Tag: Torchy Schell

Five Pioneers headed for Foundation’s Wall of Honour . . .

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’s an opportunity for you to meet the five Pioneers who will be honoured . . .

GEORGE (BUS) AGAR

(May 3, 1919 — April 26, 1999)

A native of Saskatoon, he was a long-time scout with the Oakland/California Golden Seals. . . . Turned to scouting after a professional playing career that began with EHL’s Atlantic City Gulls in 1939-40. . . . Won the USHL’s 1947-48 scoring title by 21 points with Houston Huskies under coach Toe Blake. . . . After retiring as a player, he coached in the old WHL (Victoria Cougars, Los Angeles Blades) before spending six seasons (1964-70) with Saskatoon Blades. . . . When he retired in 1953 was one of three players with 300 career goals in pro hockey. The others? Maurice (Rocket) Richard and George (Wingy) Johnston, then of the WHL’s Tacoma Rockets. . . . Was selected as B.C.’s athlete of the year for 1956 when he was player-coach of Allan Cup-champion Vernon Canadians.

FRANK CURRIE

(Feb. 11, 1913 — Feb. 26, 1998)

From Calgary, he was a latecomer to the scouting game, joining Toronto Maple Leafs as western scout in 1961 at the age of 48. Was with the Leafs for 27 years. . . .When he retired at 75, Leafs owner Harold Ballard offered: “You’re going to be a Leaf ’til you die.” . . . Coached Edmonton Flyers to 1948 Allan Cup championship. In 1954, he and Calgary Stampeders won the first Edinburgh Trophy, which was contested for four years (1954-57) between champions of the pro Western and Quebec Hockey Leagues. . . . Final coaching season (1960-61) spent with EPHL’s Kitchener-Waterloo Beavers. . . . Was inducted into Alberta Sports Hall of Fame as a hockey builder in 1991 and in 2005 as a member of the 1947-48 Flyers.

MURRAY (TORCHY) SCHELL

(April 28, 1926 — Dec. 8, 1981)

A native of Kinmount, Ont., he was born Murray Godfrey Schell. Was known as Torchy because of his flaming red hair, most of which was gone by his 40th birthday. . . . Joined the RCMP in Toronto in 1947; retired as staff sergeant in 1969. . . . Spent most of his RCMP career in various Saskatchewan communities. . . . Hired by Toronto Maple Leafs as western scout in 1969. . . . Moved to NHL Central Scouting in 1975. Was working for CS when he died in Kinmount while visiting his mother prior to attending a hockey game in Niagara Falls. . . . Was a huge collector of hockey memorabilia. . . . Hand injury ended playing career in junior. . . . An uncle to former WHL star Guyle Fielder. . . . During scouting years, he worked summers as assistant equipment manager with Saskatchewan Roughriders.

DANNY SUMMERS

(March 25, 1924 — July 15, 1999)

A Winnipeg native, he returned from serving in the Second World War to play end and fullback — he wore No. 35 — for football’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 1945. . . . A defenceman as a hockey player, he had an 18-season professional career. . . . Won an AHL title with Providence Reds (1949), a WHL title with Winnipeg Warriors (1956), two IHL championships with St. Paul Saints (1960, 1961) and an Allan Cup with Winnipeg Maroons (1964). . . . As a scout, he split 20 years between Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers and San Jose Sharks. . . . Inducted into Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame as a player in 1993 and Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame in 1995.

CECIL (TINY) THOMPSON

(May 31, 1903 — Feb. 9, 1981)

Born in Sandon, B.C., he had a stellar playing career as a goaltender over 10 seasons with Boston Bruins and two with Detroit Red Wings. . . . With Boston, he won four Vezina Trophies, and a Stanley Cup in his rookie season (1928-29). . . . First NHL goaltender to be credited with an assist (1936). . . . Holds Bruins’ record for career shutouts (74). . . . After retiring as player, coached two seasons (1940-42) with AHL’s Buffalo Bisons before serving in Royal Canadian Air Force. . . . Joined Chicago Black Hawks as chief western scout in 1945 and was there through 1976-77. . . . Nicknamed Tiny in minor hockey where, as a teenager, he was tallest player (5-foot-10) on his team. . . . Inducted into Hockey Hall of Fame in 1959.

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.