Tag: Glen Cochrane

Cochrane will be remembered by Wall of Honour

The Western Canada Professional Hockey Scouts Foundation is to hold its second annual Wall of Honour induction dinner in Okotoks on July 29. . . . If you aren’t aware, the Wall of Honour makes its home in the Viking Rentals Centre in Okotoks. . . . And the dinner will be held right there, too. . . . It’ll be a night of fun, fun, fun, what with various auctions and a Hot Stove session or two involving members of the hockey-playing Sutter family. . . . Tickets for the dinner are available on the Foundation’s website (hockeyscoutsfoundation.com). . . . With all that in mind, we are introducing members of the Wall of Honour’s Class of ’25, so we would like you to meet the late Glen Cochrane. . . .

GLEN COCHRANE

(Jan. 29, 1958 — Jan. 13, 2024)

Born in Kamloops and raised in Cranbrook, he was living in Kelowna at the time of his passing, which came after he was diagnosed with cancer in 2023. . . . Was an assistant coach with the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets (1995-98) before getting into scouting. . . . Started as an amateur scout in Western Canada with the Colorado Avalanche (2001-07). . . . Moved on to the Anaheim Ducks in 2007 and spent 17 years with them. Was still scouting for them at the time of his death. . . . As a rough-and-tumble player, he split 411 regular-season NHL games over 10 seasons between the Philadelphia Flyers, who selected him 50th overall in the NHL’s 1978 draft, Vancouver Canucks, Chicago Blackhawks and Edmonton Oilers. . . . Won an AHL championship with the Maine Mariners in 1979. . . . Became successful Little Caesars Pizza franchisee after playing career ended.

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

WCPHS Foundation announces 2025 Wall of Honour inductees

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.”

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