The non-profit Western Canada Professional Hockey Scouts Foundation’s inaugural Wall of Honour inductee dinner is almost upon us. It’s all set for the Centennial Arena in Okotoks, Alta., on Tuesday, July 30. . . . Tickets are available at hockeyscoutsfoundation.com. There also is information there about the evening’s entertainment. The theme is Tales from the Road and, based on that, there will be a couple of Hot Stove sessions featuring the likes of John Davidson, Ken Holland and Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser. . . . Of course, the spotlight will be on the 45 past and present-day scouts who will be inducted into the Wall of Honour. . . . Here’s a look at three more of them. . . . For a look at all of the bios, visit the Foundation website and click on Wall of Honour.
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GERRY O’FLAHERTY
(Aug. 31, 1950 —)
He was born in Pittsburgh, where his father, John (Peanuts) O’Flaherty, was playing for the AHL’s Pittsburgh Hornets. . . . Gerry grew up in Etobicoke, Ont., and was inducted into that community’s hall of fame in 2013. . . . Played 438 regular-season NHL games with the Toronto Maple Leafs (2), Vancouver Canucks (435) and Atlanta Flames (1). . . . Scored 25 goals for the Canucks in 1974-75, at the time a single-season NHL record for an American-born player. . . . Played for the U.S. in the 1976 Canada Cup. . . . Began scouting career in 1979 with the Montreal Canadiens. . . . Moved to the Tampa Bay Lightning as pro scout in 2003-04. . . . Has been part of five Stanley Cup championships — Montreal, 1986, 1993; Tampa Bay, 2004, 2020, 2021. . . . His father and two of his brothers, John Jr. and Bill, also were NHL scouts.
KEVIN PRENDERGAST
(March 27, 1951 —)
A native of Verdun, Que., he spent more than 30 years in the scouting business, including seven seasons (1983-90) as NHL Central Scouting’s assistant director of scouting. . . . He went from there to the Edmonton Oilers, where he filled various roles — head scout, vice-president of hockey operations, director of player personnel, assistant general manager — through May 2010. . . . Took over as Hockey Canada’s head scout in 2010 and stayed through 2012-13, working with the U18 and U20 programs. . . . Did pro and amateur scouting with the Buffalo Sabres from November 2013 until he retired in 2018. . . . Helped evaluate players for Canada’s men’s team at 1988 Olympic Winter Games in Calgary. . . . Attended St. Mary’s University in Halifax where he quarterbacked the Huskies football team to three straight conference titles (1974-75-76).
GLEN SANDERS
(June 7, 1956 —)
From Trail, B.C., he has scouted for the NHL’s Nashville Predators since 2004. Started on part-time basis, and moved to full-time in 2007. . . Began scouting career with the WHL’s Prince Albert Raiders in 1984. Joined the Kamloops Blazers in 1987 and spent 10 years with them, winning three Memorial Cups (1992, 1994, 1995). . . . Long-time minor hockey coach in Trail, starting in 1978 with pee wee rep team. Also coached a junior B team and in 1996 stepped in as GM of the junior A Smoke Eaters as they entered the BCHL. . . . Returned to scouting with the Tri-City Americans and then the Regina Pats. . . . Inducted in B.C. Sports Hall of Fame in 2016 as part of the 1994-95 Blazers. His name went on Trail’s Home of Champions Monument in 2019.
Tuesday, F Zac Rinaldo’s name was nowhere to be found even though they had signed him as a free agent to a two-way contract last month — US$750,000 in the NHL, $275,000 in the AHL. . . . John Davidson, the Blue Jackets’ president of hockey operations, explained that Rinaldo “is not vaccinated and because of that — and that’s his decision — the plan is to start him in the American Hockey League and he will not be coming to our training camp.” . . . And wouldn’t you love to know what the other players in the Cleveland Monsters’ camp think about that? . . . Rinaldo, 31, was pointless in five games with the Calgary Flames last season. . . . Davidson also said: “When you read the amount of players, the percentage that have been vaccinated, it’s a big, big number. There’s very few who aren’t, and that’s their own personal choice. I’m not going to sit here and tell them what to do, even though I’d like to see the whole world get vaccinated. My daughter’s a doctor. She believes in this, and I believe in her because she’s a whole lot smarter than I am. I’d like to see the whole world get vaccinated. We have a responsibility as the leaders of the organization. We want our people vaccinated. We want them wearing masks as much as possible.” . . . Earlier this month, the Blue Jackets dumped assistant coach Sylvain Lefebvre after he chose not to get vaccinated. . . . It’s interesting, too, that the Blue Jackets’ training camp is presented by Ohio Health, which bills itself as “a family of not-for-profit, faith-based hospitals & healthcare organizations.” . . . 
per cent of the Seattle Kraken’s players are fully vaccinated “even though general manager Ron Francis said he wasn’t authorized to comment.” . . . In an interesting piece, Baker writes: “Given our city’s dark history with pandemics and hockey, it’s a relief to see Kraken players aren’t testing the resolve of both the team and most of the local community. With the 1919 Stanley Cup final in Seattle still the lone major sports championship ever canceled by a pandemic that also killed some players and maybe coaches as well, it’s good to see the league and Players’ Association getting tough about vaccine compliance.” . . . Baker’s piece, which is well worth a read, is 
TAKING NOTE 