Local hockey scouts honoured

Winnipeg

The Western Canada Professional Hockey Scouts Federation held its second Wall of Honour induction dinner in Okotoks, Alta. on July 29.

Ten scouts with a connection to Manitoba were among the 30 honoured.

The scouts were recognized in four categories: Pioneer prior to 1967; Early Era 1968-1980; Modern 1981 to Present; and Major Junior. The three Pioneers were Winnipeggers Denis Ball and Jimmy Walker and Jeep George from North Battleford, Sask., who scouted for the New York Rangers, Hartford Whalers and the NHL Central Scouting.

Ball started scouting part-time for the Rangers in 1949 and became a full-time scout in 1953. He later served as general manager and vice-president of hockey operations for the St. Louis Blues. Walker started scouting for the junior Winnipeg Jets and became the team’s chief scout in 1970. He spent 20 years as a scout for the Chicago Blackhawks.

Ball operated the Winnipeg Rangers of the MJHL for 11 seasons. Walker, along with his coaching partner Tom Paterson led Isaac Brock Community Club teams to city titles from playground A to juvenile before he moved to junior company with the St. James Canadians. The Rangers won the MJHL championship in 1961 and 1966 and the Canadians in 1968. They both may have yelled at this columnist a few times during my officiating days.

Doug Overton was recognized in the Early Era category. He played junior for the St. Boniface Canadiens and senior for the Mohawks and the Warroad Lakers. He began scouting for the Philadelphia Flyers and then joined the Minnesota North Stars. Overton spent 20 seasons in the Stars organization in Minnesota and Dallas where his roles included amateur scout and director of pro scouting.

Winnipeg-born George Wood was the goalie when the Flin Flon Bombers won the 1957 Memorial Cup. He served as a Western Canada scout for the Vancouver Canucks for 11 years and spent three more years with the Philadelphia Flyers and Washington Capitals. Larry Hornung played defense for the Bombers in 1963-64 and for the WHA Winnipeg Jets from 1972-73 until 1977-78. He started scouting for the Jets in 1995 and then scouted for the Phoenix Coyotes and the Toronto Maple Leafs until 2001.

After coaching the Jets in the WHA and NHL, Tommy McVie was a pro scout for the Boston Bruins from 1998 until 2011. McVie died at age 89 in January. Dennis McIvor from Carman, Man., scouted for the Buffalo Sabres, San Jose Sharks, Ottawa Senators and Tampa Bay Lightning before he was forced to retire in 2010 due to health reasons.

Modern Era inductee Carter Sears from Estevan, Sask. scouted for 30 years including working as pro scout for the Jets from 2010 to 2016. Flin Flon-born Erin Ginnell scouted for the Columbus Blue Jackets, Colorado Avalanche, Florida Panthers and Vegas Golden Knights. He is the current president of the Western Canada Professional Hockey Scouts Foundation. His father Paddy, who was Wood’s teammate on the 1957 Bombers, was inducted with the initial group in 2024.

Ted Hampson, the captain of the 1957 Bombers, also was inducted in 2024 with his linemate Paddy. After his pro playing career ended at age 44, the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame honoured member scouted for NHL Central Scouting and several teams until he retired in 2022.

Al MacPherson, who spent 36 years in the Brandon Wheat Kings organization, was inducted in the Major Junior category. His Wheat Kings roles included part and full-time scout and director of player personnel.

Gregg Drinnan, who grew up in Lynn Lake, is the editor/historian for the Foundation. Drinnan, who lives in Kamloops, B.C., was a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Tribune and the Brandon Sun before he moved west.