Tag: Okotoks

Overton to be inducted into Wall of Honour

The calendar tells us that the Western Canada Professional Hockey Scouts Foundation is four months away from inducting the Class of 2025 into its Wall of Honour. . . . The second annual induction dinner is scheduled for July 29 at the Viking Rentals Centre, the home of the Wall of Honour, in Okotoks, Alta. . . . The evening is being billed as A Night With the Sutters and there will be a hot stove session or two involving members of hockey’s first family. . . . Tickets for the dinner are available on the Foundation’s website (hockeyscoutsfoundation.com). . . . In the meantime, we are introducing folks to the next inductees, so here’s a look at Doug Overton Sr. . . . 

DOUG OVERTON SR.

(Dec. 8, 1944 — Sept. 13, 2023)

Born in London, Ont., but grew up in Winnipeg. . . . Was a solid junior player with the MJHL’s St. Boniface Canadians, and had a brief stint in the EHL with the Charlotte Checkers before playing senior with the St. Boniface Mohawks and Warroad Lakers. . . . Later took a turn coaching the junior St. Boniface Saints (1972-74). . . . Started his scouting career with the Philadelphia Flyers in the late ’80s before joining Bob Clarke in moving to the Minnesota North Stars in 1990. . . . Spent 20-plus seasons with the Stars organization in scouting roles spanning from amateur scout to director of pro scouting. Was with the Stars for 1999 Stanley Cup championship.

Meet five more Wall of Honour inductees . . .

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. . . . 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 five more of them. . . . For more bios, visit the Foundation website and click on Wall of Honour.

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ARCHIE HENDERSON

(Feb. 17, 1957 —)

A Calgarian, he was a 6-foot-6, 220-pound forward as a player, and later turned to coaching before getting into scouting. . . . After coaching stints in the IHL, ECHL and British Hockey League and, one with the WHL’s Victoria Cougars, he began his run as a pro scout with the Washington Capitals in 1993. . . . Also spent four seasons as a pro scout with the Ottawa Senators and then filled the same role with the Detroit Red Wings for four seasons. . . . Went from Detroit to Edmonton where he was the Oilers’ director of pro scouting for three seasons before retiring in 2022. . . . Had an 11-season run as a professional player that included 775 games, including 23 regular-season NHL games split between Washington (7), the Minnesota North Stars (1) and the Hartford Whalers (15).

ROSS MAHONEY

(July 21, 1956 —)

A native of Saskatoon, he spent two seasons (1993-95) as assistant coach with the Regina Pats before joining the Buffalo Sabres’ amateur scouting staff. . . . Also worked with the Vancouver Canucks before beginning lengthy association with the Washington Capitals in July 1997 as director of amateur scouting. After 11 seasons was promoted to assistant GM. . . . Won Stanley Cup with the Capitals in 2018. . . . Was a teacher for 17 years before going scouting. . . . Terrific baseball player. Helped the Melville Elks win the 1973 Canadian midget championship. The all-star right-fielder led tournament by hitting .636. . . . Inducted into the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame (1997) and Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame (1999). Also inducted into the Saskatchewan Hockey Hall of Fame (2024); was co-head coach of Saskatchewan team that won hockey gold at 1995 Canada Winter Games.

BERT MARSHALL

(Nov, 22, 1943 —)

Born in Kamloops, he started scouting with the Colorado Rockies in 1981. . . . Spent two seasons (1979-81) coaching the New York Islanders’ CHL team, the Indianapolis Checkers, then ran scouting for Colorado in its last season (1981-82) and the New Jersey Devils in their first (1982-83). . . . Scouted for the Islanders (1983-96) and was director of amateur scouting for the last two seasons. . . . After a season with the Hartford Whalers, he began 22-year run as amateur scout with the Carolina Hurricanes. . . . Won Stanley Cup with the Hurricanes (2006). . . . A defenceman in the Original Six era, he split 868 regular-season games over 17 seasons among the Detroit Red Wings, Oakland/California Golden Seals, New York Rangers and Islanders. . . . Won Memorial Cup with the Edmonton Oil Kings (1963). . . . Inducted into the B.C. Hockey Hall of Fame (2003).

WAYNE MEIER

(Feb. 10, 1944 —)

From Edmonton, he started his scouting career with the Portland Winter Hawks in 1976 after the WHL franchise had relocated from Edmonton. He went on to spend a total of 10 seasons with Portland (1976-82, 1985-89) and was the director of player personnel for seven of those seasons. . . . Spent three seasons (1982-85) in the middle of his Portland run scouting for the Detroit Red Wings. . . . Rejoined Detroit in 1989 and spent seven seasons there before moving on to the Florida Panthers (1996-2001) and the Anaheim Ducks (2002-06). . . . Began a 12-season run with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2006. . . . Retired in 2018 with three Stanley Cup rings, all with Pittsburgh (2009, 2016, 2017).

AL MURRAY

(March 7, 1957 —)

Born in Winnipeg, he began his scouting career with the Los Angeles Kings after serving as head coach of the U of Regina men’s hockey team during its first three seasons (1985-88) in Canada West. . . . Was the Kings’ western scouting co-ordinator for six seasons, then director of amateur scouting for 13 seasons. . . . Took over as Hockey Canada’s head scout in 2007 and stayed for three seasons. Won two World Junior titles with U20 team and one gold with U18s. . . . Joined the Tampa Bay Lightning as director of amateur scouting in 2010 and filled that role through 2018-19 after which assistant GM was added to his responsibilities. The Lightning named him senior advisor after 2022-23 season. . . . Won two Stanley Cups with the Lightning (2020, 2021).

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).

Meet five more inaugural inductees to WCPHSF’s Wall of Fame

The non-profit Western Canada Professional Hockey Scouts Foundation will hold its inaugural Wall of Honour induction dinner in Okotoks on July 30. . . . Tickets to the general public are available at the Foundation’s website (hockeyscoutsfoundation.com). . . . Meanwhile, here’s a chance for you to meet five of the scouts who are part of the Class of 2024. . . . For more bios, visit the Foundation website and click on Wall of Honour.

BARTON (BART) BRADLEY

(July 29, 1930 — Sept. 16, 2006)

From Fort William, Ont., he joined the Boston Bruins’ scouting staff in 1968 and spent 30 years with them. He was head scout and director of player evaluation from the late-1970s into the early ’90s. . . . In a 10-season career as a pro player, nine of them in Boston’s organization, he got into one NHL game with the Bruins, that in 1949-50. . . . Shared in the Bruins’ 1970 and 1972 Stanley Cup triumphs. . . . During his playing career, he won a Memorial Cup with the Port Arthur West End Bruins (1948), an Allan Cup with the Belleville McFarlands (1958) and a World championship with Belleville (1959). . . . His son, Scott, has been with the Bruins since 1993 when he started as a scout.

SCOTT BRADLEY

(Aug. 29, 1963 —)

From Delta, B.C., he joined the Boston Bruins on a full-time basis in 1993 as a western scout. . . . Was promoted to head scout in 1996, a position he filled for 11 seasons. . . . Named director of player personnel in 2008 and assistant general manager in 2014. . . . Promoted to senior adviser to the general manager in 2019, a position he presently holds. . . . Career highlight was winning Stanley Cup (2011) with the Bruins. . . . Began his scouting career by spending four seasons (1990-94) with the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds. . . . Was a goaltender during a playing career that topped out at junior A. . . . His late father, Bart, spent more than 30 seasons with the Bruins as a player and scout.

TONY FELTRIN

(Dec. 6, 1961 —)

TONY FELTRIN

Raised in Nanaimo, B.C., he began his scouting career with the New York Rangers in 1986 and was part of a Stanley Cup winner there in 1994. . . . After 10 seasons as an amateur scout with the Rangers, he joined the New York Islanders and spent 11 seasons as their head amateur scout. . . . Moved on to the St. Louis Blues in 2007 and has worked for them as a pro scout, amateur scout, and their director of amateur scouting. He was part of their 2019 Stanley Cup-championship team. . . . As a player, he won a WHL championship with the 1980-81 Victoria Cougars. . . . Split 48 NHL regular-season games between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Rangers.

BRUCE FRANKLIN

(Sept. 16, 1963 —)

From Winnipeg, he has been a scout since 1982 when he got his start in the WHL. . . . Spent 10 seasons as a WHL scout, four with the Prince Albert Raiders and six with the Swift Current Broncos, five as director of player personnel. . . . Started in the NHL as a part-time scout with the Montreal Canadiens in 1986. . . . Was with the Chicago Blackhawks for 24 seasons, starting as an amateur scout in 1992. Was Chicago’s chief scout for his last six seasons there. . . . Joined the the Anaheim Ducks as the director of player evaluation in 2016. . . . Was in on three Stanley Cup titles with Chicago (2010, 2013, 2015), after winning Memorial Cup championships with Prince Albert (1985) and Swift Current (1989).

PETER SULLIVAN

(July 25, 1951 —)

Peter Sullivan retired prior to the start of this NHL season. (Photo: Mike Morreale, nhl.com)

From Toronto, Sullivan retired in 2023, ending scouting career that began in Switzerland. . . . Spent 27 years with NHL Central Scouting, having started in 1996. . . . Began scouting as part-timer for the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets in 1986 while coaching in Switzerland. . . . Joined the Jets as full-time amateur scout in 1988. . . . Nicknamed “Silky,” he was a terrific minor and junior player but career was slowed by thyroid cancer. Drafted by the Montreal Canadiens and played three seasons with their AHL affiliate, the Nova Scotia Voyageurs, who held a night for him. . . . Signed with the WHA’s Jets in 1975, winning three Avco Cups there. . . . Played four WHA seasons and two more with the Jets in the NHL. Concluded his playing career in Switzerland. . . . His father, Frank, won 1921 Grey Cup with the Toronto Argonauts and 1928 Olympic gold with Canada’s hockey team.

Meet five more Wall of Honour inductees . . . general public dinner tickets now available

The Western Canada Professional Hockey Scouts Foundation’s inaugural Wall of Honour induction dinner is set to go on July 30 at the Centennial Arena in Okotoks. . . . All told, 45 past and present-day scouts will be inducted into the Wall of Honour, which has its permanent home in the arena foyer. . . . Here’s a look at five of those inductees. For more, check out the Foundation’s website at hockeyscoutsfoundation.com and click on Wall of Honour. . . . Tickets to the dinner for the general public also are available off the website.

CRAIG BUTTON

(Jan. 3, 1963 —)

CRAIG BUTTON

A native of Rochester, N.Y., he was born into a hockey family. His father, Jack, was an executive with the AHL’s Rochester Americans, and his mother, Bridget, was secretary to Punch Imlach, the long-time GM/head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs. . . . Jack was hired by the NHL in 1975 to run Central Scouting. . . . Craig’s brother, Tod, is in scouting, too. . . . Craig got his scouting start with the Minnesota North Stars (1988). He was the franchise’s director of scouting (1992-98) and director of player personnel (1998-2000) after it moved to Dallas. . . . Won Stanley Cup with Dallas (1999). . . . Was vice-president and GM of the Calgary Flames (2000-03). . . . Went on to scout for Toronto (2004-07) before joining TSN as director of scouting. . . . Has worked in media since 2008 with TSN, NHL Network, NBC and CBC.

JOHN CHAPMAN

(Aug. 13, 1945 —)

A native of Stettler, Atla., he was a prominent junior coach before going scouting. . . . Began with the New York Rangers, then was with the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Florida Panthers for two seasons. . . . Spent remainder of his career (1995-2023) with the Philadelphia Flyers, working at various times as amateur scout, pro scout, director of player development and director of player personnel. . . . Retired prior to 2023-24. . . . Coached three of the six hockey-playing Sutter brothers. Spent six seasons (1980-86) as head coach of the WHL’s Lethbridge Broncos. . . . In April 2009, he rescued a mother and her two-month-old daughter after stroller rolled into a retention pond in Calgary. . . . Has written book — Janny: A Woman of Fortitude and Grace — about battle with breast cancer staged by his late wife of 35 years.

MARSHALL JOHNSTON

(June 6, 1941 —)

MARSHALL JOHNSTON

A native of Birch Hills, Sask., he was an All-American defenceman at the U of Denver before representing Canada at 1964 and 1968 Olympic Winter Games and 1966 and 1967 World Championships. . . . Played in NHL with the Minnesota North Stars and California Golden Seals. . . . Was Golden Seals’ head coach (1973-75) before returning to Denver for six seasons, the last four (1977-81) as head coach. . . . Career as an NHL coach and executive featured stints with the Colorado Rockies/New Jersey Devils, Ottawa Senators and Chicago Blackhawks. . . . Concluded his scouting career after 11 seasons as Carolina Hurricanes’ director of professional scouting. . . . Won Stanley Cup with the Hurricanes in 2006. . . . Inducted into International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame (1998) and Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame (2002).

IAN McKENZIE

(May 15, 1938 — May 31, 2022)

IAN McKENZIE

Born in Lyalta, Alta., he served 15 years in the RCMP before going into scouting, starting with St. Louis Blues. . . . He made his name with the Flames, first in Atlanta and and then Calgary. . . . Began a 25-year association with the Flames when he joined Atlanta. After one season there, he made the move to Calgary with the franchise in 1980. . . . Concluded his scouting career with the Phoenix Coyotes. . . . In 2000, he estimated that he would spend 200,000 miles on the road in one season. . . . Won the 1989 Stanley Cup with the Flames. . . . Had a lengthy involvement with Alf Cadman and the junior Red Deer Rustlers when they got into the AJHL. That turned out to be McKenzie’s connection to Cliff Fletcher and the Flames.

BOB OWEN

(Sept. 29, 1949 —)

A native of Winnipeg, he began his scouting career in 1980 as a part-timer with NHL Central Scouting. . . . In April 1984, he moved to the Los Angeles Kings and was there for 10 years. . . . For the next three-plus years, he operated RHO Hockey, an independent scouting service. . . . In August 1998, he joined the Atlanta Thrashers and stayed for 13 years. . . . He completed his scouting career with the Winnipeg Jets, starting in October 2011 and lasting until he retired nine years later. . . . As a player, he spent three seasons (1966-69) with the Regina Pats. . . . He later coached the midget AAA Regina Pat Canadians for five seasons (1973-78) and the SJHL’s Regina Pat Blues for two (1978-80).