Tag: Scott Bradley

Bzdel, Bailey headline Wall of Honour’s Class of 2026

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.

WCPHS Foundation mourns death of a friend; McVie remembered as “a legend”

Members of the Western Canada Professional Hockey Scouts Foundation are in mourning today following the death of Tom McVie.

McVie, 89, died on Sunday night in Portland, Ore.

McVie is one of 29 scouts who will be go into the Foundation’s Wall of Honour at its second annual induction dinner in Okotoks, Alta., on July 29.

“We lost a legend,” said Scott Bradley, a member of the Foundation’s board of directors and a longtime McVie friend and associate. “I was fortunate to have been able to work with him for most of my career.”

Bradley is in his 32nd season as part of the Boston Bruins organization and his sixth as senior advisor to the general manager. He was inducted into the Wall of Honour in 2024, as was his father, Bart, who also had a long career with the Bruins.

“My Dad worked with him . . . they had a long-time association,” Scott added. “They were in Dayton together (with the IHL’s Gems) . . . I’ve been part of Tommy’s circle for a long time.”

A native of Trail, B.C., McVie had an 18-year playing career with most of it in the old Western Hockey League where he played with the Seattle Totems, Portland Buckaroos, Los Angeles Blades and Phoenix Roadrunners. He also played in the EHL and IHL before retiring after 1973-74.

Dwight Jaynes, a long-time Portand, Ore., journalist and friend of McVie’s, wrote on Monday that “he wanted to coach but said that he was told the stories of his drinking were going to keep him out of that job pool. So he flat-out quit — never to drink again. He then set off on a coaching journey through the minor leagues, to prove that a guy who never played in the NHL could coach there.”

McVie spent the next 27 seasons as a coach.

He was the head coach of the WHA’s Winnipeg Jets when they won the Avco Cup to end the 1978-79 season. By the next season, the Jets were in the NHL. They started 1-20-7 and were on a 25-game winless skid when McVie was replaced.

“When we won the Avco Cup championship,” McVie would tell people, “there’s a bridge near the old barn that they wanted to name after me. After 15 games in the National Hockey League, they wanted to throw me off that same bridge.”

He also spent time as the head coach of three NHL teams — the Washington Capitals, New Jersey Devils and Boston.

McVie didn’t get into scouting until 1998, by which time he was 63 years of age, when he joined the Bruins as a pro scout. He worked in that capacity and as a Bruins ambassador through 2019-20, getting his name on the Stanley Cup when Boston won the 2011 title.

In all, McVie was part of the Bruins organization for 37 years.

“The Bruins,” Scott Bradley said, “will miss him. He lit up a room when he was in it. There wasn’t a better story-teller or joke-teller.”

In a statement, Bruins president Cam Neely offered:

“The entire Boston Bruins organization is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Tom McVie. Tom was a huge part of our Bruins family, having served as a coach, scout and ambassador for more than 30 years. His hockey mind, colorful personality, gruff voice, and unmatched sense of humor livened up every room he entered and will be dearly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with Tom’s family and many loved ones.”

During his career, Tim Lenardon, a former scout and the Foundation’s co-ordinator, played for McVie in the AHL. Lenardon will be inducted into the Wall of Honour, along with McVie, in July.

“Tommy was a great person and a great coach,” Lenardon said. “He knew how to get the best out of everyone. He was like a second dad to me . . . hard but fair.”

Lenardon especially remembers some advice that he got from McVie: “Hey, Kid, you gotta shoot the (bleeping) puck more . . . and when you shoot hit the damn net” and “Don’t go offside for F sakes; it’s like back-checking for the other team.”

Garth Malarchuk, the Foundation’s chairman of the board, also remembers playing for McVie.

“He was a big-time competitor . . . no bullshit . . . you knew where you stood with him for sure,” Malarchuk said.

According to Jaynes, McVie was more than that, though.

“He was one of the best damn people I knew — a hilarious public speaker, loyal friend and all-around good guy to everyone he met,” Jaynes wrote. “He campaigned so hard to get his Buckaroo teammate and long-time friend Connie Madigan into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame and accomplished it prior to Madigan’s death.”

Madigan and McVie were the best of friends, and both of them were legends in hockey circles. Madigan died just over a year ago — on Jan. 2, 2024. Scott Bradley said McVie was never the same after the loss of his friend.

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Among McVie’s pearls of wisdom from over the years . . . 

“My late wife always used to say to me ‘you love hockey more than you love me.’ I always said ‘Yeah, but I love you more than I love baseball.’ ’’

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How long would it take for him to join a new team if offered a coaching job: “I can be out of town in 20 minutes. Thirty if I have stuff at the cleaners.”

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“Two places never to make a drop pass: At home, and on the road.”

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If I wasn’t coaching hockey,” he once told the Boston Globe’s Kevin Paul Dupont, “then I’d probably be driving the Zamboni.”

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And then there was this story related to The Athletic in 2018:

“This writer, a young fellow, comes along and I’ve never seen him before. He was carrying a recorder, comes in and sticks the microphone in the face and asked, ‘Are you Tom McVie?’ Like, who doesn’t know who I am? Everyone knows who I am (laughter). So, I said, ‘Yeah.’ He said, ‘Well, let me ask you something. Are you the Tom McVie that coached the Washington Capitals and they set a league record for losing games?’ I said, ‘Yes. I’m Tom McVie.’ He said, ‘Are you the Tom McVie that coached the Winnipeg Jets and you broke that losing record? Now, you’re coaching the New Jersey Devils and you’re in danger of setting a new losing record?’ I said, ‘Yeah.’

“He said, ‘Did you ever think of quitting?’ And I said, ‘F–k, no. This is the only thing I’m really good at.’ ”

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Tom McVie . . . hockey lifer . . . Wall of Honour inductee . . . dead at 89.

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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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.

Barnes of Postmedia shines bright light on scouting fraternity

The headline on the Calgary Herald website reads: “The road warriors of sports: NHL scouts have always been appreciated, but never publicly. Until now.”

Dan Barnes, a veteran sports journalist who works out of Edmonton for Postmedia, wrote a lengthy piece about NHL scouts that appeared in newspapers and on websites on Saturday (March 9).

He led the story by explaining how as many as 100 scouts would hang around for a day after the NHL draft and take part in a best-ball golf tournament that was a social event that allowed them to let loose for a few hours after a long, stressful season. It also showed what a close fraternity this bunch is, despite the fact they are in almost constant competition with each other on the scouting trail.

That annual gathering has gone away, however, thanks to the draft having evolved from a 12-round marathon to an event that ends quickly on its second day.

“Old scouts, however, are nonetheless determined to gather the fraternity on an annual basis and continue shining a spotlight on pioneers of their profession,” Barnes writes.

“The Western Canada Professional Hockey Scouts Foundation was formed for that reason and will fete its inaugural Wall of Honour inductees on July 29 in Okotoks, Alta. Forty-five men will be honoured for their dedication and accomplishments, 19 posthumously . . .”

This is a rich read and will take you at least two cups of coffee. But it’s well worth it.

You’ll find quotes and stories from the likes of Kevin Prendergast, Mike Penny, Wayne Meier, Bruce Haralson, Ted Hampson, Archie Henderson, Vaughn Karpan and Scott Bradley, all of whom will be among the inaugural class of inductees at the Wall of Honour celebration in Okotoks.

Retired scout Wayne Meier has three Stanley Cup rings from his time with the Pittsburgh Penguins. (Photo: Gregg Drinnan)

“At the end of his 30-year career, Henderson did the math,” Barnes writes. “He was 65 and estimated he had been at 6,000 games and spent 19 calendar years away from home.”

Henderson told Barnes: “I was away from my wife and my family, my kids, my parents for 19 years of my life. And how many people can sit back and say they would be willing to give up that many nights?”

These were and are a special breed and Barnes shines a nice, bright light on their profession.

His complete story, along with some terrific photos, is right here: https://calgaryherald.com/sports/nhl-scouts-wall-of-honour-inductees-okotoks

Scouts’ Wall of Honour to open with 45 inductees

The Western Canada Professional Hockey Scouts Foundation will induct 45 members of the scouting fraternity into its Wall of Honour this summer.

The banquet is scheduled to be held in Okotoks, Alta., on Monday, July 29.

Comprising three Matrix screens, the WCPHSF Wall of Honour video presentation will be on permanent display at the Centennial Arena in Okotoks.

The first inductees feature five pioneers of the scouting fraternity, including Danny Summers, who returned from the Second World War to play for the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers before getting into scouting, and Murray (Torchy) Schell, who spent summers as an assistant equipment manager with the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders while he was scouting.

Also being inducted will be 17 scouts from the Early Era (1968-80), including Elmer Benning, who put more than 1 million miles on one car while on the scouting trail; Pat (Paddy) Ginnell, who was a legendary junior coach before turning to scouting; and Del Wilson, a long-time scout who also was a founding father of the major junior WHL.

There also will be 20 scouts from the Modern Era (1981-present) inducted, including Vaughn Karpan, who has been a key figure with the Vegas Golden Knights; Al Murray, one of the architects of the Tampa Bay Lightning’s success; and Barry Trapp, who retired in August 2023 after more than 60 years in the game.

Rounding out the inaugural class will be Lorne Frey and the late Graham Tuer, both of whom had lengthy scouting careers in junior hockey.

Garnet (Ace) Bailey also will be honoured. Bailey scouted for the Edmonton Oilers and then the Los Angeles Kings. He was en route to the Kings’ training camp aboard United Airlines flight 175 when it crashed into the South Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City on Sept. 11, 2001.

“Our selection committee did an excellent job of recognizing these candidates for the Wall of Honour,” Foundation president Erin Ginnell said. “These scouts are not only builders of the game that put thousands of players into the NHL and pro ranks, but also represented their teams and the game with class, professionalism and determination to succeed.  “A lot of these honorees were real mentors to people like myself when I first started; they were always there with help travelling, directions, and generally just made you feel a part of the fraternity.”

The complete list of inductees (* – denotes deceased):

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: *-Garnet (Ace) Bailey.

PIONEERS: *-George Agar, *-Frank Currie, *-Murray (Torchy) Schell, *-Danny Summers, *-Cecil (Tiny) Thompson.

EARLY ERA (1968-1980): *-Elmer Benning, *-Bart Bradley, *-Lorne Davis, *-Gerry Ehman, *-Barry Fraser, *-Pat Ginnell, Ted Hampson, *-Charlie Hodge, Earl Ingarfield Sr, *-Lou Jankowski, Marshall Johnston, Bill Lesuk, *-Ian McKenzie, *-Gerry Melnyk, Bob Owen, *-Clare Rothermel, *-Del Wilson.

MODERN ERA (1981-present): Scott Bradley, Craig Button, John Chapman, George Fargher, Tony Feltrin, Bruce Franklin, Bruce Haralson, Archie Henderson, Les Jackson, Vaughn Karpan, Ross Mahoney, Bert Marshall, Wayne Meier, Al Murray, Gerry O’Flaherty, Kevin Prendergast, Blair Reid, Glen Sanders, Peter Sullivan, Barry Trapp.

JUNIOR: Lorne Frey, *-Graham Tuer.

As well, five scouts from Western Canada were honoured at the Sept. 30 startup banquet in Okotoks with the WCPHSF’s Recognition and Dedication Service Award. Those five are Ron Delorme, Glen Dirk, Garth Malarchuk, Don Paarup and Mike Penny.

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“Our committee’s selections were primarily based on years of combined service as a scout and/or an association to the scouting process,” Garth Malarchuk, the Chairman of the Foundation’s board of directors, said. “I think everyone who has been associated with the scouting fraternity will agree that this is a pretty impressive group of individuals that we will be honouring. “Trust me, our committee could easily have added another 15-20 deserving individuals to this list, but we had to cut it off somewhere.” Moving forward, we certainly don’t want to miss anyone and the plan is to keep adding individuals to our Foundation’s Wall of Honour on an annual basis.”

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The startup banquet on Sept. 30 was a rip-roaring success, highlighted by a roast of Hockey Night in Canada host Ron MacLean, along with silent and live sweater auctions. If you weren’t fortunate enough to attend, you are able to find a highly entertaining video of Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman roasting MacLean at hockeyscoutsfoundation.com.

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Planning is well underway for the inaugural induction banquet on July 29 in Okotoks. Banquet details, including information on tickets, will be announced in the near future.