Wall of Fame to honour hardy Western Canadian hockey scouts

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From Fraser Minten to Morgan Rielly, Wendel Clark, Lanny McDonald and winding again a complete lot additional to the Authentic Six NHL, the Maple Leafs owe a big debt to the lengthy nights and snow tires of Western Canadian scouts.

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With geography and climate their fixed foe, they and fellow hen canine on 31 different groups have scoured the WHL and Tier 2 for the bricks and mortar of many Stanley Cup winners.

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A look on the banners and statues at Scotiabank Area exhibits the Western scouts’ legacy: Goalies Turk Broda, Johnny Bower, the rugged Clark and the highest 100 (from 1917-2017) sprinkled with McDonald, Bob Baun, Max Bentley, Babe Pratt and Wally Stanowski — encompassing Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia.

After all, many Prairie gamers on the Leafs had been first pursued and signed by scout from different golf equipment.

With the Leafs swinging by way of the area over the following two weeks, it was nice timing for the Western Canada Skilled Hockey Scouts Basis to announce its inaugural Wall of Honour.

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It consists of 45 previous and current members, many with Leaf ties, such because the late Frank Currie (who pushed to choose Clark first total in 1985), Mike Penny, nonetheless working for them, Craig Button, the TSN draft analyst and as soon as a Leafs exec, and Barry Trapp, who simply retired after 60 years within the sport — together with a stint as Pat Quinn’s newbie scouting director when the latter was Leafs basic supervisor.

A video/print show highlighting the group is being constructed into Centennial Area in Okotoks. Alta., 40 minutes south of Calgary.

“Baseball has honoured its scouts, however we don’t suppose there’s one other motion to acknowledge scouts wherever else in hockey,” mentioned Garth Malarchuk, who has been on the highway 30-plus years for the Leafs within the West and is chairman of the WCPHS Basis. “We’ve talked about beginning this for various years, as a option to respect the individuals who helped our (era), equivalent to Lorne Davis, Barry Fraser, Gerry Melnyk. They handled us effectively.

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“We wish to ensure their tales are remembered. However we’re additionally a basis and wish to each give again to the group and assist our former scouts with issues equivalent to medical bills.”

Whereas Malarchuk burned by way of the odometer of some firm automobiles in his time, with amusing tales equivalent to sleeping in a curling rink when stranded, he says immediately’s scouts have it simpler with assets and motels whereas criss-crossing the 4 provinces.

“A crew like Toronto actually takes care of you top quality in that respect,” he mentioned. “However you’re nonetheless away from dwelling at lot, the journeys are longer (than most scouts elsewhere on the planet) and there’s the climate. Even Calgary to Purple Deer, a two-hour drive, could be (treacherous).

“You all the time schedule the place it is smart, to see as many groups as doable in a single space.”

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The lengthy distances make Western scouts “a real fraternity” he mentioned.

“We see one another quite a bit in passing. We simply misplaced (65-year-old former Flyer and Colorado/Anaheim scout) Glen Cochrane to a uncommon type of leukemia. So many guys had been reaching out after they heard, it was so heart-felt. He was referred to as Chewie and effectively regarded for a lot of late picks (Avs’ seventh rounder) David Jones from (BCHL) Coquitlam and Josh Manson (sixth spherical for the Geese from Salmon Arm).”

Veterans equivalent to Malarchuk know the logistics of getting from A to B, the quickest routes, greatest lodging, high sports activities bars and enviornment meals — “for me it’s the place to search out the perfect ice cream” — however draft day is when scouts get their due.

“After all, I’m biased that should you don’t scout and draft good gamers, you received’t have an excellent membership,” Malarchuk mentioned. “But it surely’s not one one that can take credit score for locating a participant, it takes a complete crew.”

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The muse selected Okotoks, dwelling rink of the AJHL Oilers, to find its wall of fame because it may need been misplaced amongst different websites in Calgary correct. A banquet there on July 29 will formally toast the 45.

There’ll be particular recognition of Saskatchewan native Garnet (Ace) Bailey, scout for the L.A. Kings, killed with fellow scout Mark Bavis in one of many hijacked 9/11 jets.

5 ‘pioneers’ get high billing, together with Danny Summers, Currie, and Murray (Torchy) Schell, 17 from the ‘early period’ (1968-80), together with Elmer Benning (father of Leafs draft decide Jim), who put greater than one million miles on one automobile, Paddy Ginnell, Del Wilson and Marshall Johnston.

Twenty are from the fashionable period: Vaughn Karpan (now with the Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights), Al Murray (Tampa Bay) and Fraser (Edmonton). Malarchuk and Penny are receiving dedication and repair awards.

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