. . . . Played five seasons of junior (SJHL, WHL) and was fourth-round pick by Washington Capitals in the NHL’s 1986 draft. . . . Spent three seasons (1991-94) with Red Deer College, winning ACAC title in 1994. Also played senior with the Powell River, B.C., Regals, ending career in 2000. . . . The expansion Columbus Blue Jackets added him to their scouting staff in 1999. . . . Moved on to Colorado Avalanche (2001-02), then Florida Panthers (2002-16). Was director of amateur scouting the last five seasons. . . . Joined expansion Vegas Golden Knights (2016) and won Stanley Cup there (2023). . . . Won two Allan Cups (1997, 2000) as Canadian senior champs with Powell River and is in B.C. Hockey Hall of Fame with the Regals. . . . His father also is in the Wall of Honour.
The Western Canada Professional Hockey Scouts Foundation has entered into a long-term agreement with Edmonton-based Igniter Tickets to handle online ticket sales to its functions.
The first event to be handled by Igniter Tickets is the Foundation’s second annual Wall of Honour induction dinner. It is scheduled to be held in Okotoks, Alta., the home of the Wall of Honour, on July 29.
“We are really pleased to have been able to strike up a partnership with Igniter Tickets,” Erin Ginnell, the Foundation’s president, said. “This will provide us with some stability in the area of ticket sales, which is of utmost importance to us.”
Garth Malarchuk, the chairman of the Foundation’s board of directors, pointed out that “we did our due diligence and received nothing but positive reviews about Igniter, and entering into a partnership with a Canadian firm was a no-brainer.”
The non-profit WCPHSF is about more than its Wall of Honour. It is “appreciative and indebted to the game of hockey and all that it has provided to our life’s experiences,” as its Vision statement reads. “Because of that we feel a strong obligation and commitment to give back to charities, communities and individuals who could benefit from our support and financial assistance.”
As such, the Foundation is committed to providing financial help to scouts with medical issues and to various charities.
Igniter (ignitertickets.com) is a premier provider of ticketing solutions, offering unmatched product depth and hands-on expertise to sports teams and venues. Backed by proven technology and a track record of delivering effective solutions with measurable success, the company takes a creative, specialized approach to every partnership.
“We’re thrilled to partner with the Western Canada Professional Hockey Scouts Foundation,” said Igniter partner Daniel Giroux, “providing ticketing solutions for their events that celebrate the contributions of those so integral to the sport. It’s an honour to support their mission of recognizing the dedication and expertise of hockey scouts and all they do.”
Igniter also ensures every ticketing portal is customized to reflect the unique identity of each client, putting their brand front and centre to create a memorable and engaging experience for every event attendee.
Tickets for the WCPHSF’s second annual Wall of Honour induction dinner are available on the Foundation’s website — hockeyscoutsfoundation.com.
OKOTOKS, Alta. (Jan. 7, 2025) — The Western Canada Professional Hockey Scouts Foundation will add 29 names to its Wall of Honour when it holds its second induction dinner this summer.
The foundation announced today that the 2025 class will include three pioneers of scouting, seven from the early era (1968-80), 17 from the modern era, and two from the major junior ranks.
The 2024 class featured 44 inductees — five Pioneers, 17 from the modern era, 20 from the modern era, and two major junior scouts.
The Wall of Honour, which features a rolling video display with a brief bio of each inductee, is located in the Viking Rentals Centre in Okotoks, Alta. The induction dinner will be held there at a date yet to be announced.
“It’s a difficult process,” said Scott Bradley, who is a member of the Wall of Honour selection committee. “It’s an honour to be one involved in the Foundation and the process.”
Bradley is in his 32nd season with the Boston Bruins and now is in his sixth season as senior advisor to the general manager. His father, Bart, was a long-time Bruins’ scout who was inducted into the Wall of Honour in 2024.
“A lot of us have worked with all of these guys,” Scott added. “I come from a scouting family. The founding fathers . . . the pioneers . . . these men are legends to me.”
The three pioneers to be inducted this summer spent more than 70 years in the scouting business. Denis Ball, Jeep George and Jimmy Walker, all deceased, were true legends of the game.
The early era inductees feature Dennis McIvor, Tom McVie and Doug Overton Sr., along with the late Larry Hornung, Jim Pedersen, Larry Popein and George Wood.
The modern era scouts to be inducted are Darwin Bennett, Jim Benning, Shane Churla, the late Glen Cochrane, Milt Fisher, Ernie Gare Jr., Erin Ginnell, Brian Gross, Dennis Holland, the late Brad Hornung, Tim Lenardon, Stu MacGregor, Ray Payne, Brad Robson, Carter Sears, Marty Stein and Al Tuer.
The major junior scouts to be honoured in 2025 are Keith Wilson and the late Al Macpherson.
“It’s exciting to be included in the Wall of Honour,” said Gare Jr., who wrapped up his scouting career by spending 15 seasons with the New York Rangers.
The Hornungs, Larry and Brad, are father and son. Ginnell is the Foundation’s president; his late father, Pat (Paddy), was part of the inaugural induction class in 2024, as were Tuer’s late father, Graham, and Benning’s late father, Elmer.
“I was very surprised and honoured when Ron Delorme called me with the news,” said Payne, who has been scouting for more than 30 years.“I wasn’t aware of how the selection process worked, or who was part of the selection group. It was nice to know that it was something that was voted on by peers.”
Stein, who won four Stanley Cups while scouting for the Detroit Red Wings for 25 years, said: “I’m very honoured to receive this accolade on the Wall of Honour.”
Stein, who now is with the Buffalo Sabres, added that he really wanted “to thank the Wall of Honour committee for this tribute.”
The inductees are chosen by the foundation’s selection committee, which comprises Dennis Beyak, Scott Bradley, Ron Delorme, Gregg Drinnan, Erin Ginnell, Ross Mahoney, Garth Malarchuk, Shane Malloy, Mike Penny and Blair Reid, all of whom are on the board of directors or act as advisors to the board.
In making its choices, the committee looks at such things as longevity and dedication within the industry.
“Scouting is a tough and demanding job that requires a lot of travel and time away from your family,” said Mahoney, the Foundation’s vice-president who is an assistant general manager with the Washington Capitals. “I had the privilege of knowing most of the honourees from this 2025 class of inductees. They all were committed and dedicated individuals who represented their respective teams in a professional and classy manner.”
The Western Canada Professional Hockey Scouts Foundation will induct a class of 45 into its Wall of Honour at its inaugural banquet in Okotoks, Alta., on July 29. . . . Here are two of the inductees from the Early Era (1968-80) . . .
PAT (PADDY) GINNELL
(March 3, 1937 — Nov. 17, 2003)
A native of Dauphin, Man., he turned to scouting after a lengthy junior coaching career. . . . Started with St. Louis Blues in 1983, later went back to coaching for 2-1/2 seasons, then returned to scouting. Was still with the Blues at the time of his death. . . . As a player, he won a Memorial Cup with 1956-57 Flin Flon Bombers. . . . Went on to play nine seasons in the pro WHL and IHL before returning to Flin Flon as the head coach of the Bombers, winning the MJHL title in his first season (1966-67). . . . Spent almost 20 seasons coaching in the major junior WHL with Flin Flon, Victoria Cougars, Lethbridge Broncos, Medicine Hat Tigers and New Westminster Bruins. Was four-time WHL coach of the year — no one has won more — and won two championships with Flin Flon. . . . Inducted into Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame (builder) in 2009. . . . Two of his sons, Dan and Erin, and grandson Derek (Dan’s son) are NHL scouts. Erin, who scouts with the Vegas Golden Knights, will be joining his father in being inducted into the Wall of Honour on July 29. Erin also is president of the Western Canada Professional Hockey Scouts Foundation.
TED HAMPSON
(Dec. 11, 1936 —)
Born in Toigo, Sask., he captained Flin Flon Bombers when they won the 1957 Memorial Cup. . . . Played professionally until he was 44, then started scouting with NHL Central Scouting. After two years, moved on to St. Louis Blues (21 years), then Colorado Avalanche (2) and finally Vancouver Canucks (10), retiring in July 2022 at the age of 85. . . . Played 12 seasons in the NHL, spending time with Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, Oakland/California Golden Seals and Minnesota North Stars. . . . While with Oakland, he was the recipient of the 1969 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. . . . Also played in the WHA with Minnesota Fighting Saints and Quebec Nordiques. . . . Inducted into Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame (player) in 1986.
The Western Canada Professional Hockey Scouts Foundation will be honouring someone close to the scouting fraternity with the Ace Award.
The foundation announced today that the Ace Award, in honour of the late Garnet (Ace) Bailey, will be presented annually to a member of the scouting fraternity or someone involved with the scouting community for contributions above and beyond what may have been expected.
ACE BAILEY
The first recipient will be honoured at the Foundation’s inaugural Wall of Honour banquet that is scheduled for Okotoks, Alta., on July 29.
Glen Sather, who had a long association with Bailey while both were in the
Edmonton Oilers’ organization, will make the presentation. Sather, now a senior advisor and alternate governor with the New York Rangers, also will speak to the induction of former Edmonton scouts Lorne Davis, Barry Fraser and Kevin Prendergast into the Foundation’s Wall of Honour.
Sather was the head coach of the WHA’s Oilers in 1978-79; Bailey played 38 games for the Oilers that season. Bailey later was a pro scout for the NHL Oilers for 13 seasons (1981-94), while Sather was president, GM and head coach.
Bailey, a native of Lloydminster, Sask., was a former NHL player who had a 20-year scouting career, split between the Oilers and Los Angeles Kings. He was the Kings’ director of pro scouting when he died aboard the plane that crashed into the South Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City on Sept. 11, 2001. He was 53.
“There are a lot of people inside and outside the scouting community who go above and beyond to not only do the job but assist in ways that make the job a lot easier,” said Foundation president Erin Ginnell. “We want to honour those people and who better to name such an award after than Ace Bailey?
“Ace went above and beyond not only at the rink but also away from the game. He gave the ultimate sacrifice to the job on 9/11 and we’d like to honour him for that and who he was, not only as a scout but as the person he was.”
Bailey’s playing career included 568 regular-season NHL games over 10 seasons split between the Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, St. Louis Blues and Washington Capitals. He also played one season with the WHA’s Oilers when his roommate on the road was a freshman centre named Wayne Gretzky.
“He reminded me so much of my dad,” Gretzky told The Athletic’s Dan Robson on the 20th anniversary of Bailey’s death. “He was like my best friend. Like a brother. My second dad.”
Bailey won two Stanley Cups as a player (Bruins, 1970, 1972) and five while scouting with the Oilers (1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990). He also won a Memorial Cup (1966) with the Edmonton Oil Kings.
He joined Edmonton’s scouting staff in 1981, then moved to the Kings in 1994. He had been their director of pro scouting for seven years.
Since its formation more than a year ago, the Foundation has been working to make the Ace Award a big part of its platform.
“Ace enjoyed spending time with his hockey scout family,” his widow, Kathy, said. “I’m sure he would be honoured to know that the award will be presented in his name.”
The Bailey family has kept his name alive through Ace’s Place, a playroom at Tufts Children Hospital in Boston.
“Kathy Bailey wanted her husband to be remembered for the heart he had for others — especially children,” Robson wrote. “He was the one with the hilarious Daffy Duck impressions, which always amused his nieces and nephews. He was Santa Claus at Christmas and the Easter Bunny each spring. He visited sick children often during his days as a beloved member of the Bruins.”
There also is an Ace’s Place in the paediatric emergency room at Tufts.
Bailey also was immensely popular throughout the scouting fraternity.
“Ace was undoubtedly one of the most popular individuals within our fraternity during his years of scouting at the NHL level,” said Garth Malarchuk, the chairman of the Foundation’s board of directors. “He was very respected for his accomplishments and successes within the hockey world. There was always lots of humour and laughter when Ace was around; he was such a fun person to be around.
“No question that it tore a piece out of everyone who knew Ace on the day we lost him during the terrorist attacks. That was a sad, sad day and a tragic loss.”
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The Western Canada Professional Hockey Scouts Foundation in a non-profit organization comprising NHL scouts from Western Canada and a group of committed individuals from the hockey community. It feels a strong obligation to honour scouts, past and present, and a commitment to give back to charities, communities and individuals who could benefit from the support and financial assistance.
Kelly McCrimmon and his newest best friend, the Stanley Cup. (Photo: Mike Fraser/Facebook)
We can only imagine the emotions that dominated Kelly McCrimmon’s very being on Tuesday night as the general manager of the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights watched his charges win the Stanley Cup.
If you spent the night under a rock, the Golden Knights, playing at home in front of the NHL’s most raucous fans, beat the Florida Panthers, 9-3, to win the best-of-seven final in five games.
And there was McCrimmon taking it all in from his seat alongside George McPhee, the president of hockey operations.
You can bet that McCrimmon’s late brother, Brad, was first and foremost in Kelly’s thoughts. The McCrimmon boys, from Plenty, Sask., were close, really close.
Brad’s name already is on the Stanley Cup; he was a leader on the 1988-89 Calgary Flames. And now Kelly’s name will be there, too.
The thought of having his name on hockey’s Holy Grail, right there where Brad’s name has been for all these years, will have been overwhelming. In fact, Kelly used that exact word — overwhelming — in an emotional post-game interview with Sportsnet’s David Amber and Elliotte Friedman.
“It’s an honour,” McCrimmon said. “It’s surreal. It’s overwhelming.”
It turns out that Liam, Maureen and Brad’s son, was among family members in Vegas last night.
As Kelly told Ambler and Friedman: “These things are only special if you have the right people to share them with.”
Brad, of course, was killed on Sept. 7, 2011. He had joined the KHL’s Lokomotiv Yaroslavl as head coach and the team was en route to its first game of the season when it went down.
Kelly, whom I have known since the fall of 1978, may be the smartest, shrewdest and most patient person I have met in more than 50 years of being around the world of hockey.
Consider that after playing two seasons (1978-80) with the Brandon Wheat Kings, he went on to spend four seasons with the U of Michigan Wolverines, the last one as team captain. You’re right! How many WHL players move on to play four years with an NCAA team?
He almost ended up with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was interviewed for a front-office position with them in the summer of 2015. Toronto didn’t have a GM at the time and McCrimmon, the owner, GM and head coach of the Wheat Kings at the time, was the WHL’s reigning executive of the year.
In the end, he chose to stay in Brandon, citing loyalty to a Wheat Kings team that he and his staff had worked hard to put together with an eye on contending in 2015-16. That edition of the Wheat Kings would win the WHL championship, and a couple of months later, the time and the place now being right, he joined the Golden Knights as assistant GM. He was promoted to GM on May 2, 2019, with McPhee moving into the president’s office.
And, last night, there was Kelly McCrimmon, a Stanley Cup champion.
And please don’t be buying any of that bunk about the NHL handing the Golden Knights a championship on a platter. Yes, they were able to take advantage of the rules granted them as an expansion franchise, but, hey, you shouldn’t get chopped liver when you’re paying US$500 million. Was it their fault that they were able to get Jonathan Marchessault, the Conn Smythe Trophy winner, from Florida in the expansion draft?
They reached the Stanley Cup final that season, 2017-18, too, only to lose to the Washington Capitals. One year later, McCrimmon moved up to GM and he hasn’t stopped dealing.
If you weren’t aware, the Golden Knights’ roster includes one of their own draft picks — F Nic Hague, who scored their second goal last night.
This is a team that was put together by McCrimmon, with input from McPhee, and a staff that includes Vaughn Karpan, the director of player personnel; Bob Lowes, the assistant director of player personnel; pro scouts Kelly Kisio, Jim McKenzie and Craig Cunningham, and amateur scouts Bruno Campese, Erin Ginnell and Brad McEwen. The coaching staff includes Ryan Craig.
What do they all have in common? Each of them has ties to the WHL, and that’s a thread that runs through the Golden Knights, from captain Mark Stone, who played for McCrimmon in Brandon and was his captain there, too, to four of the five goaltenders on the roster. All Stone did last night was score three times — the game’s most-important goal, the first one (shorthanded), his club’s fifth one and the game’s final goal. The last time someone scored three goals in Stanley Cup-clinching game? Babe Dye did it with the Toronto St. Pats in on March 28, 1922, scoring four times in a 5-1 victory over the Vancouver Millionaires.
(Steve Simmons of Postmedia has a column right here that details how this Vegas team was built.)
Knowing McCrimmon, I can imagine that spent last night celebrating and enjoying the moment. In the morning, he will have started planning for next season.
Big congrats to 2 BC connections who’ve played a big role behind the scenes in #VegasBorn winning #StanleyCup. Vaughn Karpan (Langley) is Dir. of Player Personnel for Vegas & has been #NHL scout for 30 years. He’s about to earn his 1st Championship ring. (1/2)@Sportsnet650pic.twitter.com/noHaPaUQ29
— Brandon Wheat Kings (@bdnwheatkings) June 14, 2023
Coachella Valley Firebirds have drawn 117,879 fans over 13 home playoff dates, the highest playoff attendance by one team in league history. The Firebirds have recorded four postseason sellouts at the 10,087-seat Acrisure Arena, including each of the first two games of the Calder… pic.twitter.com/kNSsyJHL0Z
F Riley Sutter’s second playoff goal gave the host Hershey Bears a 5-4 victory over the Coachella Valley Firebirds in Game 3 of the AHL’s Calder Cup final on Tuesday night in front of 10,580 fans. . . . The Firebirds, in their first season of existence, hold a 2-1 edge in the best-of-seven final with Game 4 in Hershey on Thursday and Game 5 there on Saturday. . . . Sutter played four seasons (2015-19) with the WHL’s Everett Silvertips. . . . The Firebirds trailed 4-2 before F Cameron Hughes scored twice, the first one on a PP, at 15:26 and 19:09 of the third period. . . . F Garrett Pilon, a former WHLer, had a goal and an assist for Hershey.
There was an interesting development in the world of NCAA hockey on Tuesday as the U of Maine Black Bears announced that D Artyom Duda has committed to join them for the 2023-24 season. Duda, 6-foot-1 and 187 pounds, is from Moscow, Russia. The 19-year-old was a second-round selection by the Arizona Coyotes in the NHL’s 2022 draft. . . . The interesting part of this signing is that Duda played 14 games with CSKA Moskva of the KHL in 2022-23. The KHL is a professional league, so it will be interesting to see what how the NCAA deals with his eligibility. . . . Hey, if WHL players are ineligible to go the NCAA route because that organization sees them as professionals . . .
The sweater that Wayne Gretzky wore for the final game of his NHL career with the New York Rangers on April 18, 1999 sold for US$715,120 at Grey Flannel Auctions on Sunday night. From a news release: “It’s the third most valuable hockey jersey to sell at auction behind Gretzky’s final Stanley Cup jersey during the 1987-1988 season with the Oilers, which sold for $1.452 million and Paul Henderson’s 1972 jersey from the Summit Series which sold for $1.3 million. It’s the highest price realized for a US-based hockey jersey. Mike Eruzione’s 1980 Miracle on Ice jersey vs. the USSR is the second highest total selling for $657,250.”
The official restaurant of “We just lost 19 to 3 but our coach is a super nice guy.” pic.twitter.com/SJ3Y2PTPFE
Jacques Tanguay, the Quebec Remparts’ president, and Patrick Roy, the general manager and head coach, both announced on Tuesday that they are leaving the QMJHL franchise. The announcements came nine days after the Remparts, the QMJHL champions, won the Memorial Cup with a 5-0 victory over the WHL-champion Seattle Thunderbirds in Kamloops. . . . “In life,” Roy said during a news conference in Quebec City, “you must be able to leave at the right time. Today, I can leave my positions and say ‘Mission accomplished.’ ” . . . Roy’s decision wasn’t unexpected as there had been speculation about his future all season. His announcement came on the same day that the sale of the NHL’s Ottawa Senators to a group headed by Michael Andlauer was announced. As he assumes ownership of the Senators, Andlauer has to unload his 20 per cent share in the Montreal Canadiens. All of this has led to speculation that Roy could end up on the Senators’ coaching staff. . . . Roy, however, says there hasn’t been any interest shown by any NHL team or teams. . . . Luc Lang of The Canadian Press has more on the Roy story right here. . . .
It’s official! The QMJHL’s Cape Breton Eagles announced on Tuesday that Jon Goyens is out as head coach after one season. According to the Eagles’ news release, this was one of those deals where the two parties “mutually agreed to part ways.” . . . In his only season as head coach, Goyens guided the Eagles into the playoffs for the first time in three seasons. . . .
The BCHL’s Langley Rivermen have signed Tyler Kuntz as associate general manager and associate head coach. Kuntz is a former assistant coach with the Vancouver Giants (2015-17). . . . Langley’s ownership change was approved at the league’s recent annual general meeting. . . . Kuntz spent two seasons (2018-20) as GM/head coach of the BCHL’s Powell River Kings, then moved to St. George’s School as head coach of the U18 prep team.
As the broadcast mentioned, Nikola Jokic was the No. 41 pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. But let’s not forget that Jokic was selected during a Taco Bell commercial. 😅 pic.twitter.com/m8zm1kxZDt
Longtime scout Ray Dudra has decided to retire after almost 40 years with WHL teams. Dudra started in 1983-84 as a regional scout with the Medicine Hat Tigers. He also spent 18 seasons with the Spokane Chiefs, as a scout, director of player personnel and director of player development. He also scouted for the Prince Albert Raiders and Saskatoon Blades. Most recently, he has been with the Tri-City Americans. . . . Dudra rides off into retirement with the sunset reflecting off his four Memorial Cup rings — Medicine Hat in 1987 and 1988, Spokane in 1991 and 2008). . . . Congrats, Ray, and here’s to a long and healthy retirement. . . .
The SJHL held its annual general meeting last weekend in North Battleford. If you’re wondering what all went on, there’s a news release right here. . . . The one item involving change that I found particularly interesting is that “any Saskatchewan-born player a team is attempting to trade out of province must be placed on an internal waiver before the player can be moved outside of the league.”
THINKING OUT LOUD:
Does the end of the NHL playoffs mean the end of Hyundai making WAH! . . . Having Nick Taylor, two days from winning golf’s Canadian Open, do the voice-over to open Tuesday’s NHL show was a stroke of genius from Sportsnet. It was brilliant! . . . And to end the broadcast with the late Gordon Lightfoot’s If You Could Read My Mind, well, things got a bit misty here. . . . I saw this comment on Facebook on Tuesday, and it pretty much says it all: “They have to put warnings on Subway wrappers telling people not to eat the wrapper. This is where we are now.” . . . Sheesh, Kelowna, what has happened to you? . . . Is Gene Hackman one of the most under-rated actors of our time, or what?
As you make your way through this week, please keep the Backmeyer family of Kamloops in your thoughts. The five of them — Lindsey and Pat, Ferris and her older sisters, Tavia and Ksenia — flew out of Vancouver on Sunday, en route to Toronto where Ferris, 6, is scheduled to undergo a second kidney transplant at some point in the near future. . . . You want strength and courage? Well, Ferris has been battling kidney disease all of her young life and has been on dialysis, either peritoneal or hemo, all that time. . . . She underwent a transplant in Vancouver on March 6, 2021, but there were complications and the kidney was removed that night. So, if all goes according to plan, another attempt will be made in the next few weeks.
Late Sunday, Lindsey posted on Facebook: “According to the itinerary it’s just hemo (Monday), sooooo shouldn’t be too bad. Her final crossmatch is drawn on Tuesday. Results should be back by the following Monday. It’s another point in which things could get called off. Heck there’s so many variables it’s really a one-day-at-a-time situation!”
And congratulations to Pat who, through all of this, graduated from Thompson Rivers University’s nursing program a week ago. What an accomplishment!
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If you are interested in being a living kidney donor, more information is available here:
TAKING NOTE 